In recent years China has been rapidly increasing its warship building capacity. This includes a major expansion of the Huludao (Bohai) shipyard on the Bohai Sea in northern China.
Now a new harbor is being added, possibly to accommodate the increased production of nuclear submarines...
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Russia Adds Even More Anti-Maritime Drone Defenses In Sevastopol
The October 29 Ukrainian attack on Sevastopol, using 'maritime drones' has had a dramatic impact on the Russian Navy. Now a new defensive boom has been added across the inner harbor.
The floating boom can make it difficult for the maritime drones.
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Iran's First Carrier Expected To Be Launched In 2023
Work is progressing on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' first aircraft carrier. The 240 meter long drone carrier is based on a large merchant ship hull. Two of the vessels are expected to be built, the Shahid Mahdavi and Shahid Bagheri...
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Season's Greetings & Update on Books
Season's greetings. 2022 has seen the Covert Shores blog (and Twitter) focusing on the naval aspects of the war in Ukraine. I will continue this focus as long as the fighting continues. I hope to return to submarine cutaways (there are several completed but unpublished) and the varied diet of obscure naval topics again in 2023. For the moment, I am playing it by ear however.
Please be aware that my books are no longer in print.
OSINT-Versus-Fiction: Jack Ryan's Ship Identified
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan is now in series 3 on Amazon Prime. Twitter user @legitloginname noticed that the show used satellite imagery of Sevastopol in one of its episodes. It is supposed to show a cargo ship. Of course, many in the defense and OSINT communities will instantly recognize which class of ship it actually is...
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Patriot3 Jetboots, Hammerhead & Kraken
UPDATED
Patriot-3M diver propulsion
Patriot 3 Maritime (‘Patriot3M’) produces a range of diver propulsion products ranging from the widely known Jetboots, which are small thrusters which attach to the diver’s thighs, to the virtually unknown Kraken Sub-surface Multi-mission Vehicle Read More >....
Rare Smuggling Boat Captured In Malaysia
A large go-fast boat has been interdicted by the Malaysian Coast Guard. The vessel is generally similar to those used off China for smuggling cars and other goods.
while smuggling is not unknown in Southeast Asia, these types of boats are rare there. Or at least rarely reported...
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World Large Submarine Drones Compared, Including Royal Navy Cetus
There are a growing number of large and extra-large UUVs (uncrewed underwater vehicles). The United States established an early lead but is now challenged by China. Other countries have notable projects, and Australia in particular is going big right now. Now the Royal Navy has announced the order of the Cetus design from MSubs...
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China's Continues Massive Construction At Key Navy Base In South China Sea
A major new construction has been taking place at Sanya on Hainan. The new site, being built out into the bay, is opposite a large dry dock which was only recently commissioned. ..
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Iran Building 4th Missile Catamaran, And New Stealth Version Launched
Double OSINT (open source intelligence) news on the IRGC's (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp).
The Shahid Soleimani class will be by far the most potent and modern of the IRGC's warships. As well as a mix of short and long range anti-ship missiles, it can carry three fast boats in a hangar under the helicopter deck...
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