China's first major international naval deployment in literally hundreds of years has apparently been deemed a success. The three-ship anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia began in late December 2008 and had been set to wrap up this past March. Later that month, however, the Chinese government announced that China's Horn of Africa mission, part of the growing international naval presence there, would be extended as new Chinese warships are rotated in to replace those ships from the initial voyage. This second anti-piracy deployment will include the well-traveled Luhai-class destroyer Shenzhen, pictured here, along with the Jiangkai II-class guided-missile frigate Huangshan. The support ship for the operation, a Fuchi-class replenishment oiler, the Weishanhu, will remain for both deployments.
During a speech on 17 March to the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference in London, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled some details about the United Kingdom's next nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine design. He explained that the Royal Navy's new generation of SSBN to replace the current Vanguard-class would be fitted to carry only 12 missile tubes for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, four fewer than the 16 in today's boats. Though this is an interesting design note, the announcement is unlikely to have any major impact on Britain's nuclear-deterrent capabilities. Today's four British ballistic-missile submarines—HMS Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant (pictured here), and Vengeance—deploy frequently with fewer than their full load of nuclear warheads. During the same speech, Brown also stated that there are currently fewer than 160 warheads making up the British nuclear-deterrent force.
France's sole nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, recently completed a lengthy overhaul but had to return to the yard for what may turn out to be several more months of repairs. In March, officials reported the discovery of excessive vibrations indicating a problem with the propulsion system. It has been announced that once investigated, the vibrations revealed significant wear to equipment linking the turbines to the reduction gear on the port and starboard propeller shafts. Built at the Direction des Constructions Navales shipyard in Brest, the 40,000-ton aircraft carrier was laid down in 1989 and underwent construction and fitting out throughout the 1990s. Delivered in 2000 and commissioned in 2001, the vessel carries an assortment of aircraft, including Rafale interceptors, Super Étendard strike fighters, Hawkeye surveillance aircraft, and a mix of helicopters. The decision to build a second French aircraft carrier has been postponed into the next decade.