CHINESE NAVY FLOTILLA VISITS MEXICO

THE DRAGON IN A SOMBRERO 

Photo Credit Brandi Breece
American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies

Chinese residents in Mexico as well as local Mexicans, welcomed visiting ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) at the port of Acapulco, Mexico, on Nov. 24, 2015. A flotilla of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) arrived in the Mexican port of Acapulco on Tuesday to begin a friendly visit, after a stop in Cuba. The Dragon is pretty much swimming in our home waters, making friends and influencing people , mostly to the detriment of the United States. The U.S. is of course responding as we have responded to everything the last seven years. The mass media ignores these significant events as does the occupant of the White House that the media adores and the Congress which is simply clueless. Sorry , I suppose that sounds a little bitter, I was going for angry as hell but its hard to sustain on a daily basis.

To read a more neutral sounding account of the event and gain more details click here:

Dragon in a Sombrero 

Johnas Prebyter, editor

                                 

Another kind of sea monster

http://thebrigade.com/2015/07/09/russias-unprecedented-monster-aircraft-ship-53-photos-and-story/

Russia’s Unprecedented Monster "Aircraft Ship" ( video and story)   VIDEOS  

Updated and links checked @/3/2020

In 1987 Russia produced a surface effect vessel that could reach speeds achieved only by airplanes but stayed low enough that it would hide under radar much like a stealthy boat. It had a cargo or troop capacity to rival more than one C130 transport aircraft, or a small ship. Meet the Soviet's 1987 Ekranoplan . 

The Brigade.com recently featured a post on this unusual technology from the 1980's. Use any of the links in this post to reach the feature. There you will find a narrative text with a full description of this unusual craft which once plied the Caspian Sea, a total of 53 photographs of the "vessel" on the water and hauled out, as well as interior views. In our opinion while the short wings do provide some lift, as you will note in the photographs there is quite a bit of "hull" visible out of the water, that you do not see in these "in water" photos. 

We believe that while the wings definitely reduced hull friction , much of the hull length remained in contact with the water, thus we classify the Ekranoplan  as a high speed vessel. In her day, the Ekranoplan .was probably the highest speed vessel large enough to be of commercial or military utility. Of course this kind of speed on water is never very economical. There is no fleet of these "ships" in use today. Take in some videos click VIDEOS  

  VIDEOS  

PROFESSIONAL DISTANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR MARINERS:

American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies

 We recently learned of this organization and felt it was well worth your attention. This is a partnership with Plymouth University in the UK. This seems an excellent way to improve your professional competence in navigation, or to prepare for a career related to the sea vice one at sea. The system works in or out of range of the internet. If you are going to be at sea download before you go and you can complete a course or course segment from anywhere in the world. Send in for evaluation once you regain internet access. MLA is not a paid advertiser of this site. MLA joins the U.S. Naval Institute as simply one of the institutions that we recommend to professional mariners that can prove vital to your professional development. 

DISTANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

https://www.mla-uk.com/

THE MARINE LEARNING ALLIANCE & HYDROGRAPHIC ACADEMY OF PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY  

E-courses in meteorology, oceanography, data management, hydrography, marine operations, navigation, underwater acoustics, maritime law: Study on line for degree and certificate programs or down load & study from your lap top at sea. 

TAKE A VIRTUAL WRECK DIVE

http://thunderbay.noaa.gov/shipwrecks/eb_allen.html

TAKE A VIRTUAL DIVE ON THE WRECK OF THE  S/V E.B. ALLEN COURTESY THE NOAA MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM:American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies

Image by NOAA & Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary 

Click here to take an underwater tour of the well preserved ship wreck the E.B. ALLEN, sunk November 20, 1871. This ship wreck and many others are protected by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration's Marine Sanctuary Program. On scene research and enforcement is often conducted by America's least known and smallest naval service the NOAA CORPS. 

GPS Location: N45° 00.976’ W83° 09.899’
Depth: 100 Feet
Wreck Length: 134 Feet
Beam: 26 Feet
Gross Tonnage: 276
Cargo: Grain
Launched: 1864 by H.C. Piersons at Ogdensburg, New York
Wrecked: November 20, 1871
Description: On its last voyage, the E.B. Allen was bound for Buffalo, New York, carrying a cargo of grain. When it was about 2 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island, it met the bark Newsboy in heavy fog. The two ships collided, and the Newsboy tore a large hole in the Allen’s portside. As the ship began to sink, the Allen's crew was removed and taken on board the other vessel. Today, theE.B. Allen sits on an even keel, with its hull largely intact. Although the masts are broken and most of the decking is gone, the windlass, anchor chains, and rudder are still in place.

TECHNICAL DIVING: "REBREATHERS" REVISITED

THE HOLLIS "REBREATHERS"American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies

 http://www.hollis.com/rebreathers/       `http://www.sealsports.net/tecrec-rebreather

HOLLIS "REBREATHERS"  http://www.hollis.com/rebreathers/  

"Rebreathers" differ from traditional SCUBA gear in that they recycle the air that the diver breathes by removing carbon dioxide by use of chemical "scrubbers", and periodically replacing the oxygen that the diver metabolizes. 

When those of us with diving backgrounds here at AAB first started out in training 30 to 40 years ago, oxygen rebreathers were military equipment occasionally also used in shallow waters by photographers and marine biologists who wanted to get close to marine life without making the disturbing bubbles associated with standard SCUBA gear. The biggest advantage to rebreathers was this stealth aspect and their biggest drawback was their restriction to shallow waters (less than about 33 feet in depth). Things have changed radically in recent years but we still consider rebreathers in the realm of "technical diving" meaning something that is not covered in basic SCUBA certification courses, though it might be considered within the realm of "recreational" as well as commercial diving. We divide our our DIVING PAGES into two sections DIVING and TECHNICAL DIVING, with anything that has hazards that we feel a recreational diver should receive special training and guided experience with before undertaking as a recreational dive unaccompanied by a professional instructor as "technical". This rebreather post will eventually appear in both sections because we want to alert the recreational diving community to the new and improved rebreathers with their potential attractions especially for underwater photographers, and yet alert recreational divers that using these things requires training beyond your basic SCUBA certification. The good news is that the leading manufacturer provides reasonably priced instruction along with reasonably priced equipment. Learn more about modern rebreather diving at: Discover Rebreather Diving 

U.S. HOUSE PASSES FISCAL YEAR 2016 MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM FUNDING INCREASE

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED FISCAL YEAR 2016 MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM FUNDING INCREASE

PHOTO CREDIT: US Navy 100228-N-1082Z-076        American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies

The House of Representatives has  passed defense authorizations that includes a much sought after increase in funding for the Maritime Security Program (MSP) for Fiscal Year 2016. Under the House terms of the legislation, in Fiscal Year 2016 each vessel in the Maritime Security Program would be authorized a  $0.3 million increase to $3.5 million  vice the currently authorized $3.1 million.

An earlier version of the defense bill had been vetoed by the President, however he has indicated he will sign the new version. 

Congressional observers believe the  defense authorizations will be considered and passed by the Senate prior to the Congressional Thanksgiving recess. 

Then comes the appropriations process during which the participating American Merchant Marine companies and organized U.S. maritime labor will lobby for passage.

The legislation as passed by the House states that “dedicated and enhanced support is necessary to stabilize and preserve the Maritime Security Fleet program, which provides the Department of Defense with on-demand access to world class, economical commercial sealift capacity; assures a U.S.-flag presence in international commerce; supports a pool of qualified U.S. merchant mariners to crew U.S.-flag vessels during times of war or national emergency; and serves as a critical component of our national security infrastructure."

Pictured above is a U.S. Navy owned and civil service merchant mariner manned transport. Without the MSP program there is no back up to the few navy owned and operated transports, which aren't sufficient for a major combat sea lift task on a sustained basis. The U.S. Merchant Marine has always by statute been a naval auxiliary charged with sea lift augmentation for the U.S. Navy. Without a blue water U.S. Merchant Marine the U.S. Navy would have  to maintain a very large transport fleet, no doubt at the expense of combat capacity.  

                    

Hats, Shirts, Jackets, Watches, Jewelry, Decorations, Etc.

AMAZON'S U.S.MERCHANT MARINE SHOP

Dragon in the Arctic

CHINESE SHIPPER COSCO PLANNING REGULAR TRANS-ARCTIC SAILINGS

Photo by: Markus Pössel licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unportedlicense.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The winters since we first publ;ished this post haven't exactly been mild. As noted back when this was first published "old ice" was getting scarce but new ice was forming and the route hasn't been as open as advertised and predicted by the US main stream media. As we previously reported in 2015 in 2019 it appears that arctic destination cargoes (supplies to towns and commercial and military installations on the Arctic Rim are increasing. Transiting cargo using the Arctic as a short cut is still season and relatively rare. 
American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies
China's national shipping and shipping services company China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) intends to provide regular Asia to Europe freight services through the Arctic.  If successful, in season, this service would shave two weeks off of the traditional transit time via the Suez canal. The plan is dependent on rising temperatures making the icy route increasingly viable. That is something we have cautioned investors in such ventures from betting on. Despite U.S. government, other governments, and even Papal pronouncements that assert that global warming is an assured future trend, it has been about 18 years since the average global temperature actually rose. That rise did create something of a diminished supply of "old" (multi season) ice. But given the reality of the climatological data vice the propaganda we don't have much faith in natural help in keeping Arctic shipping routes clear for an extended season. On the other hand the Russians, with their deep commitment to High Arctic development and the worlds largest fleet of heavy duty ice breakers are doing a pretty good job of keeping their 3,400 mile route open for an extensive portion of the Arctic summer. Russia actively advertises the Northern Sea Route as an attractive alternative to the Suez route.  Indeed the Russian Ministry of Transport has estimated that the route will pass over ten million tons of cargo annually sometime over the next decade. So far the route's best year has been 2013 when it passed about 1.4 billion tons of cargo in 71 ships. The ship crossings dropped to about 50 in 2014. Mother nature hasn't been living up to its media hype as a helper for the icy route but Russia has the ice breakers to at least assure something of a navigation season most any year. 

 COSCO seems committed to the Northern Sea route though also shows some signs of hedging its bets.  COSCO has admitted that among its options it is considering buying some second hand ships for testing new routes. If adopted that measure could save some serious expenses if a new route of any sort doesn't work out. However, commitment to the Northern Sea Route is at least in the feasibility study realm right now and with previous commercial transits under their belt COSCO is positioned well to be a major Northern Route Player if Russia can keep the route open each season. One development that takes some of the cost considerations for managing the route off of COSCO is the construction of the Siberian Port Novatek. This port as well as other the Arctic cargo movements related on on scene natural resources development assure an increase in Arctic traffic regardless of how relatively open the ice leads become. Thanks to Russian interests in Arctic natural resource development Russia is highly likely to continue funding large ice breaker fleets. Regular through services by COSCO would help pay the management bill for Russia and could lead other customers to follow on, But Russia is in the Arctic to stay and expand, so at least in terms of a Russian managed Northern Route  COSCO has a pretty fair bet for some sort of annual navigation season for the short cut. The transit window for the Northern Route usually opens in July and closes in November. The best transit conditions occur in September and early October. . Presently Arctic ice concentration is around half of what it was in 1979, according to the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center. ” Current Arctic ice concentration is around half of what it was in 1979, according to the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center. We simply don't have much reliable data about Arctic ice concentrations much prior to 1979 or much basis for predicting what the normal 5, 10 , or 20 year cycles are like, but everything about weather and climates cycles. To the extent that anyone should consider investment in High Arctic shipping routes it should be based on regional governmental investment in managing such routes, and not on weather / climate speculation. At the moment the only reasonably safe bet is the Russian route.


 2014 American Arctic Strategy: Russia and China, Minerals and Resources, Recoverable Oil in the Arctic Circle, Arctic Militarization, Freedom of Navigation, Sea Lines of communication Kindle Edition

NAP TOWN FUNK

MIDSHIPMEN JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

This Image released by the United States Navy Photo ID ID 040528-N-2383B-006      American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies

 Actually, our headline is an unfair exaggeration. The Midshipmen of Annapolis are among the most dedicated and serious minded "twenty somethings" on the planet and have been for generations major contributors to the cultural scene of "Nap Town" (Annapolis). But they are "twenty somethings" and in fact do like to have fun. Even at their most outrageous their fun seems to have a penchant for team effort, coordination and discipline, and a kind of funky decorum. click on the link below and get down with the boys and girls of the Naval Academy in their musical video NAPTOWN FUNK:

NAP TOWN FUNK:  ( as presented By Fox News) 

http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/11/03/navy-midshipmen-produce-naptown-funk-music-video


video

Cargo Crime Up In Europe

CARGO CRIME IS ON THE INCREASE IN EUROPE,  VIOLENCE INCREASING

 Photo Credit: NOAA     American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies


  According to Freight Watch International (FWI) , a private security intelligence company servicing the transportation industry freight crimes such as cargo theft have doubled in frequency and cash value of losses in the third quarter of 2015. Ports remain fairly secure but once cargo leaves the docks or air terminal by truck, the trucking industry is being preyed upon. Worse, in Europe, especially in Germany, crimes against truck cargoes and drivers are becoming more violent. In Western Europe in the third quarter of 2015 443 cargo crimes were reported to the FWI, with the most in Germany with 98. Most such crime involves simple pilferage but two truck drivers were injured in Germany in the third quarter. Theft  of food and beverages now surpasses electronics for most often stolen cargo type. Warehouse burglaries are also up. Hijackings of trucks are up with 43 reported in the third quarter, or about 10% of cargo crimes.  

 Our Analysis: One can not help but notice that this surge in freight thefts and the increase in violence coincide with the recent flooding of Europe with military aged predominantly male groups of Muslim "Migrants". The increase in theft of food and beverage items may simply indicate the desperate circumstances of some of the "migrants" leading to crimes of opportunity. But the hijackings using increasingly violent methods indicate something more threatening. It would appear that a new and violent criminal element has arrived on scene, and have begun semi organized operations. Again we have little doubt where this new criminal element originates from. Complicating the police management of this new threat is the Europe wide government policy of political correctness and encouragement if "diversity". You can't fight an enemy you can't name. We believe that quite a number of police and security intelligence analysts believe as we do, but are simply not allowed to use non politically correctly language. The problem isn't limited to Europe within the various agencies and offices of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security each has "Correspondence Manuals" and "Writing Guides", even the Inspector General's Office of the US DHS must write all reports in accordance with their "Yellow Book".  Avoidance of naming the source of the terrorists activity and crime increases has been the norm even going back to the Bush Administration and is absolutely prohibited under the Obama Administration. If we are able to view next quarter's FWI statistics we will report again at the end of the final quarter. Cargo crime is up in Europe as the wave of Islamic "migrants floods in". We're a maritime blog so we don't track general police statistics, but would anyone care to guess what direction violence against women, assaults, arson, robbery etc. are heading in since the Third Quarter? Political correctness will probably keep any official commentary from appearing in our comment section. 


    

LITTLE BLUE MEN

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/2015/11/02/china-lassen-destroyer-spratly-islands-south-china-sea-andrew-erickson-naval-war-college-militia-coast-guard-navy-confrontation-territorial-dispute/75070058/

CHINA'S LITTLE BLUE MEN:   American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies

Photo by  Bernard Gagnon published under  GNU Free Documentation License.

China Using Maritime Militia To Carry Out Its Dirty Work In Seagoing Confrontations

Full Story In Defense News:

"WASHINGTON — When the US destroyer Lassen passed near a newly-built artificial island on Subi Reef in the South China Sea’s Spratly Islands Oct. 27, it was already being escorted by several Chinese Navy warships. The US ship represented a challenge to China’s attempt to create land and declare it and the surrounding areas sovereign territory....The Chinese naval ships, reported a US Navy source, behaved professionally during the Lassen’s transit. 'They shadowed the Lassen but stayed at a safe distance.' But several smaller vessels, described by the source as merchant ships or fishing vessels, were more provocative, crossing the Lassen’s bow and maneuvering around the destroyer even as they kept their distance."

One Expert refers to the government controlled fishing vessels as "The Little Blue men", we know them to be the newly formed Chinese Maritime Militia. You can read the full story of the U.S. Navy's first encounter with the "Little Blue Men"  in Defense News
 Also See Our Related Posts:

Beijing Expands Its Maritime Militia of Armed Commercial Fishing Boats In South China Sea

http://americanadmiraltybooks.blogspot.com/2015/08/beijing-expands-its-maritime-militia-of.html

NEW RULE: CHINESE MERCHANT SHIPS MAY BE USED BY CHINESE MILITARY

http://americanadmiraltybooks.blogspot.com/2015/09/new-rule-chinese-merchant-ships-may-be.html

Beijing Expands Its Maritime Militia of Armed Commercial Fishing Boats In South China Sea 

http://americanadmiraltybooks.blogspot.com/2015/08/beijing-expands-its-maritime-militia-of.html






             

VIDEO OF CHINA'S NEXT AIRCRAFT CARRIER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugcRo6PCtg0

CHINA IS ALREADY BUILDING ITS NEXT AIRCRAFT CARRIER:

American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies

 Photo: VOA 

China still has difficulty building carrier capable air craft and its one existing air craft carrier pictured above is a refit of an old Russian cold war era carier. The Dragon has been able to launch some aircraft from the flight deck but has had to rely on Russian aircraft engines. Despite all of the difficulties the Dragon is encountering with learning air craft carrier operations it appears that construction has already started on their second air craft carrier, this time completely home grown. The new domestic carrier still doesn't have a domestic air cfart carrier capable air craft wing in sight but that's not stopping the Dragon. The Dragons does have some serious naval capability that we should be concerned with. They have submarines capable of approaching our West Coast and launching missile at us while submerged. But the Dragon pursues all naval weapons and tactics simultaneously in its headlong rush to project power. They will eventually master aircraft carrier operations but for now they want the American public and their neighbors to believe that have a growing and ready to operate fleet of air capable ships. What hey have is simply a growing fleet. We should be concerned but hardly intimidated. If you'd like to see a video about the Dragon's next air craft carrier click here: FLYING DRAGON II  

 Model Kits     




Book:

Deciphering Chinese Strategic Deception: The Middle Kingdom's First Aircraft Carrier (China)

Russian War Ships And Israel's Air Force

Russian Warships May Be Shutting Out Israel's Air-Force Access To Syria

 IDF Photo   American Admiralty Books Safety & Privacy Policies


 Professional military airmen generally rate the Israeli Air Force tops in the world on a quality of personnel, aircraft, and effectiveness of operations basis. Interestingly the second place runner is the U.S. Air National Guard. What these two organizations probably have in common is long service by both air crews and ground maintenance. These teams work together sometime for a decade or longer. Visit the flight line today at any U.S. Air Force Base and then visit again in just three years and you'll hardly see a face from your previous visit. Its pretty much the same for most full time active duty air forces ("regulars") around the world. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has parlayed its group cohesion, superior equipment, and guts into becoming the regionally dominant air force in the Middle East. The IAF has been an enabling player for all combinations of Israeli special forces, allowing cross border strikes and insertions virtually at will against any opponent. But from now on the risk factor for IDF overflights of Syria has just increased exponentially.

 The Bear is there, and Russia is making it hot for IAF over flights. According to Russian state-controlled media; the Russian navy's Black Sea flagship, the guided missile cruiser Moscow  or Moskva left from Sevastopol in the Crimea on September 24, Today, it is believed to be  located to the west of Latakia, in western Syria conduting "training" as described by the Russian defense Ministry.

 "In the course of the training activity, the Russian ships will practice organization of anti-submarine, anti-ship, and air defense, as well as search-and-rescue activities and rendering assistance to distressed vessels.

"During the exercise, the military seamen are to perform over 40 different combat, tasks including missile and artillery firings at surface and aerial targets."

Model War Plane