Navantia UK’s Post

Interesting observation of our maritime force, and the need for modernization.

“Quadrilateral Combined Naval Exercise,” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, April 8, 2024. This Background Brief considers five questions: (1) are the quadrilateral naval exercises in response to China’s actions at Second Thomas Shoal? (2) what message doe these exercises send to China and Indo-China? (3) what is the Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept? (4) what is the current situation between the U.S. and its allies and China? (5) Can the Philippines fund its Re-Horizon 3 Initiative? https://lnkd.in/gE3AEcts. #Quadrilateral_naval_exercise, #Philippines, #exclusive_economic_zone, #defence_chiefs, #China, #Second_Thomas_Shoal, #South_China_Sea, #Maritime_Cooperative_Activity, #MCA, #United_States, #Japan, #Australia, #helicopters, #Poseidon_P_8A_maritime_patrol_aircraft, #US_Navy, #Royal_Australian_Air_Force, #BRP_Gregorio_del_Pilar, #BRP_Antonio_Luna, #BRP_Valentin_Diaz, #USS_Mobile, #HMAS_Warramunga, #JS_Akebobo, #communication_exercise, #anti_submarine_exercise, #divisional_tactics, #Chinese_aggressiveness, #Ferdinand_Marcos_Jr., #China_Coast_Guard, #China_Maritime_Militia, #Comprehensive_Archipelagic_Defense_Concept, #trilateral_summit, #Joe_Biden, #Fumoi_Kishida, #China_Southern_Command, #naval_and_air_combat_exercises, #Indo_Pacific_Region, #littoral_states, #maritime_powers, #freedom_of_navigation_and_overflight, #rules_based_free_and_open_Indo_Pacific, #Department_of_National_Defense, #territorial_defence, #Philippine_archipelago, #Philippine_Navy, #active_Archipelagic_Defense_Strategy, #joint_and_combined_operations, #Unified_Commands, #Philippine_Marine_Corps, #Archipelagic_Coastal_Defense, #sovereignty, #sovereign_jurisdiction, #EEZ, #Taiwan, #Romeo_Brawner, #Revised_Armed_Forces_of_the_Philippines_Modernization_Program, #RAFPMP, #Horizon_3, #Re_Horizon_3, #multi_role_fighters, #frigates, #missiles, #radar, #AUKUS, #Pillar_II, #artificial_intelligence, #quantum_computing, #electronic_warfare, #undersea_drones, #hypersonic_missiles, #military_technology, #economic_growth, #emerging_technologies, #clean_energy_supply_chains, #climate_cooperation, #Mutual_Defense_Treaty, #ironclad, #human_rights, #democracy, #GlobalDate, #defence_expenditure, #compound_annual_growth_rate, #defence_acquisition, #CAGR

Advances in drone technology could end freedom of the seas – PART 1 of 3 For two millennia, maritime power has been decisive in miliary conflicts between empires. In ancient Greece, Athens enjoyed unquestioned maritime superiority; its rival Sparta was the dominant land power. Overturning Athens’ advantage, in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) the Spartan fleet, built with Persian subsidies, finally defeated Athens and started a period of Spartan hegemony over Greece. By 405 BCE, Athens capitulated and lost its empire. At the outset the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 BCE), Carthage was the dominant power of the western Mediterranean, with an extensive maritime empire, while Rome was a rapidly expanding power in Italy, with a strong army but no navy. In 260 BCE. the Romans built a navy to challenge Carthage's sea power. Taking advantage of their naval victories, Rome launched an invasion of North Africa in 256 BCE, during the 1st Punic War. Carthage would later be razed by the Romans in 146 BCE at the conclusion of the 3rd Punic War. Command of the sea yields a more absolute and extensive superiority in the marine environment than does command of the land in its environment,[1] a lesson Napoleon failed to learn during the Napoleonic wars (1803–1815). In 1810 the British Royal Navy’s close blockade of French, and major French-allied, ports was so rigorous that not a single French naval squadron put to sea.[2] Today, US miliary doctrine still teaches that “Sea control, total control of the seas for the free movement of all, is the first function of the U.S. Navy. It means control of set air, surface, and subsurface areas, when and where needed.”[3] Note the caveat. The sea cannot be commanded if control is lacking in the air. _________________________________ [1] Gray, Colin S. “Sea Power: The Great Enabler.” Naval War College Review 47, no. 1 (1994): 18–27. https://lnkd.in/etHkkHCs. [2] Adam Link (March 17, 2015). On Seapower and Landpower. Modern War Institute at West Point. https://lnkd.in/eiKYPwEA [3] US Department of Defense (n.d.). Sea Power. https://lnkd.in/e7s52gN6 Agents from Ukraine’s SBU intelligence forces in the field (courtesy of Lycksele-Nord via Wikimedia Commons)

The Battle of Eurymedon (469 BCE) - Amphibious Warfare After the Defeat of Persia Background: In the aftermath of the Greco-Persian Wars, tensions between the Delian League, led by Athens, and the remnants of the Persian Empire escalated. The Battle of Eurymedon in present-day southern Turkey emerged as a significant engagement during this "Fifty-Year" period (Pentekontaetia), symbolizing Athens' expanding naval power. Tactics: Under the leadership of the Athenian general Cimon, the Greeks aimed to exploit their naval strengths employed during the Greco-Persian Wars. Cimon understood the value of amphibious operations and was prepared to transition seamlessly between naval and land engagements. The Battle: The conflict at Eurymedon was a two-pronged victory for the Greeks. First, the Athenian navy decimated the Persian fleet at sea, approximately 200 ships. Subsequently, leveraging the disarray among Persian ranks, Cimon led his hoplites ashore, clinching a resounding victory on land, capturing or destroying the soldiers ashore. Broader Implications for Warfare: Sea Power: Eurymedon emphasized the Aegean's shift towards Athenian naval hegemony, a dominance that would play a pivotal role in the classical age's subsequent decades (especially the Peloponnesian War). Amphibious Warfare: Cimon's ability to capitalize on a naval victory by immediately launching a land assault showcased a military's tactical flexibility and advantages that integrated its navy and army. The Spectrum of War: While not as renowned as the battles of the Greco-Persian Wars, Eurymedon illustrated that skirmishes and conflicts continued between Greece and Persia, shaping the geopolitics of the era. Not all conflicts are grand, and many small conflicts occur rapidly with little warning. Why This Matters: The Battle of Eurymedon was more than just an Athenian victory; it was a testament to the adaptability of Greek warfare strategies during the Persian invasions. Moreover, it paved the way for the Golden Age of Athens, as the city-state solidified its position as the Aegean's leading naval power and leader of the Delian League. I'm Amish Smith, a Marine, an Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the University of Idaho, and a student of history's lessons. Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum #bitesizedhistory #history #military #war #students #highereducation

I am sure you must’ve heard of the term “Kamikaze”. It was popularized during WW2 when Japanese military aviators would fly straight into Allied naval warships, intending to destroy them at the cost of their lives. Did you know the word has its root back in the Mongol Invasion of Japan in the 1200s?   Kamikaze, a Japanese term, translates to “divine wind” (kami - godly/divine, kaze – wind). Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, with an intention to rule over Japan, attacked the Japanese Island chains in between 1274 to 1281. During the second Mongol Invasion of 1281, the Mongol forces took over the island of Tsushima, then eyeing out the island Iki (better clarity with the picture below). Soon, the island Iki and its subject were under Mongol rule. Kublai Khan then placed his eyesight on mainland Japan. But fate would have different plans for him. Kublai Khan’s fleet, composed of more than four thousand ships bearing nearly 140,000 men, is credited to be the largest attempt at naval invasion in history, whose scale was only recently thwarted by the D-Day invasion of allied forces into Normandy in 1944. Unable to find any suitable landing beaches due to the walls (built by the Japanese after the first invasion of 1274), the fleet stayed afloat for months and depleted their supplies as they searched for an area to land. After months of being exposed to the elements, the fleet was destroyed by a great typhoon one night, killing almost 70,000 men. The remaining men were captured by the Japanese. This typhoon then entered the myth of Japan, who believed that a divine wind (kami – kaze) had saved them from the attackers. If you found this informative, do follow me for more insights into philosophy, history and finance. #history

The fight for the small Italian coastal town of Ortona was one of Canada's hardest fought battles of the Second World War. It was also a nightmare for Canadian tankers who attempted to enter the rubble filled streets. Tanks were often immobilized by the rubble and ambushed by hidden defenders in the buildings that surrounded them. This image demonstrates well the inability to maneuver and effectively employ armoured forces in built-up urban environments. The Imperial War Museum credit this image as tanks of the 12th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment) supporting Canadian troops of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Thanks to the war diary digitalization efforts of CRMA-ACRC, we can more accurately identify what is happening in the photograph and what happens after. These are tanks of "B" Company, supporting the PPCLI as they moved to clear the outskirts of Ortona from a withdrawing enemy on December 29, 1943. The tankers would face light resistance and some shelling by the enemy but completed and held their objective by nightfall. A welcome break to the intense fighting in and around Ortona the week prior. Note the Sherman tank in the foreground named 'Blastaway' which appears to have a depiction of a beaver on the tanks hull. Possibly the tank crews mascot or even a reminder of home. Photograph courtesy: Imperial War Museum Digital Archive #history #WW2 #Canada #historian #canadianhistory

The impact of World War II on indigenous populations varied significantly depending on the region and the specific circumstances of each indigenous community. It's important to note that the effects of the war changed based on factors such as location, colonial history, involvement in the war, and interaction with the warring parties. Indigenous people from various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, served in their respective countries armed forces during World War II. On Pacific islands that were directly affected by the war, indigenous communities often experienced displacement due to fighting, bombing, and military operations. Many were forced to leave their ancestral lands, disrupting their traditional ways of life. Those in areas where major battles took place suffered significant consequences due to the war's impact on their environments, resources, and ways of life. In the photo: Indigenous people of the South Pacific prepare meals for servicemen, probably New Caledonia. Indigenous communities in colonies controlled by European powers often caught themselves in the struggles between those colonial powers and the Axis forces. The effects of the war were complex and multifaceted, and they continue to be a subject of historical research and exploration.

History is one of the magnets of Croatian tourism, so we highlight Vis as an important maritime base throughout many centuries. Today, it's a true gem of the Adriatic, transforming its historical, including military, significance into a Croatian tourist attraction.