South Korea's SLBM Tests Continue

 UPI's Elizabeth Shim has reported on January 13, 2021, in part:

South Korea is developing a new submarine-launched ballistic missile [SLBM] and has tested the weapon at the Agency for Defense Development's Anheung test site [just southeast of central Seoul], according to a local press report.

Newsis reported [January 13, 2021] the SLBM was test launched from a ground platform and next-step underwater tests are scheduled for March [2021]. South Korea's military also conducted other SLBM tests in 2020 "several times," both on land and underwater, the report said.

The report of Seoul's domestic SLBM, described as a modified version of Korea's short-range, solid-fueled Hyeonmoo-2B [see Submarine-launched Variat sub-heading 800km range with 500kg payload] ballistic missile, 

...South Korean military sources did not deny domestic SLBM development on [January 13, 2021], according to Newsis. Sources told the news service Seoul has "secured hi-tech power" to "support peace on the Korean Peninsula, by building up strong military power," the report said.

In March [2021] Seoul is expected to carry out an underwater SLBM test by deploying a 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Changho-class [KSS-III] submarine. The South Korean submarine is equipped with six vertical launch tubes that can eject SLBMs..."

US Strategic Framework Indo-Pacific: Russia our Friend?

Here is a newly (days ago?) declassified SECRET/"NOFORN" (ie. US Eyes Only) document titled "A Free and Open Indo-Pacific". It is a US national security briefing prepared by White House staff. 

The document contains a Cover Letter and US National Security Council further action description that were missing when the "US Strategic Framework..." 000174 Attachment was released by the White House on January 5, 2021. The Cover Letter refers to some documents that may be still classified, such as "U.S. Campaign Plan for Countering China’s Malign Influence in International Organizations." Much in the Attachment is worth discussing.

The White House released the whole document on January 13, 2021 to Australia's ABC "7.30 Report". The US aim may be mainly to show Trump/the White House did have a working Indo-Pacific alliance strategy after all. 

Reading the document reveals the alliance objective is mainly to contain China. 

Russia is America's greatest nuclear opponent in the Indo-Pacific, with a nuclear capability vastly larger than China's and North Korea's put together. This includes Russia's Pacific Fleet SSBNs, other SSBNs on call, central Russia based ICBMs and nuclear bombers that threaten the US mainland. Yet the only mention of Russia in the document is: “Russia will remain a marginal player in the Indo-Pacific region relative to the United States, China, and India." Trump's personal relations with Putin have possibly downgraded strategic reality.

India, Japan, Australia, North and South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand are all mentioned in this document. It is useful to use the search function in it - to identify country mentions.

Here is an Australian ABC News summary of the document.

An excellent account from the Australian perspective by Joshua Mcdonald at The Diplomat (paysite).

Pete's OLO Trump Insurrection Post: 252 Comments so far

I'm also active as "plantagenet" on Australia's On Line Opinion (OLO).

On January 7 (as plantagenet) I started the thread "Trump Caused Riot: Capitol Building" which has attracted 252 comments - so far. 

My simple post was:

"Since the Election Trump has claimed the Election was "Stolen".

A few hours ago:

"Protesters overpowered Capitol Police and stormed the building. "The president invited us here and we're not leaving,” another protester shouted."

See http://news.yahoo.com/trump-supporters-storm-congress-halting-electoral-vote-certification-debate-200312508.html

Does anyone support Trump now?"

"Posted by plantagenet, Thursday, 7 January 2021 9:39:40 AM [Australian Eastern Time]" 

212CD E (Some 216 Traits) for Dutch Navy: Work In Progress

TKMS continues to refine its Type 212CD E design bid in consultation with the Dutch Navy. There will be ongoing design changes even if the Dutch Navy makes a bid decision (versus Saab and Naval Group) in the early 2020s.

Following this earlier article on the future 212CD E (for Common Design Expeditionary) being marketed by TKMS. Anonymous has kindly reported (with some editing by Pete for improved English) the following:

Based on the TKMS Type 216, proposed for the Australian Navy's future submarine competition (finally won by Naval Group) [1], diesels for the 212CD E are considered as follows:

- Number: two or three diesels [2]

- Type: MTU 12V4000 [3]

- Location: under the bridge [4, 5]

[1] To achieve improved efficiency and reduced R&D costs the 212CD E might be based on 216 as well as Type 212A. Concerning the, so far, not built large 216, with specs at this link, the artwork right at the bottom, (at "1/3", "2/3" and "3/3") is particularly interesting. Also see 2 cutaways below, of the 216, from this article noting the Vertical Multi Purpose Lock behind the fin/sail.

[2] The future Netherlands’ submarine requires better safety and redundancy like the existing Walrus class submarine, which has 3 diesels engines. A baseline 212A design would never be accepted by the Netherlands because the 212A has only one diesel.

[3] Reduced magnetism for the hull and for other equipment is an important feature of the 212CD E. Non-magnetic stainless steel would be used for pressure hull material. In this context, reduction of magnetic mass of other equipment (such as diesels) would be an objective. The latest MTU 12V4000 diesel is suitable for the 212CD E. 
[See this MTU document which recommends the MTU 4000  “The standard battery charging unit can easily be customized with project specific generators and mounting system for individual shock, acoustic and other Naval requirements – including magnetic signature reduction.” ].
The HY100 grade pressure hull of the Walrus submarine is made of non-magnetic steel. But the Walrus’s 3 x SEMT Pielstick 12PA4V200SM diesels seem to be magnetic.

[4] The control room is always set under the bridge for submarines with periscopes. This places design constraints on a submarine. But as the 212CD E will instead use photonic masts there are not the same design constraints. To achieve a short exhaust pipe to reduce exhaust resistance and improve diesel efficiency the best location of diesels is under the bridge. (See 2:51 in this Youtube ) The red rectangles may be a vertical launching system (VLS). If the Green square in front of propulsion motor (green) represents diesels, intake and the exhaust system, this will crowd/complicate the VLS system. Though this arrangement of diesels is suitable for a submarine with a single hull, it might be not suitable for a mixed single/double hull submarine.

[5] Again see 2:51 in this Youtube. Maybe the green square in front of propulsion motor (green) means AIP fuel cells and not diesels. Heavy diesels are mounted in a double suspension manner (diesel – suspension- floating deck – suspension- hull) which needs enough space under the diesels and a low center of gravity for the diesel position.

PETE COMMENT

As can be seen above, the interim design of the 212CD E raises many questions. Even if the Netherlands chooses a 212CD E bid or competing Saab or Naval Group bid in the early 2020s there will be further changes to nail down a final design. 

By Anonymous (edits by Pete) 

Chinese(?) UUVs Also Found Near Malacca Strait & Sunda Islands

India Today, on Jan 9, 2021 carries the Map Below on 3 Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) sightings/captures. 

Looking at the Map is: 

UUV 1. - In March 2019, a UUV was found North of Singapore and East of Malaysia on the approaches to the Strait of Malacca.
 

UUV 2. - The next UUV was found on January 2020 near the Sunda Islands in the central Indonesian Archipelago, and 

UUV 3. - The much reported UUV capture near Selayar Island, Indonesia, was on December 20, 2020. 

MAP showing locations of the 3 Chinese(?) or other country's UUVs. (Map courtesy OSINT and Google Earth).
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COMMENT

Most news agencies, and even specialist websites, have provided very geographically incorrect/ignorant and alarmist reports on the multiple UUV sightings. Such UUVs may not necessarily be of Chinese origin. 

Probably the most helpful source is the map above.

Submariners on Ice Advised to take along Slow Crewman

StrategyPage, January 7, 2021 carries this Travel Advice for Russian Submariners. See article here.

“In late 2020 a Russian nuclear submarine had a bear problem. A brown bear and her cub swam up to the sub, which was docked at the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula [Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base] on the Pacific coast. Fearing the bears might stay awhile the sub commander called for a bear hunter who arrived with a shotgun that could kill the bear and not harm the hull, as a high-velocity rifle bullet would. First the cub was shot and fell off the sub. The mother, who looked ill and emaciated, did not follow and was shot dead as well.

What was interesting about this incident was that it was not unusual. There are over 10,000 brown bears in Kamchatka and not many people outside the naval base. Hunters are called out to kill bears who wander into or near the base or any other settlement and during 2020 at least fifty of them were killed. The bears are largely vegetarian but will kill and consume humans if they feel threatened, or very hungry.”

COMMENT

Polar bears may be even more dangerous. US submarines, coming from a frequent gun owning society, can be counted on to pack assault rifles to despatch bears that try to attack submariners.

But Russian or Chinese submariner icepack pedestrians may not be so “lucky”. Russian or Chinese submarine officers are advised to travel on the ice with a slow junior crewman they can outrun. Polar bears are, after all, carnivorous non-respecters of rank.

Three Polar bears approach the bow of Los Angeles-class submarine
USS Honolulu (SSN 718) surfaced 280 miles from the North Pole. The bears checked out the boat for almost 2 hours before leaving. No animals were harmed during the making of this picture. (Photo courtesy US Navy via Wikipedia.)
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