Much has been written in recent months concerning the bilateral training effort between the U.S Navy's antisubmarine forces and the Swedish attack submarine HMS Gotland, which has been exercising with the Pacific Fleet since 2005. Since 2001, however, the U.S. Navy has also been engaged with the submarine communities of various world navies under the innovative Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI). Under this initiative, U.S. warships are able to conduct training exercises with diesel submarine forces from allied, mostly South American, fleets. To date, nearly 20 non-nuclear submarine operating nations have taken part in exercises aimed at providing antisubmarine warfare training to U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and expeditionary strike groups. The most recent of these exercises took place with Colombia's Type 209/1200-class submarine Tayrona, shown here. The submarine, in service with the Colombian fleet since 1975, teamed up with the Ticonderoga (CG-47)-class cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG-69) and operated for ten days off the coast of Mayport, Florida.
On 10 November 2006 the warship Stoiky, a Russian Type 20380 frigate (sometimes also referred to as a corvette) was laid down at Severnaya Verf in St. Petersburg, Russia. The fourth unit of the Steregushchiy-class, Stoiky joins sisters Steregushchiy, Soobraziltel'nyy, and Boikiy also built at Severnaya Verf. First of the class, Steregushchiy is not expected to be fully operational until 2007 and once in commission, all four vessels are expected to operate in the Baltic, Black, and Caspian sea regions. Designed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau, the Stoiky and her sisters will displace roughly 2,000 tons. The planned armament fit reportedly includes eight Kh-35 Uran antiship missiles, a single 100-mm dual-purpose gun, torpedo tubes, and a short-range gun/missile close-in weapons system. The class, a model of which is shown here, has a landing deck for a Ka-27 Helix helicopter but lacks a hanger. About 86 sailors and 14 officers are expected to crew each ship once commissioned.
During October 2006, 16 members of Iraq's Riverine Police Force began training at the U.S. Navy's Small Craft Instruction and Training School in Mississippi. Free from the threat of insurgent attacks and hostile action, the trainees were able to study small-boat fundamentals, boat handling, ambush, counterambush, insertion, and extraction operations. The trainees were selected from a pool of 70 applicants. They graduated in November and headed back to the war zone where it is hoped they are able to pass along their knowledge to other members of their naval contingent. In addition to patrol boats of the Riverine Police Force, Iraq's Coastal Defense force operates at least five 27-meter patrol craft and two Assad-class corvettes which were held under embargo in Italy since 1986, but had reportedly been refurbished and handed over to the new Iraqi government by 2006.
Combat Fleets
By Eric Wertheim, Editor, <i>Combat Fleets of the World</i>