Invitations to DONORS just sent, July 21, 2021

I have just finished emailing Invitations to DONORs, to become "Custom Readers". The Invitations come in the form of blogger/blogspot/Google notices. The "Custom Reader" system is the way to limit Submarine Matters International (SMI) to viewing by Donors Only. 

The Invitation then needs to be accepted by Donors in a short process which I understand also involves gmail. The July 21 timing gives Donors plenty of time before SMI becomes Donor Viewable Only on July 31, 2021, for one year.

With SMI becoming viewable by Donors Only this will permit me to place the Special Reports (one sent July 15, 2021 so far) and substantial articles onto the SMI website. Donors will then not need to hunt for old Special Report emails long after I emailed them on the 15th of every month (for a year).  

Also the Comments Section, below Special Reports/articles, will be open to Comments from Donors Only (aka "Team Members"). Donors Only also has the advantage of keeping out the many SPAM comments I receive each day AND preventing Non-Donors asking such questions as "What does AIP stand for?"

For Non-Donors.
To become a Donor please contact me at pete74730@yahoo.com.au . I will then send you an invoice. 

Regards

Pete

Poland Seeking New Frigates and Submarines

The very interesting paysite magazine Warships International Fleet Review (WIFR) reports in its July 2021 edition, paged 8, Poland sees it essential to acquire 3 frigate sized coastal defence vessels (under Poland's Miecznik "Swordfish"  Program). These 3 ships would be armed with ASMs and would replace Poland's 2 aging Oliver Hazard Perry frigates. Whether new frigates have a higher priority than new submarines is unknown.

[Janes reports: "The first company invited to participate in the program was Polish Remontowa Shipbuilding, with subsequent invitations sent out to naval companies across Europe. The consortium has received six proposals from five potential bidders to date, each with technology transfer arrangements to local shipyards. However, further details on these remain confidential."]

Under the Orka Program Poland still wants to acquire 3 submarines. Three competitors have expressed interest:

- Naval Group: with Scorpenes to mount MBDA cruise missiles
- TKMS: Type 212CDs, and
- Saab: A26s

It is unclear which Polish submarines (if any) are in service. Poland's last Kobbens (ORP Sep and ORP Bielik ) which are more than 50 years old, now appear to be decommissioned. Poland's 35 year old Kilo sub ORP Orzel may be in service but at that age may not be able to safely dive deeply due to metal fatigue. Also as Orzel was built by Poland's virtual enemy, Russia, Russia would be fully aware of Orzel's many vulnerabilities. Unless Poland speeds up the Orka Preogram it may not have new submarines before 2030. 

Warships International Fleet Review reports Poland has a 1.9 Billion UK pound [equivalent to US$2.6 Billion] budget (implicitly for the 3 new subs) - though it is not precisely spelled out what that budget covers.

Post Nanggala Stocktake of Old Columbian Submarines

In submarine news essential reading Warships International Fleet Review's Chief Analyst, Usman Ansari, reports, July 2021, page 9.

Columbia plans to replace its 2 x Type 209s and 2 x 206As (Intrepido and Indomable) in 20 years time (by which time they will be 66 years old! no less) by which time they will reach their pressure hull immersion cycle safe maximums. All are allegedly well maintained. Both 209s and Intrepido were commissioned in 1975 and Indomable (into the West German Navy in 1974). 

All those 2009s and 206As have played "enemy" in exercises aginst the USN's surface ASW and all nuclear sub force. 

[Pete Comment: Their small size and economical running costs (compared to US SSNs) also means the Columbian SSKs do much anti Latin American drug smuggling surveillance in coordination with the USN and US Coast Guard surface fleet, satellites and aircraft.]

See my November 15, 2015 report on these Columbian subs.  

I suspect the very old 209 KRI Nanggala's sinking (Nanggala was launched 1980 hence 5-7 years younger than the Columbian subs) has prompted other navies with old subs to do a public stocktake to justify old sub retention that sometimes is risky. 

Pete

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021: Large Missile Launchings

 Drawing from Australia's excellent Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter's, July 19, 2021 report:

"Talisman Sabre has officially begun; forces conduct live fire"

Australia’s largest bilateral exercise with the US, Exercise Talisman Sabre (TS), has officially commenced for 2021. TS is a high-end war fighting exercise  designed to enhance interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and the US Armed Forces. TS reflects the strength of the Australia-US Alliance and the close, enduring nature of our military-to-military relationship. TS will involve more than 17,000 personnel from Australia and the US.

Also forces from Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the UK will participate. Australia-based personnel [probably mainly defence attaches] from India, Indonesia, France and Germany will observe TS. 

TS is essential to maintaining high-levels of interoperability between US and Australian forces. The majority of TS activities take place on Australian Defence bases, as well as training areas across central and northeast Queensland, Australia and off the east coast of Australia. TS 2021 is the ninth iteration of the exercise and incorporates force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvre, urban operations, and air combat and maritime operations. It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the signing of the ANZUS Treaty.

Live Fire Exercise

On July 18, 2021 forces from Australia, the US and Japan took part in a live fire exercise at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland. The exercise employed naval gun fire, fixed and rotary wing air strikes, and artillery including the US  Marine Corps High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HiMARS). The live-fire exercise at Shoalwater Bay involved the following platforms:

·       M-777 Howitzer (Australian and United States)

·       High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (United States Marine Corps and United States Army)

·       AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters (United States)

·       Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (Australian)

·       Shadow Unmanned Aerial System (Australian)

·       F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (United States Marine Corps)

·       F/A-18A Hornets (Australian)

·       CH-47 Chinook (Australian)

·       UH-1Y Iroquois (United States)

·       Naval gun fire from:    

o   HMAS Ballarat (Australian)

o   HMAS Parramatta (Australian)

o   USS Rafael Peralta (US) and

o   JS Makiname (Japan)

 SEE APDR's EXCELLENT ARTICLE IN FULL HERE.

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(Above and below) Soldiers from the US Army's 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion fire a Patriot missile from a launcher during Exercise Talisman Sabre 21, July 16, 2021, at Camp Growl, Queensland, Australia. (US Army photo by Maj. Trevor Wild, 38th ADA BDE Public Affairs.) (Photo Credit: Maj. Trevor Wild). 

The following is just part of a US Army Pacific Public Affairs report of July 17, 2021:

“US Army Launches Patriot Missiles During Talisman Saber 21

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA -- U.S. Army Pacific Air and Missile Defense units working with Australian Defence Force counterparts completed the first ever Patriot surface-to-air missile firing on Australian soil during Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia, July 16, 2021.

In the historic first, Soldiers based in Japan and Guam [the 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion ] from 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, successfully engaged drone targets with Patriot missiles as part of TS 21, Australia’s largest military exercise with the U.S.

For the latest information visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/TalismanSabre21 and https://www1.defence.gov.au/exercises/talisman-sabre-21 “

SEE US ARMY PACIFIC PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT IN FULL

Substantial Article on Russia's AIP Just Emailed to Donors

I have just Emailed a substantial article on Russia's AIP to Donors.

If any Non-Donors are interested in:

-  being able to view Donor Only Submarine Matters after July 31, 2021

-  as well as receiving substantial articles and the Special Monthly Reports

please contact my at pete74730@yahoo.com.au . 

Once you subsequently become a Donor by sending me the A$50 donation you can have full access. 

Regards Pete

Russia Saying Goodbye to Most of its Titanium Subs

An excellent article of July 15, 2021 from StrategyPage. Unusually concise.