China PLAN anti-piracy convoy schedule for November, 2013:
GULF OF ADEN: Chinese Navy convoy schedule for October and November 2013. For further information, please e-mail cnmrcc@msa.gov.cn, cnmrcc@mot.gov.cn, or call Tel: 86-10-652-92221 Fax: 86-10-652-92245 (MSCHOA).
Source: US Navy, Office of Naval Intelligence
A Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy squadron has passed through the Strait of Magellan from the Pacific into the Atlantic. The force comprises the Type 052C destroyer ‘Lanzhou’, the Type 54A frigate ‘Liuzhou’ and the Fuqing-class replenishment oiler ‘Poyanghu’. The fleet political commissar”(队政委… now there’s a job description!) commented that this was {quote} “a very meaningful military practice” {unquote}. Which hits the nail on the head. China is no longer content to be a regional naval power and is increasing its global projection. The West ignores that at its peril.
高清：中国海军舰艇编队首次通过麦哲伦海峡
麦哲伦海峡东部出口海域宽阔，海峡两岸是一座雪山。图为兰州舰航行在麦哲伦海峡。严冬摄
14日下午3时（北京时间15日凌晨2时），由导弹驱逐舰兰州舰、导弹护卫舰柳州舰和综合补给舰鄱阳湖舰组成的舰艇编队顺利通过麦哲伦海峡，抵达海峡东部出口引水点。这是中国海军舰艇编队首次航经麦哲伦海峡。
记者在兰州舰看到，海峡东部出口海域宽阔，天气晴朗，平均浪高2米，风力3-4级，海面过往船只、油井平台较多。我舰艇编队组成单纵队劈波斩浪，一路向北航行。
编队13日从智利内水道转入麦哲伦海峡西部入口水域，顶着海面9-10级大风，在浪高达4-6米，摇摆达10度以上。陶宏祥摄
编队是昨日从智利内水道转入麦哲伦海峡西部入口水域，当地时间下午2时进入海峡。当时，海面风力9-10级，浪高4-6米，舰艇摇摆10度以上。进入海峡后，风浪减少了许多，但海面风力仍达到5-6级，平均浪高3米。
为了确保编队航行安全，全体官兵在指挥员、南海舰队副参谋长李晓岩少将的率领下，认真研究、精心准备、精确操作，严格落实狭水道航行、雾中航行、大风浪航行等部署，航渡过程没有出现任何差错，顺利通过海峡。
在麦哲伦海峡入口处，狂风卷起巨浪打过兰州舰。何得志摄
兰州舰舰长唐银川有着多年的航海经验，也曾多次在各种复杂海域航行过，提起此次航渡麦哲伦海峡的感受，他向记者介绍：“海峡航行里程、狭窄地段长，水道曲折，大角度转向多，西风和涌浪较大，流向多变，在这里航行，确实是一种挑战，但是我们经受住了考验，得到了锻炼，复杂陌生海域的舰艇操纵能力得到进一步加强。”
记者了解到，通过海峡后，编队领导亲自部署，要求各舰、各相关部门细心收集和整理相关资料，认真总结航渡经验。编队政委冯瑞声说：“此次我们海军舰艇编队首次通过麦哲伦海峡，显示了中国海军在走向深蓝的征程中更加从容和自信。这也是一次非常有意义的军事实践活动。”（记者陶宏祥 特约记者曾行践）
我舰艇编队组成单纵队劈波斩浪，一路向北航行。海峡两岸是一座座雪山。陶宏祥摄
新闻链接：
麦哲伦海峡位于南美洲大陆南端和火地岛、克拉伦斯岛、圣伊内斯岛之间，长约563km，宽3.3～32km，由地壳断裂下陷而成。1520年，葡萄牙航海家麦哲伦首先通过，因此取名麦哲伦海峡。海峡处于南纬50多度的西风带，两侧岩岸陡峭、高耸入云。海峡内寒冷多雾，并多大风暴，是世界上风浪最猛烈的水域之一，不利于航运发展，但在巴拿马运河开通前，是南大西洋和南太平洋间的重要航道。麦哲伦海峡，实行“过境通行”和强制引航制度。
Japan, South Korea, China and India all providing naval escorts through Pirate Alley during August and September.
PLAN and GULF OF ADEN: Government of Japan convoy schedule for August and September 2013. Merchant vessels that wish to apply for JMSDF escort operation should visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2_000000.html, please contact directly the Anti-Piracy Contact and Coordination Office, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MILT), Japan: Tel: +81-3-5253-8932 Fax: +81-3-5253-1643 Email: INFO-PIRACY@mlit.go.jp (MSCHOA)
GULF OF ADEN: Korean Navy convoy schedule for August and September 2013. All merchant vessels wishing to join the convoy group must submit their application forms directly to the ROK naval warship carrying out the mission. The ROK MTG can be reached directly at (INMARSAT: 870-773-110-374), (Email: rokcheonghae@gmail.com) (MSCHOA)
GULF OF ADEN: Chinese Navy convoy schedule for August and September 2013. For further information, please e-mail cnmrcc@msa.gov.cn, cnmrcc@mot.gov.cn, or call Tel: 86-10-652-92221 Fax: 86-10-652-92245 (MSCHOA)
GULF OF ADEN: Indian Navy convoy escort schedule for August and September 2013. To register, email antipiracyescort@dgshipping.com or dgcommcentre@satyammail.net, or visit http://www.dgshipping.com. Telephone numbers for contact are: 91-22-22614646 or fax at 91-22-22613636 (MSCHOA)
Courtesy of the Communist Party newspaper China Peoples Daily, a photograph of the production model of the Shenyang J-15 painted in “sea gray” with PLANAF insignia. The J-15 will be based on the PLAN aircraft carrier Liaoning.
尹卓:歼-15舰载机换海军涂装说明已服役 可进行量产
从央视新闻画面，我们可以看到歼-15战斗机量产型采用标准的海军灰蓝色涂装，座舱后部涂装有海军军旗。
人民网北京9月4日电 （记者 黄子娟）近日，很多眼尖的军迷发现，在央视新闻报道画面中，显示歼-15涂着海灰色涂装，座舱后侧下方还喷绘着一面解放军海军旗。坊间纷纷猜测，或许这正是已经下线的歼-15量产型。军事专家尹卓在接受央视采访时表示，歼15着海军涂装表明已经服役，其技术成熟可以进行量产。
歼-15(代号飞鲨；英文为J-15)为重型舰载战斗机，是沈飞在国产歼-11战斗机的基础上研发而成。
2009年8月，歼-15进行了首次试飞。去年11月5日，《解放军报》头版正式发布了中国航母舰载机触舰起飞的消息。去年11月25日，随着飞行员戴明盟驾驶编号为552的歼-15在“辽宁”号上成功着舰并起飞，“飞鲨”终于揭开神秘的面纱。
今年，“辽宁”号多次出海进行了科研试验和训练，并在渤海进行了歼-15的多批次起降飞行训练。据报道，不久还将进行危险的带弹滑跃起飞训练。
很多眼尖的军迷都发现，在央视新闻节目9月1日的报道中，有一个画面，显示歼-15涂着海灰色涂装，机头雷达整流罩则呈深灰色，座舱后侧下方还喷绘着一面解放军海军旗。坊间纷纷猜测，或许这正是已经下线的“飞鲨”量产型。进入量产阶段，飞机的设计图便已冻结，各项性能参数已经确定，是战斗机投入使用的重要标志。
谈到歼-15是否已经量产时，尹卓表示，目前尚没有任何官方消息证实，从分析的角度看，首先歼15着海军涂装，说明它已经正式服役。之前我们看到连续5架在辽宁舰着舰的飞机都是黄色，那代表是试验机，属于在研制的过程中，还没有定型。定型以后，交付到海军，一定是作战飞机，就改成海军涂装了。
尹卓说，从歼15已经服役分析，说明其技术已经成熟，表明可以进行量产，所以网友们的推测是符合逻辑的。
http://military.people.com.cn/n/2013/0904/c1011-22802086.html
China’s first independently-developed new-generation guided missile frigate “Bengbu” in the live guided missile fire training in a certain sea area of the East China Sea. (China Military Online/Wan Fusheng, Wu Shangrui)
China’s first independently-developed new-generation guided missile frigate “Bengbu” in the live guided missile fire training in a certain sea area of the East China Sea. (China Military Online/Wan Fusheng, Wu Shangrui)
China’s first independently-developed new-generation guided missile frigate “Bengbu” in the live guided missile fire training in a certain sea area of the East China Sea. (China Military Online/Wan Fusheng, Wu Shangrui)
China’s first independently-developed new-generation guided missile frigate “Bengbu” in the live guided missile fire training in a certain sea area of the East China Sea. (China Military Online/Wan Fusheng, Wu Shangrui)
The Huizhou (596) and Qinzhou (597) are Type 056 Jiangdao-class frigates. There seems to be some dispute in the nomenclature as to whether these are frigates or corvettes. It appears equipped with sufficient anti-ship, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine systems to fulfill a multirole mission (similar to that envisaged for the British Type 26 and the American LCS). A initial batch of 40 frigates/corvettes is planned by the Chinese Navy.
Two new-type frigates of PLA Hong Kong Garrison commissioned
HONG KONG, July 2 (ChinaMil) — The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held the commissioning, naming and flag-granting ceremony for the Huizhou frigate and the Qinzhou frigate at 10:00 on the morning of July 1, 2013 at the Stonecutters Island naval port in Hong Kong, marking that the two new-type frigates are formally commissioned.
The newly-commissioned Huizhou frigate and the Qinzhou frigate with the hull numbers of 596 and 597 respectively are China’s independently designed, developed and produced new-generation light guided-missile frigate integrated with many types of weapons and equipment, possessing good stealth performance and strong electromagnetic compatibility, according to the briefing.
The two frigates will be mainly responsible for tasks including patrolling, defense, naval escort and operation against sea targets after their commissioning. In addition, they will gradually replace the guided-missile escort boats now in service, becoming the main combat equipment of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison for maritime defense.
After the ceremony, the two frigates were open to the Hong Kong residents for the first time and a total of 13,000 Hong Kong residents boarded the frigates for visit.
Chinese Peoples Army Navy (PLAN) naval exercises in the South China Sea, March 2013.
Here we go. The bellicose rumblings of a hungry superpower.
China media warns Philippines of ‘counterstrike’ in South China Sea
Photo: Reuters
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s state media warned on Saturday that a “counterstrike” against the Philippines was inevitable if it continues to provoke Beijing in the South China Sea, potentially Asia’s biggest military troublespot.
The warning comes as ministers from both countries attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Brunei, starting Saturday, which hopes to reach a legally binding code of conduct to manage maritime conduct in disputed areas.
At stake are potentially massive offshore oil reserves. The seas also lie on shipping lanes and fishing grounds.
Both China and the Philippines have been locked in a decades-old territorial squabble over the South China Sea, with tensions flaring after the Philippines moved new soldiers and supplies last week to a disputed coral reef, prompting Beijing to condemn Manila’s “illegal occupation”.
The overseas edition of the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, said in a front-page commentary that the Philippines had committed “seven sins” in the South China Sea.
These include the “illegal occupation” of the Spratly Islands, inviting foreign capital to engage in oil and gas development in the disputed waters and promoting the “internationalization” of the waters, said the commentary.
The Philippines has called on the United States to act as a “patron”, while ASEAN has become an “accomplice,” said the commentary, which does not amount to official policy but can reflect the government’s thinking.
“The Philippines, knowing that it’s weak, believes that ‘a crying child will have milk to drink’,” the People’s Daily said, accusing Manila of resorting to many “unscrupulous” tricks in the disputed waters.
Beijing’s assertion of sovereignty over a vast stretch of the South China Sea has set it directly against Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also lay claim to other parts of the sea.
The 10-member ASEAN hopes to reach a legally binding Code of Conduct to manage maritime conduct in disputed areas. For now a watered-down “Declaration of Conduct” is in place.
On Thursday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea that look for help from third parties will find their efforts “futile”, adding that the path of confrontation would be “doomed”.
Last week, China vowed to protect its sovereignty over the Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as the Ren’ai reef. The Philippines is accusing China of encroachment after three Chinese ships, including a naval frigate, converged just five nautical miles (nine km) from an old transport ship that Manila ran aground on a reef in 1999 to mark its territory.
Last year, China and the Philippines were locked in a tense two-month standoff at the Scarborough Shoal, which is only about 124 nautical miles off the Philippine coast. Chinese ships now control the shoal, often chasing away Filipino fishermen.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/29/us-china-philippines-idUSBRE95S01Y20130629
Naval Matters 