General Naval Topics

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The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) ~ Corporate report, The Science Inside


Introduction by Doug Umbers, interim chief executive of Dstl:
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to The Science Inside, a snapshot of impactful projects that we have delivered for UK Defence and Security over the past year.

Dstl’s world-class people are a proven Defence asset we can be all be proud of, whether it be acting as a trusted partner to demystify and harness the application of science and technology (S&T), offering credible, impartial, evidence-driven advice and solutions to the armed forces, police and security colleagues, or helping to create clear military and security advantage.

The past 12 months have again been challenging for the UK as we navigate our way out of the coronavirus pandemic and the threats from state and non-state adversaries continue to evolve at a frenetic pace. Despite these challenges, Dstl is playing its part in helping the UK and its allies stay ahead of those who wish us harm and threaten our way of life.

We are giving greater emphasis to research into artificial intelligence, autonomy, cyber, novel weapons and space in support of the ambitions outlined by the Prime Minister in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and the MOD’s Chief Scientific Adviser’s 5 capability challenges.

We are also casting our net further to find, nurture and fund generation after next technologies that have the potential to give the UK the edge, boosted by an additional £1 billion on Defence S&T research.

But we are also maintaining our hard-earned expertise across 22 S&T capability areas delivering 4 main outputs:

Continues at - https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... e#maritime

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Learning the lessons – the loss the Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad

In 2021 the Accident Investigation Board – Norway (AIBN) published a detailed report covering the loss of HNoMS Helge Ingstad after she collided with an oil tanker in November 2018. There is much to be learned from this event that is applicable to the RN and global navies. In this in-depth, although far from exhaustive, article we describe the incident and look at some of the key lessons.

Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/learning-th ... e-ingstad/

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Electric Warships – From There to Here and Beyond


The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
IMarEST TV recording from the Naval Engineering Special Interest Group, presented by Frank Mungo.

Three old friends who were part of the conference planning review the origins of the Royal Navy’s Full Electric Propulsion (FEP) strategy and its early days of technology demonstration (despite CADMID) – in passing explaining the roots EAAW in the Electric Warship lecture series.
They then describe the selection of FEP for three classes of Royal Navy warship, and dwell in particular on the early trials and tribulations of the T45, explain why it hasn’t made its way into nuclear submarines yet (Except in France) and digress briefly into the USN experience.
Finally they wonder could we, should we, use it in future; if so what would we have to do to succeed.

ABOUT EAAW
Engine as a Weapon International Symposium IXEAAW IX - Harnessing the Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to Shape the Future Battlespace
EAAW IX explores the opportunities and challenges of manufacturing, integrating and supporting complex systems and equipment at the forefront of naval technology. Taking place online, the conference will look across the naval enterprise to understand how the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are being harnessed to shape the future battlespace.

View at - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgcnwXF-aw

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Costing Up The Value of Everything - Is There Really £13bn Waste' in Defence?


The MOD has been accused of wasting some £13bn of taxpayers money since 2010. This serious charge, levied by the main UK political opposition party, is at the core of a ‘dossier’ which suggests that there has been serious and profligate mismanagement in Defence, with enormous amounts of public money wasted, which could have been spent elsewhere. Is this a fair and reasonable accusation to make?

From the outset, it is important to be clear that this blog article is not taking a subjective view on the political party in question, nor is it taking political sides. This blog is, and always has been apolitical in its approach, and has not, and will not, express any views on the political views or policies of Political parties. This blog should be seen as an impartial attempt to understand the charges, and present an alternative perspective on some parts of them.

Waste is an enormously emotive word, and one that brings to mind images of inept public sector workers intentionally taking decisions that knowingly are poor value for money, or which represent decisions that will hurt the front line, because they simply don’t care.

Continues at - https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com ... there.html

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A brief look at the Royal Navy’s big projects


Here’s a brief look at some of the big projects being undertaken by the Royal Navy over the next decade and their current status.

The following table was submitted as part of a follow up to an oral evidence session relating to the Defence Equipment plan.

“The tables in the Annex set out the main changes to the Equipment Plan as previously published following the IR. If not included here it is because the investment will continue as previously published, or the system will come out of service to existing planned dates. The Equipment Plan is updated on an annual basis and any in year changes will be reflected in next year’s report.”

The above in bold is why Dreadnought and other projects do not appear in this table.

Table at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/a-brief ... DWm3bJQxdg

projects for next decade.pdf

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Russia cutting underwater cables could be an act of war, says UK defence chief


The head of the UK’s armed forces has warned that Russian submarine activity is threatening underwater cables that are crucial to communication systems around the world.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said undersea cables that transmit internet data are “the world’s real information system”, and added that any attempt to damage them could be considered an “act of war”.

Speaking to The Times in his first interview since assuming the role, Sir Tony – a former head of the Royal Navy – said there had been a “phenomenal increase in Russian submarine and underwater activity” over the past 20 years.

Continues at - https://www.aol.co.uk/news/defence-chie ... eYo1vC9SCW




The threat to world’s communications backbone – the vulnerability of undersea cables


Undersea data cables are critical to the internet upon which the modern world has come to depend. This hidden network forms the backbone of global communications but is surprisingly vulnerable to interference by hostile actors. Protecting this infrastructure may become an increasingly important remit for the Royal Navy.

Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/the-threat- ... ea-cables/

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"Verify Range to Target - One Ping Only" - HMS NORTHUMBERLAND and the Russians...


The Royal Navy has been in the headlines this week for allegedly colliding with a Russian submarine somewhere in the North Atlantic. This moment of high drama was captured on film by the new series of the Channel 5 show ‘Warship’, now on its third season. The result has been national attention on the difficult work carried out by the ASW force, often in challenging and demanding conditions far out to sea.

The decision to invite camera crews onboard Royal Navy vessels to film Warship has proven to be an inspired decision, and one that has helped shine a light on one of the most secretive and poorly understood parts of the Service.

The threat from submarines has never gone away and the Royal Navy more than most understands recognises what threat a capable and competently operated submarine can present. Throughout the Cold War the RN specialised in hunting Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic, tracking them and trying to ensure that in wartime, the enemy would not get through to threaten the carriers, REFORGER convoys and the SSBN patrol areas.


It is over 30 years since the Soviet threat vanished, but the Russian Navy continues to represent a credible and capable potential threat. The nature of this threat has changed over time, with the need to protect the REFORGER convoys and sea lanes replaced by a need to protect critical national infrastructure on the sea bed, and continue to protect against SSBN operations being compromised.

Continues at - https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com ... -only.html

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FURTHER TO CONTENTS OF PREVIOUS POST

HMS Westminster

Seen alongside at South Railway Jetty, Portsmouth after returning from deployment up north.
Note the Blue Nose denoting recent service in the Arctic Circle.

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Ammunition loading jetty for Royal Navy’s surface fleet completed

Shortly before Christmas I was happy to complete a major Defence project which has been occupying a lot of my time over the last few years. On 15th December we handed over the Northern Ammunition Jetty at Glen Mallan to our colleagues in Defence Equipment & Support, who will operate it.
Continues at - https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2022/01/1 ... completed/
And - https://www.navylookout.com/upgrades-to ... -carriers/
See also 'Related Articles' at the end.

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Royal Navy: General Electric to set up shop in Portsmouth as base for powering navy ships

AMERICAN conglomerate General Electric has submitted plans to set up a base in Portsmouth to support its work with the Royal Navy.
Its subsidiary, GE Energy Power Conversion UK Limited, has applied to the city council for permission to convert the former HSS Hire building in Herbert Street to support its 'critical' role operating naval vessels.

Continues at - https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/polit ... ps-3523178