Presentació del nou vaixell ZIM Tarragona (Vídeo)

			El passat dijous 10 de novembre el Port va rebre el vaixell de contenidors TARRAGONA de la naviliera ZIM. Podeu veure la vídeo-notícia aquí.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William T. Jenkins, USS Essex (LHD 2) Public Affairs SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) returned to Sasebo, Japan Dec. 8 after completing a two-and-a-half month patrol of the Western Pacific. Throughout the patrol, Essex Sailors along with the embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in two exercises and steamed more than 13,000 nautical miles. One of the exercises was a certification exercise (CERTEX) for the 31st MEU, which tested the Marines ability to project power ashore from Essex. This exercise, which concluded Oct. 16, validated the MEU's capability to perform a variety of tasks and to integrate with the Navy to conduct amphibious operations. Essex also completed an Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) with the 31st MEU and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). PHIBLEX is a bilateral training exercise conducted at sea and ashore in the Republic of the Philippines, which is designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and build professional and personal relationships between U.S. forces and the AFP. "The Essex team performed very well during our deployment," said Capt. David Fluker, Essex commanding officer. "We were able to accomplish all of our assigned missions, which included working with the 31st MEU to earn their certification and taking part in the bilateral exercise PHIBLEX with the Republic of the Philippines. I am very proud of the crew's performance in accomplishing both exercises." After PHIBLEX concluded Oct. 30, Sailors, Marines and their equipment and vehicles were back loaded aboard Essex. The ship and its crew then steamed to the coast of Bali, Indonesia in support of a presidential visit and to conduct training with the Indonesian military. While anchored off the coast of Bali, the Amphibious Squadron 11 Commodore, Capt. Bradley Lee and the Essex commanding officer hosted an evening reception on the flight deck for Indonesian and U.S. dignitaries. Additionally, Essex Sailors and Marines had the chance to experience liberty in Bali during a four-day port visit. After Essex departed Bali, the ship steamed to Manila, Republic of the Philippines for a three-day liberty port visit. For some of the crew, this was an opportunity for them to visit family who live in the Philippines. Also during the port visit, Essex Sailors finished the final series of graded damage control drills to complete its unit level training assessment certification. The deployment also marked the first time many Essex Sailors were underway with the ship. Many took advantage of their time at sea by earning qualifications. "This was my first time underway," said Operations Specialist Seaman Recruit Brinton Irons. "I was able to get all my basic shipboard qualifications." More than 280 Sailors earned either their enlisted surface warfare or enlisted aviation warfare qualification during the deployment. Fluker said the hard work of the crew and the integration of many units led to a successful deployment. "The crew came together in true Essex fashion to perform the mission, whether it was supporting the MEU, executing complex shipboard evolutions, or supporting theater security cooperation efforts," said Fluker. "I could not be prouder of the professionalism and dedication of our Sailors and Marines." For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd2/.   * Notícia publicada al lloc web de la US Navy. Creiem indicat reproduür-la donat el poc coneixement que hi ha, en general, de les forces amfíbies dels Estats Units, sovint eclipsades pels imponents portaavions.

Newer Isn't Always Better Enough*

December 4, 2011: Russia has begun construction of its second "Improved Kilo" class diesel-electric submarine. These are mostly for the export market, although the Russian Navy is buying a few more of this improved model as well. The Kilos weigh 2,300 tons (surface displacement), have six torpedo tubes and a crew of 57. They are quiet, and can travel about 700 kilometers under water at a quiet speed of about five kilometers an hour. Kilos carry 18 torpedoes or SS-N-27 anti-ship missiles (with a range of 300 kilometers and launched underwater from the torpedo tubes.) The combination of quietness and cruise missiles makes Kilo very dangerous to American carriers. But for the Russians, their Kilos are mostly for home defense. Nuclear subs are used for the long distance work. The successor to the Kilo, the Lada, underwent three years of sea trials before they were declared fit for service two years ago. One has been built and another is under construction and eight are planned. The problem with the Lada is that it is not enough of an improvement on the latest Kilo to attract any export orders. 

 

The Kilo class boats entered service in the early 1980s. Russia only bought 24 of them, but exported over 30. It was considered a successful design, especially with export customers. But just before the Cold War ended in 1991, the Soviet Navy began work on the Lada. This project was stalled during most of the 1990s by a lack of money, but was revived in the last decade.

 

The Ladas have six 533mm torpedo tubes, with 18 torpedoes and/or missiles carried. The Lada has a surface displacement of 1,750 tons, are 71 meters (220 feet) long and carry a crew of 38. Each crewmember has their own cabin (very small for the junior crew, but still, a big morale boost). When submerged, the submarine can cruise at a top speed of about 39 kilometers an hour (half that on the surface) and can dive to about 250 meters (800 feet). The Lada can stay at sea for as long as 50 days, and the sub can travel as much as 10,000 kilometers using its diesel engine (underwater, via the snorkel). Submerged, using battery power alone, the Lada can travel about 450 kilometers. There is also an electronic periscope (which goes to the surface via a cable), that includes a night vision capability and a laser range finder. The Lada was designed to accept a AIP (air independent propulsion) system. Russia was long a pioneer in AIP design, but in the last decade, Western European nations have taken the lead. Construction on the first Lada began in 1997, but money shortages delayed work for years. The first Lada boat was finally completed in 2005. A less complex version, called the Amur, is being offered for export. 

 

The Ladas are designed to be fast attack and scouting boats. They are intended for anti-surface and anti-submarine operations as well as naval reconnaissance. These boats are said to be eight times quieter than the Kilos. This was accomplished by using anechoic (sound absorbing) tile coatings on the exterior, and a very quiet (skewed) propeller. All interior machinery was designed with silence in mind. The sensors include active and passive sonars, including towed passive sonar. 

 

Russia has 17 Kilos in service (and six in reserve) and six Improved Kilos on order. More than that is on order from foreign customers, and efforts to sell the Lada continue. 

* Notícia publicada a Strategy Page. Creiem convenient anar seguint l'evolució dels dissenys submarins russos, especialment en el cas dels de propulsió convencional ( dièsel / elèctric), doncs són els que tenen més opcions d'exportació.

En motiu del 70è aniversari de l'atac a Pearl Harbor, Blau Naval us recomana visitar el lloc web que ha habilitat la US Navy. Malgrat que les relacions entre els Estats Units i Japó estiguin plenament restablertes, no hi ha cap motiu per no commemorar un data tant trascendental. Podriem allargar-nos en aquest tema, però preferim recomanar-vos que visiteu la pàgina.