|
GLOBAL NAVIES CONVERGE ON THE PERSIAN GULF
NOTICE: TO ALL CONCERNED Certain text files and messages contained on this site deal with activities and devices which would be in violation of various Federal, State, and local laws if actually carried out or constructed. The webmasters of this site do not advocate the breaking of any law. Our text files and message bases are for informational purposes only. We recommend that you contact your local law enforcement officials before undertaking any project based upon any information obtained from this or any other web site. We do not guarantee that any of the information contained on this system is correct, workable, or factual. We are not responsible for, nor do we assume any liability for, damages resulting from the use of any information on this site.
GLOBAL NAVIES CONVERGE ON THE PERSIAN GULF
(And You Can Tune Them In!)
Source: Monitoring Times, Oct. 1990
By: James T. Pogue
Reprinted by: Lori Jordan
For, The Hotline BBS, 304-736-9169
On August 6, the United Nations Security Council met in emergency session and voted unanimously tor a worldwide trade embargo of Iraq. The purpose of the embargo was to force Iraq to withdraw frmocped Kuwait and to prevent further aggression against now threatened Saudi Arabia and other naios.Ths as the first such total boycott by the United Nations in 23 years.
In order to enforce the boycott, several nations elected to send naval forces to the Persian Gulf arrounding areas. The commanders of these forces stay in close touch with their headquarters, andteeoe, an enormous upsurge of naval communications is taking place on short wave frequencies thi fll
One of the first countries to send naval forces tot he Persian Gulf was Australia. Two American-builiver Hazard Perry" class frigates, HMAS ADELAIDE and HMAS DARWIN, were dipatched shortly after teUN oycott was announced. These ships are 453 ft. long, and their gas turbine engines can carry he aon a over 29 knots. They carry a 76 MM gun mount, launchers for STANDARD surface to air misslesandHAROONanti-ship missiles. They also carry the PHALANX close-in weapons system (CIWS) for potecion gaint inoming missiles and torpedoes. To support the frigates, the 516 ft. long French-dsigne replnishmnt oier HMAS SUCCESS is with them.
Departing from their homeport of Halifax, Nova Scotia, two Canadian Warships responded to the crisisS ATHABASKAN, a "Tribal" class destroyer and HMCS TERRA NOVA, a "Restigouche" class frigate steae oads the Gulf. ATHABASKAN is 426 ft. long and TERRA NOVA is 371 ft. long. Both carry substantil eaony ncluding guns, missiles, torpedoes and antisubmarine (ASW) mortars. To keep the warshipssuplie wih fel and provisions, Ottawa has also sent the HMCS PROTECTEUR, a 564 ft. support ship s wel. Se ca conuct standard underway replenishment (UNREP) as well as vertical replenishment (VRTREP usin her hree ea King helicopters.
Notwithstanding the U.S. effort, the most substantial response in type and size of ships has been seom France. Leading the armada is the 869 ft. long angle-deck aircraft carrier FNS CLEMENCEAU. Caal fspeeds in excess of 32 knots CLEMENCEAU is protected by numberous missle systems and guns. Hr irwig onsists of 16 super Etendard strike fighters, three Etendard IVP recon/surveillance plans, 0 US. uil Crusader air defense fighters, seven Alize ASW and strike aircraft and two Alouettegeneal prpos helcopters. CLEMENCEAU carries a crew of 1338 men.
Leading the escort units for the carrier is the guided missile cruiser FNS COLBERT. BUilt in 1957, srries Exocet missles, ECAN surface to air (SAM) missiles, two 100 MM gun mounts, twelve 57 MM aniarrft guns and has a crew of 560. Two 456 ft. long destroyers, FNS DUPLEIX and FNS MONTCALM, hae ee dsptched as well. Gas turbine engines can carry them along at over 30 knots, and each carris Eoces, AM' a 100 MM gun mount, torpedoes, and has two helicopters embarked. Somewhat larger at517 t., estryer NS SUFFREN carries basically the same armament as DUPLEIX and MONTCALM. FNS PROTT, a 37 ft long"Commndant Riviere" class frigate rounds out the combatant list from France. Heav on gus, shecarrie two 10 MM gun mounts and two 30 MM guns along with other weaponry.
Keeping the French ships and their sailors supplied is the job of FNS VAR. This 516 ft. long repleent tanker carries food, fuel and other supplies to the fleet.
For the first time since the end of WW II, the West German government has elected to send naval unitresponse to a situation outside their immediate defensive zone. A small flotilla of mine warfareadsport ships left the Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, bound for the Persian Gulf. The 178 ft. longFG UBEHERN and FGS LABOE are type 343 mine warfare boats. Capable of making up to 24.5 knots, thy crryStigermissle launchers and 40 MM guns for defense. Built primarily for mine laying, they cn alo beusedfor weeping. The FGS MARBURG and FGS WETZLAR are "Lindau"class minehunters. BUilt arund 159, te 155ft. lng boats are of wooden construction laminated with plastic glue to make themimpervous tomagnetc mine. The FGS KOVRENZ is also a minesweeper, however it is of very new constuction nd litte is knw aboutit.
Supporing the mine warfare boats are the FGS WERRA, a 322 ft. depot ship and FGS WESTERWALD, a 344 fmunition transport. WERRA will act as mother ship to the mine hunters and sweepers.
Another country that fought on the Axis side in WW II, Italy, has sent two combatants to help enforc boycott against Iraq. The ITN LIBECCIO is a 405 ft. long, gas turbine frigate. Shw carries surfc osrface missiles, SAM's, a 127 MM gun mount, torpedoes and two helicopters. The ITN ORSA is a lihty maler "Lupo" class frigate. She carries basically the same armament and one helicopter, an wa bult rimrily for convoy escort and surface warfare duties. Tagging along wit hthe two frigaes i theITN TROMOLI. A 423 ft. long replenishment tanker that also carries stores, she can do BETREP' withhelicptersas well as standard UNREP's.
Returning to Northern Europe, the Netherlands government decided to send two combatant vessels to thsian Gulf area "to support the U.N. resolution and deter further aggression by Iraq". Enrout areto48ft. long frigates, HNLMS PIETER FLORISZ and HNLMS WITTE DE WITH. Each ships can attain speed o mrethn 30 knots, and carries an impressive assortment of Harpoon and Sea Sparrow missiles, gu monts topedes and Lynx helos.
With several vessels already in the area, the British government was able to respond quickly to the s that erupted in and around the Persian Gulf. HMS YORK, a type 42 class destroyer is 462 ft. log tcrries Sea Dart missiles, a 144 MM gun mount, torpedoes and the Phalanx CIWS. The Lynx helicote o bar is equipped with Sea Skua missiles for attacks against surface targets. With YORK is th 37 ft log "eander" class frigate HMS JUPITER. She carries Exocet missiles, two Oerlikon gun mouts, orpeoes nd oe Lynx helicopter.
Steaming the Gulf of Oman, the type 22 or "Broadsword" class frigate HMS BATTLEAXE carries an arsen Exocets, Seawolf missiles, four 30 MM guns and two Lynx helos. With her is the RFA (Royal Flee uiiry) ORANGELEAF. This 560 ft. former merchant vessel was converted by the Royal Navy for useasa upor tanker in 1986. The RFA is similar to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command in thatmos ofthepeole manning the ships are civilian employees. Mrs. Thatcher's gavernment also sent HS HEALD,a suvey hip that has been employed as a mine countermeasures support vessel since 1988 ad thre min counermeaures ships (mine sweepers and/or hunters). Another RFA vessel to relieve ORNGE-LEF shoud be laving ritain soon as well.
Still other governments have said that they will send ships into the Gulf: Belgium, Greece and Spaipain intends to send one frigate, two corvettes and one suppport ship. The details of Greece an egu's responses have not been announced as of press time but it can be assumed that they eill sndlihttomedium surface combatants, support vessels and/or mine warfare ships.
The government of Japan is wrestling with a decision regarding what naval action (if any) they will. The post-WW II Japanese constitution prohibits the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSD)fo ngaging in operations outside the immediate areas of their political and economic interests. I sit o this, there is a good chance Japan will send at least some mine warfare vessels to the ersan ulf
The Soviet government is said to have at least on "Udaloy" class destroyer and two supply ships in ersian Gulf. The Soviets have been steadily building units of this impressive class of ship sine18,and there are around 10 of them in service at this time. The general purpose 531 ft. long vsslsbostSAM's, anti-ship missiles, 100 MM guns, torpedoes, ASW mortars and two Helix-A helicoptes. As ou an magine, more information on the Soviet efforts is not available.
Many of the countries and states located in the Gulf area also have their own naval forces. A briemary of these forces is also worth looking at.
Bahrain can put two 206 ft. and four 147 ft. long fast attack boats with 40 MM guns that can lay mif necessary.
The 49 ship Eqyptian Navy is an interesting mix of vessels acquired from nations friendly witht he ing alliances of that nation. Included are 12 Soviet built submarines, one British built destroe,fv frigates (two from Spain, two from China and one from Britain), and many fast attack boats ro te K,China and the Soviet Union.
Iran, Iraq's nemesis for at least the last decade, has a navy of around 42 ships. They include thrstroyers, three frigates, and two corvettes. The protracted war with Iraq and poor relations wihteWst have considerably weakened their navy, as it suffers severely from lack of maintenance an fw ifan) spare parts.
One of the key players in this volatile region "officially" has no navy. Jordan has what is termedJordan Sea Force, and their fleet of eight coastal patrol craft ranging in length from 30 to 100fe ary only 30 MM guns. It is interesting to note that the base of operations for the JordanianSe Frc i the critically important port of Aqaba.
The navy of Qatar is small but can pack a pretty powerful punch. Three fast attack boats carry Exoissiles and 76 MM gun mounts.
The central staging point for U.S. forces, Saudi Arabia has a navy of around 30 ships. Four Frencht frigated, four U.S. built corvettes, four mine sweepers and two replenishment ships make up th uko the Kingdom's sea forces. There are a sizable nmimber of U.S. troops involved in helping potctth Sudi's main naval base as well.
Syria's navy is of nearly all Soviet construction, and includes three "Romeo" class subs, two "Pety class frigates and at least 12 heavily armed "OSA" class fast attack boats.
With one of the largest navies in the area, Turkey possesses over 70 surface combatants. They incl2 destroyers, eight frigates, 30 mine warfare ships and a sizable submarine force.
Another country with a small but powerful naval presence is the United Arab Emirates. With at leasht fast attack boats equipped with Exocet and 76 MM guns, they are certainly a force to be respetd
On the other side of the coin is Iraq. Although Saddam Hussein has around 43 ships in his navy, ho has some serious problems. The bulk of his major surface combatants, four "Lupo" class frigatsadsx "Assad" class corvettes are still tied up at the Muggiano Shipyard in Italy where they wer bil. Sice their completion several years ago, Iran has threatened to sink them at any cost shoud tey ry o mke the transit to Iraq.
The vessels that Saddam actually has available include has flagship, the frigate IBN MARJID, five S-built "OSA" class fast attack craft, three Soviet "Polnachny" class medium landing ships and the aklanding ships. IBN MARJID carries four Exocet missiles and a 57 MM gun mount. The OSA's caryth ifaous Soviet Styx missile.
It can also be assumed that Saddam also has at his disposal the four 147 ft. and two 190 ft. fast a craft that made up the Navy of Kuwait. These 41 + knot boats carry Exocet nissiles, have 76 MMgnmuts and some can lay mine as well.
AS more and more ships converge on the Persian Gulf, the naval situation for Saddam doesn't look goIf the political situation continues to deteriorate, however, we may see attempts ny Iraqi shipst u lockade, clandestine mine laying, air attacks or perhaps even some action between surface cobaans. Oly time will tell.
The tables that follow include a listing of major surface ships from navies other than the Untied S that are known to have vessels in or enroute to the Persian Gulf. Also included is a listing o aa ommunication stations and frequencies for nations with vessels participating in the U.N. boyot. Thsefrequencies may be used for voice, radiotleletype or in some cases Morse code (CW).
Armed with this information you should be able to tune in some of the naval activity in this part o world as the crisis continues to unfold.
Western Naval Units in the Persian Gulf Area
Radio Callsign
Australia
HMAS Adelaide (F01) VKLA
HMAS Darwin (F04) VKDA
HMAS Success (A304) VLNN
Canada
HMCS Athabaskan (DDH-282) CYWM
HMCS Protecteur (AOR-509) VDOC
HMCS Terra Nova (DD-259) CZJV
France
FNS Clemenceau (R98) FBAW
FNS Colbert (C611) FAUC
FNS Dupleix (D641) FADL
FNS Montcalm (D642) FAGK
FNS Protet (F748) FBRD
FNS Suffren (D602) FASU
FNS Var (A608) FBVA
German Federal Republic
FGS Kovrenz*
FGS Laboe (M1097) *
FGS Marburg (M1080) DRER
FGS Ueberherrn (M1095) *
FGS Wetzlar (M1075) DREM
FGS Werra (A68) DRHZ
FGS Westerwald (A1435) DRKT
* - Information not available
Italy
ITN Libeccio (F572) IALI
ITN Orsa (F567) IAOR
ITN Stromboli (A5327) IGNL
Netherlands
HNLMS Pieter Florisz (F826) PADI
HNLMS Witte De With (F813) PAVP
United Kingdom
HMS Battleaxe (F89) GVEW
HMS Herald (A138) GQIM
HMS Jupiter (F60) GSYA
HMS Orangeleaf (A110) GURK
HMS York (D98) GBBB
Naval Communications Stations
(All frequencies in kHz)
Royal Australian Navy
Darwin - VHI: 4316, 6393.5, 8512.8, 12750, 22348
(CW)
Darwin Control: 8122, 8161 (USB)
Canberra - VIX: 4286, 6428.5, 8478, 12907.5, 16918.6, 17256.8,
22485
Belgian Navy
Oostenade - OSN: 6391.5, 12725
Canadian Forces - Maritime Command
Halifax - CFH: 4225, 4271, 4363.6, 4561, 5097, 5684, 5330, 6430, .5, 8697, 8746.8, 10536, 10945, 12726, 13187.6,
13510, 15920, 16926.5, 17251.5, 22599.1
Vancouver - CKN: 4268, 4422.5, 6460, 6944, 8463, 8774.7, 12123,
12702, 12752.7, 13141.1, 17310.4, 22689
French Navy
Brest - FUE: 4334, 6490, 8590, 12741
Djibouti - FUV: 8992.5, 13042.5, 13442.5, 16905, 20855, 22447
RFQP: 5832.5, 8107.6, 9078, 10813.6, 13442, 13654.6,
16124.6, 19384.6, 20855
La Regine - FUG: 4313, 5942, 6352, 7619, 8666, 12875, 16876, 20270
Paris - FUB: 4325, 4400.8, 4413.2, 5712, 8749.9, 8802.6, 13110.1 5.9, 17245.3, 17282.5, 22639.4, 22658.7
HWN: 4232, 5385, 6348, 8453, 13235.5, 17180
Reunion - FUX: 8475.5, 13215.5, 16915
RFVI: 6745.5, 7642.1, 7895, 10262, 10867.1, 10872,
13844.6, 16012.1, 16086, 20632, 26240
Toulon - FUO: 4390, 5217, 6984
Additional shipboard frequency: 13265
Federal German Navy
Wilhelmshaven - DHJ59: 4283, 5361, 6913, 8648
Greek Navy
Khania - SXH: 4610
Spata - SXV: 8462
Italian Navy
Rome - IDQ: 4280, 6390, 6395, 8486
IDR: 4615.3, 7302, 9090, 13891.6, 16005, 25134
RIFMCF: 5875, 11175
Royal Netherlands Navy
Goeree Islands - PBC: 4280, 4360, 6358.5, 6895, 8439, 8708, 13840.5,
17117.5
Spanish Navy
Madrid - EBA: 4261, 6388, 6408.5, 6861, 6930, 8528.5, 12693,
13059, 14641, 17018, 17019, 20148
RETJ: 5430, 12469.5, 12703
98OQJ: 4230, 4279, 4311.2, 6251, 6357, 6377.5, 6447,
6771, 8326, 8391, 8441, 8447, 8458, 8465, 12693, 12932.5 X: 6406.7, 25132
Cadiz - EBC: 6840, 7926, 12008
Cartagena - 94PLL: 4363, 6276, 6864
Huelva - 93WPR: 4196, 5273, 6844
Tarifa - 96OQZ: 4607
Turkish Navy
Ankara - TBA/TBB: 4260, 4350, 6395, 6502, 8493, 8555, 8572
Izmir - TBH/TBO: 3358.5, 6374, 8504, 12748.4
British Royal Navy
Whitehall - London -
GYA/GYB/GYC: 4150, 4246.3, 4301, 5422.5, 6414.5, 5434.8, , 8334, 8493.3, 9059, 11010, 12740.3, 16115, 16115, 16889.6, 16918, 169373 73.8, 18061, 19860, 22422, 22454.5, 23030, 25012
London - RXDB: 8449
Gibraltar - GYU/GYW: 4221.3, 4366.7, 4892.5, 5229, 6371.2, 6509.5, , 7392.5, 7747.5, 8627, 12325, 12824.2, 13134.9,
13473, 13942.5, 14759, 15737, 15760, 16987.2, 17263.9, 8, 22630.1
Malta - GYR/GYX/GYY/GYZ: 6481, 8566
Singapore - GXM/GYS: 4335, 641, 8930, 12781.5
Additional shipboard frequency: 6757
Royal Navy ships may also be held on many Portishead Radio
ship calling frequencies.
|
|
