Russia confirms submarine Rostov-on-Don fired cruise missiles at Raqqa

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on December 8 that Russia had for the first time struck Islamic State targets in Syria with missiles fired from a submarine in the Mediterranean.

"The targets were two large terrorist positions in the territory of Raqqa," Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting, adding that the Calibre missiles had been fired from the submarine Rostov-on-Don.

November 19 Varshavyanka-class sub strikes at Raqqa with cruise missiles
19 2015 15:01

Cruise missiles were launched from the diesel-electric submarine «Rostov-on-don». However, the Kremlin denied these reports.

The Varshavyanka-class (Project 636), an improved version of the Kilo-class submarines, features advanced stealth technology, extended combat range and provides the ability to strike land, surface and underwater targets.   Designed for anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions in relatively shallow waters, the submarines can cruise underwater at a speed of 20k and has a cruising range of 400 miles.

Capable of accommodating a crew of 52, the submarines can patrol for 45 days and are armed with 18 torpedoes and eight surface-to-air missiles.

«I think the mere presence of these forces in the Eastern Mediterranean will not only be sober adversary, but will also force ISIS to make serious conclusions. When they see what power they are opposed, they will realize that it is pointless to do what they are doing now», — said the former commander of Northern fleet Admiral Vyacheslav Popov

[November 17 Russia strikes at Raqqa with cruise missiles from Med

Russian missile cruiser Moskva is moored in the Crimean Black Sea port of Sevastopol on May 10, 2013,   A variety of ships, including the Moskva, were reported to have left from Russia's Sevastopol port in Crimea September 25, according to the independent Turkish ship-spotting blog Bosphorus Naval News.

Two U.S. defense officials say Russia has attacked Raqqa, the Islamic State group's self-declared capital in Syria, with cruise missiles and bombs on Tuesday.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss non-U.S. military operations. They provided no details on targets or the scale or outcome of the attacks.

One of the officials said the Russians gave the U.S. prior notification of the attacks by communicating with the U.S.-led coalition's air operations center at al-Udeid air base in Qatar. The official said this was in accordance with protocols worked out by U.S. and Russian officials in October

Grad Sviyazhsk and Uglich, are the first in the new Buyan-M class

[October 8 Russian Navy launches cruise missiles at Jaish al-Fatah, rather than on the Islamic State]

Moscow said it had fired 26 cruise missiles at Syrian targets from naval vessels in the Caspian Sea, 900 miles away, using a  Gepard-class frigate Dagestan and the Buyan-M-class corvettes Grad Sviyazhsk, Uglich and Veliky Ustyug. They’re armed with Kalibr-NK launchers.

[September 23 2014] DDG launch of Tomahawk Land-Attack Missiles (TLAM) against ISIL targets]

Guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58)

Published on Sep 23, 2014
RED SEA (Sept 23, 2014) The guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launches Tomahawk Land-Attack Missiles (TLAM) against ISIL targets. Arleigh Burke is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.







Published on Sep 23, 2014
ARABIAN GULF (Sept. 23, 2014) The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) launches Tomahawk Land-Attack Missiles (TLAM) against ISIL targets. Philippine Sea is deployed as part of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.





More than a dozen airstrikes have hit Islamic State military targets and administrative buildings in Aleppo and Raqqa provinces in the north as well as al Qaeda's official arm in the country, al Nusra Front in the northwestern city of Idlib.

[March 20 2011 Trafalgar: class submarine fire RN Tomahawks]


The UK has launched guided Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) from a Trafalgar Class submarine as part of a co-ordinated coalition plan to enforce the UN resolution on Libya.
A UK submarine is understood to have been stationed in the Mediterranean for some time without being detected.

USS Donald Cook: sm-3 interceptor missile-equipped destroyer arrives at Rota Spain

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 13, 2013) A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1A interceptor is launched from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) during a Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy test in the Pacific Ocean. The SM-3 Block 1A successfully intercepted a target missile that had been launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii.

The USS Donald Cook, which arrived at Rota Naval Station, Spain on 11 February, is the first of four ballistic missile defence (BMD)-capable destroyers that will be stationed at the base. The ships are capable of tracking and shooting down ballistic missiles in flight, using their Aegis radar system and SM-3 interceptor missiles. These capabilities will make the destroyers a key component of NATO’s missile defense shield for Europe.

[March 19 2011]


112 Tomahawk cruise missile were fired from five U.S. ships — the guided-missile destroyers USS Stout and USS Barry, and three submarines, USS Providence, USS Scranton and USS Florida.
USS Florida (SSGN-728), an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, was the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 27th state. She was converted to a cruise missile submarine, and re-designated SSGN-728.
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Ferdinand, Drazki: Romania, Bulgaria frigates to Libya

The Bulgarian government has approved sending the frigate Drazki for three months to the Mediterranean Sea to take part in the NATO operation In 2009, Bulgaria purchased three second-hand frigates from Belgium - Drazki, Gordi ("Proud"), and "Verni" ("Faithful") and the Tsibar minesweeper.
Romania will participate in the NATO naval operation off Libya's coast with the King Ferdinand frigate. Regele Ferdinand (F221) (formerly HMS Coventry (F98)) is a Type 22 frigate The length of stay of each ship in the Mediterranean is one month in general before rotation is done.




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Florida, Scranton, Stout, Barry, Kearsarge Ponce

The U.S. Navy began the operation March 19 with 12 ships in the Mediterranean. As of April 1, nine remained: the submarines USS Florida and USS Scranton; destroyers USS Stout and USS Barry; amphibious warships USS Kearsarge and USS Ponce; the command ship USS Mount Whitney; and two supply ships, USNS Robert E. Peary and USNS Kanawha.

The subs and the destroyers are armed with Tomahawks. Marine Harrier attack planes launch from aboard the Kearsarge, and the Mount Whitney had served as a floating command post for the American admiral who was the on-scene commander until NATO took control March 31.

The Mount Whitney remains assigned to the mission but the new operational commander, Canadian Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard, is working ashore at his NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy. The U.S. Navy is likely to peel more ships away from the mission in coming days, including some of those with Tomahawks. The U.S. military will continue providing a range of support, including aerial refueling, aerial surveillance and reconnaissance and electronic jammers.
President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. President Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks. Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorize secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. In order for specific operations to be carried out under the provisions of such a broad authorization -- for example the delivery of cash or weapons to anti-Gaddafi forces -- the White House also would have to give additional "permission" allowing such activities to proceed. Former officials say these follow-up authorizations are known in the intelligence world as "'Mother may I' findings." a covert action is "any U.S. government effort to change the economic, military, or political situation overseas in a hidden way."

Scranton: Gulf of Sidra?

An Arabist is someone normally from outside the Arab World who specializes in the study of the Arabic language and Arab culture, and often Arabic literature.
An older arabist blogger is on March 30 saying:


I understand that the Qathafi garrison has chosen to defend at the eastern and southern entrances to the town of Surt (Sirte). This is wonderful news! Keep it up boys! Someone will be along to "dance" with you shortly.

Kearsarge: 1863 technology redux ... balloons

Helium-balloon transmission system was used to bridge the gap in communications from USS Kearsarge to Harriers conducting air strikes against the Libya. There are both tethered and non-tethered variants. For the strike missions, the non-tethered version is required so that the balloon can reach the appropriate altitude

Florida: boomer sub arrived in Med before March 3

USS Florida arrives to Naval Support Activity Souda Bay Crete for a routine port visit. Photo taken March 3, 2011.
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Scranton: submarine loads in Augusta Bay Sicily

In this image released by the US Navy Visual News Service March 19, 2011 shows US NAVY file photo taken March 6, 2011, in Augusta Bay, Sicily. The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) pulls into Augusta Bay, Sicily, to receive supplies and personnel. Scranton is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.
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Leopold 1: Belgium assigns helo frigate to Libya

Belgium will contribute a frigate to the operation to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. BNS Leopold I, Belgian Navy , is the first M-frigate to be adapted for on- board operations with the NH90. The frigate was therefore equipped with a helicopter transport system that allows helicopters to be safely transported from the landing area on the rear deck to the hangar. The system is manufactured by Bosch-Rexroth, a Dutch company.. Belgian Navy's BNS Leopold I, was the command platform of a UN task force supporting the Lebanese Navy in monitoring commercial shipping approaching Lebanese territorial waters. The Belgian Navy took command of the force on March 1. It was the first time that the Belgian Navy headed a UN led peacekeeping operation.

Providence: other submarines deployed in Med?

The Navy has also recently deployed “a few” other submarines to the region, according to a U.S. military official who declined to provide details. WashingtonPost
Scranton
Providence

HMS York: Rapid Deployment Team to Benghazi

A statement from the Foreign Office said: ‘HMS York is now on its way to Benghazi to pick up any remaining British Nationals wishing to leave. Those who can travel easily to Benghazi should make their way to the port. A Rapid Deployment Team will be on board to provide consular assistance. Estimated arrival and departure times will be confirmed shortly.’

Iran Sanctions: corporate prestidigitation

Nigel Howard Malpass
Having lived and worked in Ramsey for 20 years I believe that
I have that local understanding. For over ten of those years I
was the Managing Director of an Isle of Man based
International group of companies dealing daily with both local
and global issues.

Nigel Malpass
10 Clifton Drive
Ramsey
Isle of Man
IM8 3ND
Telephone: 813774 / 814913 / 491234
Email: nigel.malpass@liberalvannin.org

Nigel Howard Malpass of 10, Clifton Drive,
Ramsey. International Marine Consultant

Shallon Overseas Limited

The Isle of Man company, Shallon, is part of a network set up with the help of Nigel Howard Malpass, a British shipping consultant who serves on the boards of Smart Day and companies connected to 43 other ships previously registered to Irisl, records show.

And the shares of many of those companies are held by yet another Isle of Man company, Woking Limited, which records show is wholly owned by none other than Irisl.

“I did used to be involved with Irisl,” Mr. Malpass said in a telephone interview, adding that while he had set up companies at the company’s behest, he had since “disassociated” himself.

NYTimes
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Bahamian-flagged ANL AUSTRALIA: U.S. spies

On July 22, Inspectors from the United Arab Emirates, when alerted to possible contraband in a ship bound for Iran, arrested the boxship ANL AUSTRALIA IMO 8913681, Nominal Teus 2668.
An official said.U.S. spies "played a key role" in tracking the shipment. According to shipping records, the 10 large cargo containers left the North Korean port of Nampo on May 30 on a North Korean vessel, and two days later they were transferred to a Chinese ship in the port city of Dalian, in northern China.

From there, the containers were ferried to Shanghai, where on June 13 they were moved to a third ship, the ANL Australia, a Bahamian-flagged containership.
The nature of the cargo, seized in July and described now for the first time were 2,030 detonators for 122mm rockets, as well as electric circuitry and a large quantity of solid-fuel propellant, according to an account given by UAE and U.N. Security Council officials. The materials were bought from North Korea and shipped halfway around the globe in sealed containers, labeled as oil-drilling supplies, that passed through a succession of freighters and ports. According to shipping records, the 10 large cargo containers left the North Korean port of Nampo on May 30 on a North Korean vessel, and two days later they were transferred to a Chinese ship in the port city of Dalian, in northern China.

From there, the containers were ferried to Shanghai, where on June 13 they were moved to a third ship, the ANL Australia, a Bahamian-flagged boxship owned by ANL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMA CGM, a French consortium.

Hansa India: Boarded by US Marines?

French sources say [or assume] that the forbidden UN-sanctioned ammunition was found in the Gulf of Suez aboard the Iranian charter Hansa India, by US Marines. That would be [one assumes] Battalion Landing Team 3/2 with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

Indian-flagged MT Prem Divya rescued by USN

Early February 12 morning, the Indian-flagged merchant ship MT Prem Divya sent a distress call reporting it had been fired on by a small craft, whose crew attempted to board. A helicopter from the USS Vella Gulf fired two warning shots, the suspects brought their boat to a stop, USN found weapons and took the nine-man crew into custody. Black Site

PREM DIVYA
IMO NUMBER
9138599
VESSEL TYPE
CRUDE OIL TANKER
HULL TYPE
DOUBLE HULL
GROSS TONNAGE
57.950 tons
SUMMER DWT
89.999 tons
BUILD
1998
BUILDER
DALIAN NEW SHIPYARD DALIAN - CHINA
FLAG
INDIA
MANAGER/OWNER
MERCATOR LINES MUMBAI - INDIA
INSURER
NORTH OF ENGLAND P&I U.K.


HISTORICAL INFO

FORMER NAMES
since 2007 Jan 11 SEAQUEEN
FORMER FLAGS
since 2006 May 04 GREECE

since 1998 Jun 13 LIBERIA

Marshall-flag Polaris rescued from Pirates by USN

On February 11, the U.S.navy said, the MV Polaris, Marshall Island flag, sent a distress call that seven men on a skiff had tried to force their way on board using a ladder. The Navy intercepted the skiff, found weapons and seized the suspects.

Vessel
POLARIS

DNV ID: 29964 IMO No: 9388235
Operational Status: In Operation Class Relation: Not in DNV Class


Overview

Status

SummaryDimensions Classification Registry Hull Summary Machinery Summary Yard Owner


Flag: Marshall Islands Signal Letters: V7PE5
Port: MAJURO

Owner: Annamar Navigation Inc. GT (ITC 69): 8,542
(10031248) NT (ITC 69): 4,117
Manager: OSM Ship Management AS DWT: 13,091
(180002) (LRF / Company identification no: 1155822)
DocHolder: OSM Ship Management AS
(180002) (LRF / Company identification no: 1155822)
Yard: SEKWANG Heavy Ind. Co., Ltd. (110721) Year of Build: 2009
Type: 106 - Tanker for Chemicals & Oil Products

Class Notation:

Polaris 9388235 2009 13,091 128.60 14,084 20.40 8.71 DH V7PE5
Design Draught9.12m
Scantling Draught (Maximum to Which Vessel is Loaded)9.50m
Displacement at Design Draught

Polaris is a 13000 tdw chemical and product tanker registered in the Marshall Islands.

Her length overall is 128m with a draft of 8,7m. She is sister of Commencement tanker. Both are owned by Primera from Greece.

Polaris was officially handed over to OSM Ship Management AS on the 12th of January 2009 at SEKWANG Heavy Industries in Ulsan-Korea.

She has a compliment of 18 crew onboard and her first cargo, Molasses, will be loaded in Bankok 25th of January, disport will most probably be in Europe.

Cyprus has decided to unload the Monchegorsk

On February 13, the government said in a statement that it had decided to unload the Cypriot-flagged vessel's cargo and "keep it in Cyprus".

The Republic of Cyprus has decided to unload the material on the ship Monchegorsk and keep it on Cyprus


"The Republic of Cyprus has already informed the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee of its decision," it added.

"Unloading the cargo does not involve any danger."

Later, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas told the Associated Press: "There are no weapons. There is material that could be used in the manufacture of munitions."

On Tuesday, Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou said the UN committee had ruled that the Monchegorsk was in "clear" breach of UN sanctions, but he did not specify what had been found on board or name the cargo's destination.


MONCHEGORSK
IMO NUMBER
8013039
VESSEL TYPE
RO-RO CARGO
HULL TYPE
DOUBLE HULL
GROSS TONNAGE
18.627 tons
SUMMER DWT
19.943 tons
BUILD
1983
BUILDER
KVAERNER MASA YARDS TURKU TURKU - FINLAND
FLAG
CYPRUS
MANAGER/OWNER
MURMANSK SHIPPING MURMANSK - RUSSIA
INSURER
WEST OF ENGLAND P&I ASSOCIATION LUXEMBOURG
VESSEL DETAILS