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From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singap...hea/642440.html US warship arrives in S'pore for Southeast Asian deployment POSTED: 18 Apr 2013 3:06 PM UPDATED: 18 Apr 2013 10:35 PM TREND USS Freedom, the first of up to four American warships Singapore will host, docked at Changi Naval Base on Thursday 18 April, 2013. (photo by Dylan Loh, Channel NewsAsia) SINGAPORE: A US warship designed to fight in coastal areas arrived Thursday in Singapore for its Southeast Asian deployment, underlining President Barack Obama's new strategic focus on Asia. The deployment of the USS Freedom comes at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and as China publicly flexes its naval muscle in the South China Sea, where it has competing territorial claims with some Southeast Asian states. US Navy officials said the Freedom, a new class of vessel called the littoral combat ship (LCS), sailed into Changi Naval Base at around 11:00 am (0300 GMT) in Singapore, a long-standing US ally that assists in logistics and exercises for forces in Southeast Asia. The ship, the US Navy's first LCS which is designed to fight close to the shore, will be deployed for the next eight months in the region, where it will participate in naval exercises and visit other ports. Regional security expert Ian Storey said the Freedom's deployment signals Washington's commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the region, which hosts some of the world's busiest shipping lanes. "The forward deployment of these ships is part the US pivot, rebalancing away from Iraq and Afghanistan and towards Asia," said Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "It demonstrates to US allies and friends that it is committed to maintaining a strong presence in the region to ensure stability. In naval terms, it also underpins the US' commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation," he told AFP. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta announced last year that Washington will shift the bulk of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of a new strategic focus on Asia, where China is an emerging power. China is embroiled in a maritime dispute with four Southeast Asian countries -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam -- over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Beijing claims nearly the entire sea, including areas much nearer to the other claimants. Manila and Hanoi have been the most vocal in criticising China over alleged heavy-handedness in enforcing its claims. While not a claimant, Washington has said it has an interest in the area to ensure freedom of navigation. "We plan on spending most of our time here in Southeast Asia. This will be Freedom's neighbourhood for the next eight months," said US Navy Commander Timothy Wilke, the ship's commanding officer. "We are eager to get out and about, work with other regional navies and share best practices during exercises, port visits and maritime security operations." Singapore has agreed to the rotational deployment of up to four LCS. This means the vessels will not be permanently based in the country and crews will live aboard during ship visits. Euan Graham, a maritime security expert at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Beijing "is obviously cautious about any enhancement of the US military presence around the South China Sea". But he added that China also understands that Freedom's presence is "not a major step-change in the naval balance in the region". China however would be keen to learn about the performance of the ship, a versatile vessel that can be used for surface warfare as well as to hunt for mines and submarines and is suitable to maritime regions like Southeast Asia, Graham said. He said the timing of Freedom's deployment also counters perceptions that US budget cuts would "undermine the sustainability of the US forward presence" in Asia. USS Freedom is the first of up to four American warships Singapore will host. US Ambassador to Singapore David Adelman said the second is expected within 20 months. While analysts point to USS Freedom's tour of duty in Southeast Asia as proof of more American muscle in a region prone to territorial conflicts, Adelman called it a "new chapter" in an "increasingly important part of the world". It's also another chapter capturing close ties between the US and Singapore. "Here in Singapore, the United States continues to have the assets to do what we've always done, which is partner with our friends and important allies here. And I think the USS Freedom is 'Exhibit A' to our continuing commitment to security here in Southeast Asia," said Adelman. - AFP/CNA/xq/ir

Military buffs, check it this out: From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp...1200582/1/.html US Navy to deploy new warship to Singapore in 2013 Posted: 11 May 2012 0740 hrs

Prelude to Falklands War II? The last war saw the Royal Navy suffering heavy casualties with the lost of quite a few ships including two Type 42 destroyers and two frigates by Argentinian aircraft's bombs and Exocets. All they got was a lousy WWII vintage ex-USN light cruiser and some aircraft. This time I do hope that the Brits are well-protected by heavy anti-air ring in the event of another conflict. From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp...1180251/1/.html Britain sends new warship to Falklands Posted: 01 February 2012 0826 hrs LONDON: Britain said Tuesday it was sending a new state-of-the-art warship to the Falklands, but insisted the deployment was purely routine despite rising tensions over the islands' sovereignty. Defence ministry officials said the decision to send HMS Dauntless to the South Atlantic Ocean was long planned. The Type 45 destroyer is due to head out on her maiden voyage in the coming months to replace the smaller Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose. The Falklands dispute is especially sensitive as the 30th anniversary approaches of the war between Britain and Argentina over the barren islands. Buenos Aires denounced what it called a "militarisation" of the dispute. "The Argentine Republic rejects the British effort to militarise a conflict which the United Nations has said on multiple occasions should be resolved through bilateral negotiations," a foreign ministry statement said. Prime Minister David Cameron angered Argentina last week by accusing it of "colonialism" over the British overseas territory which Buenos Aires claims belongs to Argentina. That led Argentine President Cristina Kirchner to accuse Cameron of portraying her country as "violent" in the dispute. Foreign Secretary William Hague played down the deployment of HMS Dauntless, telling Sky News television: "There's nothing unusual about this deployment, it doesn't reflect any change in the situation of any kind. "These things, they are routine deployments. We do keep a garrison on the Falkland Islands, and of course aircraft there as well. Royal Naval ships frequently visit the area." Hague added: "We will always be in a position to defend the Falkland Islands if necessary, not that we are aware of any military threat to the Falkland Islands at the moment." Argentina's then-ruling junta launched an invasion on April 2, 1982. Britain restored its control following a 74-day war which cost the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British troops. Tensions over the 30th anniversary have been raised by the announcement that Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II's grandson and the second in line to throne, will soon spend six weeks on a routine deployment to the Falklands as an air force search and rescue helicopter pilot. Argentina expressed dismay over the deployment of William "in a conqueror's uniform". In London, Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne told parliament that Argentina had been trying to build an "economic blockade designed to try and hurt the Falkland Islanders". In December, South American trading bloc Mercosur agreed to close its ports to ships flying the Falklands flag. However, Browne added, it was important not to exaggerate its impact. "If the intention of the Argentinian government is to weaken the resolve of the Falkland Islanders through economic means then that is not an objective that they have achieved." -AFP/ac

Have you seen a 1-minute video about a normal civilian vessel morphing into a warship riding on very rugged seas with waves almost as high as the ship's bridge? The video starts with the words EN UN MAR PICADO. No idea what it means though... The haunting music was really superb and complements strongly with the footage... From Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyH6lX_iL3A See if you can spot JAWS in the video...