Operation Prosperity Guardian - Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb narrows and Gulf of Aden

[Pelican]

Britain ‘will not hesitate’ to take action in Red Sea

British jets are reportedly gearing up to launch a series of air strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the wake of recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Reports first published in The Times suggest that Britain plans to coordinate with Western allies, including the United States and possibly another European nation, to execute targeted missile strikes.

The potential targets include locations in the Red Sea or mainland Yemen, the base of the Houthi rebels.

The decision follows a warning from Grant Shapps, the UK Defence Secretary. On Sunday, Shapps stated, “If the Houthis continue to threaten lives and trade, we will be forced to take the necessary and appropriate action.”

The gravity of the situation is underscored by the planned release of an unprecedented joint statement by the UK and US, warning the Houthis against continued aggression towards commercial vessels.

The Houthi rebels have been actively targeting vessels in the Red Sea, a strategic maritime route. These actions are interpreted as demonstrations of support for Hamas in its conflict with Israel in Gaza.

The repercussions of these attacks have been far-reaching, many shipping companies have resorted to the longer, more expensive route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead of passing through the Suez Canal.
Russian media urges Putin to attack British warship

Source UKDJ


Russian media has issued threats against Type 45 Destroyer HMS Diamond.
This follows the recent attack on Russia’s Novocherkassk large landing ship in Crimea, for which Russia holds the UK responsible.

Russian analysts are of the opinion that the United Kingdom played a pivotal role in the destruction of the Russian warship Novocherkassk in Crimea. It is believed that Ukraine, supported by British missiles, satellite reconnaissance, and target guidance, executed the strike.

See - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/russian ... h-warship/

[Pelican]

The United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom released a Joint-Statement today in what is now seen as a “Final Warning” to the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen; that if they do not Immediately Halt their Attacks on Commercial Shipping in the Red Sea and their Unlawfully Detaining of Vessels alongside their Crews, then they will Bear the Responsibility and Consequences of their Actions.

A Joint Statement from the Governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom ~ See:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo ... ce=twitter

[Pelican]

Tom Sharpe

Latest on some of the tactical issues the warships in the Red Sea might be facing now.
Air threat warning Red
"...the warships there will be on a war footing.
With 93 drones and missiles having been fired..."

See - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/0 ... ps-danger/

[Pelican]

Houthis reject 12-nation statement calling for an end to attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea

https://www.pgurus.com/iran-backed-hout ... n-red-sea/

[Pelican]

Personnel shortage calls into question Royal Navy deployment

Martin Docherty-Hughes MP, Shadow SNP Spokesperson for Defence, has voiced concerns over the sustainability of the UK’s military operations in light of a significant drop in navy personnel and recruitment rates.
Docherty-Hughes highlighted the geopolitical and economic threats posed by Houthi-led attacks in the Red Sea and the UK’s involvement in Operation Prosperity Guardian.

He questioned, “how sustainable this and future joint operations will be when increasing numbers of sailors have left the service, and the intake to replace them in the 12 months to March 2023 plunged by 22.1%?”

Responding to these concerns, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps conveyed confidence in the UK’s current military capabilities. He stated, “First, I am confident that we will be able to continue or increase our actions. We complete all our operational requirements at the moment.”

Acknowledging the tight labour market, Shapps added, “but I think that is a subject for celebration in this House: we are seeing such low sustained unemployment, even through some pretty turbulent times.” He reassured that the government would “redouble our efforts to ensure that all our military services can recruit the people they need.”

Shapps’ response might be seen as somewhat tone-deaf given the context. While it’s true that low unemployment is generally positive, this perspective overlooks the specific challenges faced by defence in maintaining a robust and adequately staffed armed forces.

Source UKDJ

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout - Tweets within last 2 hrs:

BREAKING:
Last night HMS Diamond part of a combined force including F/A-18s from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Gravely, USS Laboon and USS Mason that shot down 18 attack drones and two anti-ship cruise missiles fired from Yemen at shipping in the Red Sea

Using Sea Viper missiles and guns, HMS Diamond destroyed multiple attack drones heading for her and commercial shipping in the area, with no injuries or damage sustained.

View from the bridge - HMS Diamond launches Sea Viper missile last night. Diamond destroyed 7 attack drones in total.
Ships company closed up in demanding defence watches wearing anti-flash gear.

In common with all naval vertical launch missile systems, Sea Viper cannot be transferred or reloaded at sea.
Requires a harbour with cranes. It is believed the UK has stockpiled Sea Vipers at an overseas facility.


https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british ... ea-drones/

[Pelican]

U.S. Central Command@CENTCOM

Houthi Attack on International Shipping

On Jan. 9, at approximately 9:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs (OWA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting.

Eighteen OWA UAVs, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were shot down by a combined effort of F/A-18s from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mason (DDG 87), and the United Kingdom’s HMS Diamond (D34). This is the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19. There were no injuries or damage reported.

On Jan. 3, 14 countries, including the U.S, issued a joint statement stating, "The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways."

[Pelican]

Sea Viper – A guide to the missile protecting the Red Sea

Given the recent events in the Red Sea involving HMS Diamond effectively utilising the Sea Viper missile system, we believe it pertinent for our readers to gain an expanded understanding of this technology.
HMS Diamond, in collaboration with US warships, played a critical role in thwarting what has been reported as the largest attack by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the region to date.
Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/sea-vip ... e-red-sea/

[Pelican]

US and UK navies repel largest Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping
See - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67932725

Note "along with two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile."
See - https://news.sky.com/story/largest-hout ... s-13045115

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout Tweets:

MoD says Typhoons bombed sites at Bani in north-western Yemen and the airfield at Abbs. Intelligence has shown these facilities were used to launch both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea.
Video at - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 8575653159

Declared UK contribution was 4 Typhoon jets flying from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus - a very long trip of several thousand miles - which required air-air refuelling support.
Using Paveway IV Laser Guided bombs to hit 2 targets – a site said to be used for launching drones and an airfield from where the Houthis have fired missiles.
Video at - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 1101706570

Last night US and UK forces stuck more than 12 military sites in Yemen.
The forces involved included F/A-18 Super Hornets from flying from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and Tomahawk missile strikes from US destroyers in the Red Sea.
Video at - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 1372297560
See - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-u ... a-67952029

Tweet from MOD
Typhoons successfully conducted precision strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen.
See - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/air- ... s-in-yemen

This action was taken jointly with the US in response to repeated Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

See - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/paveway ... -in-yemen/
And - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain ... -in-yemen/