Category: Magazine

Iran - Spy ship for the Persian Gulf

After numerous hints and confusion, the Iranian navy officially unveiled its first nationally developed and built reconnaissance ship "Zagros" at the end of January. Here too - as is often the case in the Iranian shipbuilding programme - a tried and tested ship type was simply modified in order to fulfil new tasks: A Mowj-class corvette (95 metres, 1,500 tonnes) was stripped of all armament to make room for extended superstructures with SIGINT equipment and a small hangar for a helicopter - the exact role of which in electronic reconnaissance is not yet certain. It was probably not yet put into service at the time of the presentation because further...

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When the box falls into the sea

Six years ago, the MSC Zoe lost several hundred containers in the North Sea - and for hours the crew didn't notice. Researchers are now working on how to minimise the extent of such accidents. Six years ago, the "MSC Zoe" was one of the largest container ships in the world: a good 395 metres long and 59 metres wide, it can load over 19,000 standard containers (TEU). The Panamanian-flagged ship was on its way to Bremerhaven from Portugal on the night of 2 January 2019 when it happened: In several batches and in bad weather off the Dutch and German coasts, the...

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Great Britain - Nuclear submarine on hold

The "HMS Audacious" had to wait a whole two years for necessary work on the outer hull before it could finally move into dry dock number 15 in Devonport as part of its shipyard repair phase. After a one-year deployment in the Mediterranean from 2022 to 2023, the fourth attack boat in the Astute class (97 metres long, 7,500 tonnes submerged) needed a dry berth sooner than expected for urgently needed work on the outer hull. However, Dock 15 had to be remodelled and adapted to the dimensions of the Astute class beforehand - after four years in which the last boat of the ageing Trafalgar class was still berthed there. With...

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Autonomous naval boats: The self-employed

Many companies are developing new combat boats or equipping tried and tested ones with modern technology for autonomous use. One of the pioneers is Team Germany with Tamsen, Hagenuk, Hensoldt and Plath. In the wake of changing security policy challenges and the changing requirements for modern maritime deployment concepts, the further development of combat and operational boats is becoming increasingly strategically important. At the same time, the development of autonomous maritime systems is progressing rapidly. State-of-the-art sensor technology, AI-supported data processing and autonomous control systems are revolutionising military and security-related ship operations. Many nations are increasingly relying on unmanned systems, particularly in the areas of border protection, reconnaissance and tactical operations. Autonomous mission boats are playing a key role in...

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France tests the "Courbet" frigate

Unlike other navies, the German Navy also tests its units against shock effects while they are in operation - and underway. However, this rarely happens. At the end of February, it happened again: "Courbet", one of the five La Fayette-class frigates (124 metres, 3,800 tonnes) with almost 30 years at sea under its keel, was subjected to a mine explosion as a "near miss explosion" in order to put the crew and equipment to the test. The result is of course subject to secrecy. The US Navy, for example, tests its type ships in a series of four blasts in ascending intensity up to 66% of the "maximum design shock value" on the third...

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