INFOGRAPHICS #27: The attack submarines of Latin America in 2018

Written  by D-Mitch

Colombia has in service today four submarines of German origin

In the following infographic, named The Attack Submarines of Latin America in 2018, I depict all the attack submarines that are in active service in Latin America right now (and will continue to be part of their Navies until the end of 2018). Please note that in comparison with the previous graph about The Attack Submarines of Europe in 2017 (updated for 2018), there is no nuclear-powered  submarine (SSN) in any Navy (at least until Brazil commissions its first vessel after 2020), neither there is a submarine equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system (the Chilean Scoprene class submarines are fitted but not with the system and will receive it in a future refit). It should be mentioned also that from the 21 countries of Latin America, only seven navies (7) have submarines in their fleet; Peru has the most numerous fleet but Brazil and Chile the most modern submarine fleets in the region. Moreover, the 92% of the Latin American submarines are German-built (!). Also, Argentina, while it has in its inventory the largest submarine in the region (TR1700 class: 67 meters length and 2,100t displacement), none of its submarines is in active service.

The new eyes of the Hellenic Navy Fleet: Miltech Hellas TDR-10 and IRB-75U

Written by D-Mitch

Miltech TDR-10 sensor on board Salamis, Hydra class frigate

A Greek company, named Miltech Hellas, has begun equipping Hellenic Navy vessels with its electro-optical (EO) sensors. The EO sensor has been the centerpiece of combat throughout the history of warfare; these sensors and their data processors often serve as the eyes of deployed military forces. An EO sensor except the surveillance duties and SAR operations, it is used as a tracking and fire control system while it can provide early warning and threat assessment to ensure efficient and effective response to emerging threats. Miltech Hellas S.A has developed an excellent EO sensor which has been tested intensively on Hellenic Navy ships with excellent results, the TDR-10. The dual-axis gyro stabilized platform mounted system (pan-tilt unit HI-PTU100-DSG), designed by Hellenic Instruments, is equipped with a high performance 3rd generation cooled sensor with a high resolution detector, a laser rangefinder (up to 10km), motorized thermal lens, GPS and a high resolution day camera full HD. The whole system weighs less than 15kg while approximately 9kg is the weight of the pan-tilt unit. A terrific system all Made in Greece!

INFOGRAPHICS OF COAST GUARD VESSELS #6: The large patrol vessels of the Turkish Coast Guard

Written by D-Mitch

The Turkish Coast Guard 1,700-ton Guven. Photo by Yoruk Isik

This is the sixth post about infographics of various coast guard vessels and coast guard fleets from around the world. Following on my previous post about the offshore patrol vessels of the Hellenic Coast Guard and due to the very recent incident between the two countries where their largest ships were involved (Umut from Turkish side and Gavdos from the Greek side), I created an infographic where I depict the large patrol vessels (>100tons and >34 meters) of the Turkish Coast Guard (Türk Sahil Güvenliği), as of February 2018. It should be mentioned here that the Turkish Coast Guard has much more large patrol boats (55 boats larger than 30 meters including nine 31-meter Kaan 29 class boats) than the Hellenic Coast Guard (Λιμενικό Σώμα), has built several new and highly sophisticated patrol boat classes locally, and the majority of those ships have or received modern electro-optical sensors and remote-controlled stabilized machine gun platforms (RWS). Moreover, 33 boats are equipped with 40mm gun turrets except the usual armament of a pair of manually remoted 12.7mm heavy machine guns. Notice though that Turkey currently has only four (very) large offshore patrol vessels while all the rest are smaller than 41 meters. There are plans to replace older classes such as the Type 80 class.

WARSHIPS OF THE PAST: USS Juneau (CL-119) anti-aircraft cruiser of the United States Navy

Written by Keith Jacobs

Images by D-Mitch

USS Juneau (CLAA-119), lead ship of the Juneau class cruisers

The USS Juneau (CL-119), lead ship of the Juneau class, a modified version of Atlanta class light cruisers, had three distinctions that set this single cruiser apart from the many other cruisers of the United States Navy (USN). First, USS Juneau was the first of the “last series” of Atlanta class anti-aircraft light cruisers (CL) built for the Navy; second, it was one of only two light cruisers to be modernized with new 3”/50 Mk.33 twin anti-aircraft mounts (the other being USS Manchester, CL-83) post-war; lastly, the only gun cruiser to engage in a surface battle with enemy ships during the Korean War (1950-53). The cruise was initially designated CL-119, but changed to CLAA-119 on 18 March 1949, representative of the intended role of the class, as fleet anti-aircraft protection ships. Let's see her story!