Articles

The US Navy released the report of the Fleet Comprehensive Review conducted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Adm. Phil Davidson. The fatal collisions between USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and Motor Vessel ACX Crystal and between USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) and Motor Vessel Alnic MC, along with other similar incidents over the past year led to a comprehensive review of the incidents and any systemic causes.

Dozens of warships believed to contain the remains of thousands of Australia, British, American, Dutch and Japanese servicemen from the second world war have been illegally ripped apart by salvage divers, the Guardian reports.

RADM Greg Sammut answers questions about the future submarine project and assesses the work of the Collins Class submarines.

By Norman Friedman* Now that the DPRK has developed long-range missiles and what appears to be a hydrogen bomb, what next? Does Kim Jung-un plan to incinerate a US city in the near future? Until now, nuclear powers have avoided war due to deterrence; it sometimes seems that a two-sided nuclear standoff, as in India–Pakistan, considerably reduces the risk of even conventional war. Is that likely to be the case in Korea?

Two Australian companies have won work on the Type 26 Global Combat Ship being built by BAE Systems in Britain. Tasmanian-based Liferaft Systems Australia will provide the ship’s Marine Evacuation System, while Victorian-based Mackay Consolidated Industries will supply pipe hanger inserts

World naval developments Oct 2017

By Norman Friedman* In October, it was reported that in 2015 a National Security Agency (NSA) contractor had inadvertently compromised the agency’s software both for protecting U.S. cyber systems and for penetrating Russian ones. Quite aside from the damage reportedly done, the story is interesting for its hints of ongoing cyber warfare and for the mechanism used to steal NSA’s secrets.

By Dave Andre* In the spring of 1798, the United States found itself in an undeclared naval war with France. Known as the Quasi-War, this eighteenth century “half-war” holds valuable lessons for maintaining maritime superiority in the twenty-first century.

The Australia-India bilateral relationship has not developed consistently across foreign policy and economic processes in recent decades. Recent bilateral engagements endorsed or set in place by Prime Ministers Abbott and Modi, and taken forward by Modi and Prime Minister Turnbull include the Comprehensive Economic Agreement (CECA), the Civil Nuclear Co-operation Agreement and the Framework for Security Co-operation. Regional multilateral engagements, both shared and separate, show either little movement, are stable or are advancing.

The ANI’s 2017 Goldrick Seminar on 26 October was a great success with more than 200 people attending. It was held in partnership with the University of NSW and the Submarine Institute at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

The Battle of the Coral Sea, Episode 2 of the Australian Naval History podcast has been released.