Category: Magazine

The state of the German Navy's armaments

The poet and writer Eugen Roth once wrote: Man piously and silently hopes that he will one day get what he wants; until he succumbs to delusion and ends up wanting what he gets. One cannot help but get the impression that Eugen Roth had an inner inkling of how armaments are sometimes carried out in today's armed forces. This article deals with the question of what the navy wants and what it actually gets. It is in the nature of things that naval armaments must be designed for the long term. The planning, procurement and...

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The enablers

Expanding maritime capabilities with amphibious assault boats Early in the morning on the western edge of the Pacific: small teams of Marines in company strength storm towards remote islands in their mobile assault boats. Supported by unmanned drones, the US Marines attack enemy landing ships and other warships with missiles before they can unload their invasion forces or advance into the depths of the Pacific. The target data generated by the combat boats is simultaneously passed on to your own air force and navy. These support the defence campaign with long-range missiles. In order to evade potential retaliatory strikes from the air, the Leathernecks change their location every 48 to 72 hours by moving from...

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Testing ground for closer partnership with NATO?

Peacekeeping missions of the Latin American armed forces Thirteen Latin American countries are involved in international peacekeeping missions, humanitarian missions or multinational missions to secure the oceans. Frequent deployment locations are Africa and the Middle East. The personnel deployed vary according to the mission, from a handful of observers to company and battalion-sized units including support troops. In line with the operational environment, primarily army troops are deployed, but naval forces are also deployed. Argentina: Buenos Aires participates in the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (two infantry companies plus transport helicopters) and deploys observers to the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights and the Western Sahara. Between 1995 and 2004, Argentina also deployed troops to support...

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Offensive mine warfare systems of the US Navy

The reassessment of the Russian and Chinese naval threat - after three decades of neglect - has reawakened the US Navy's interest in offensive mine warfare. The Navy is now seeking new, more effective methods to dislodge sea mines. This includes the introduction of new mine technology to combat enemy surface ships and submarines. Offensive mine warfare capability The current US naval mine inventory consists of the Quickstrike system and the SLMM (Submarine Launched Mobile Mine) Mk 67 system, all of which are designed for use in shallow waters only. All types are remotely detonated mines that react to the acoustic or magnetic signature of enemy ships or to the presence of...

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Maritime confrontation in the Eastern Mediterranean

In September 2020, extensive naval and air manoeuvres by the armed forces of Greece, Cyprus, France and Italy took place in the Eastern Mediterranean, accompanied by diplomatic warnings to Turkey to respect the International Convention on the Law of the Sea and customary international law. The Turkish Navy had issued several Navtexes announcing test drillings by the research vessel ORUÇ REIS south of Cyprus. This work was extended until mid-October. At the same time, the drilling vessel YAVUZ is carrying out investigations in the region. Turkish research vessels are being protected by Turkish naval units and other nations are being asked to stay away from the area. Greece and Cyprus consider the territory in question to be part of their...

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