Dark’s link led me to something even more interesting. All is not well for the Russian Navy’s new programmes, it seems.

http://www.izvestia.ru/news/500434

Excerpts from google translation:

Even six frigates by 2018 seems an unrealistic goal, I’m afraid. The Krivak-4s have already taken up six(and maybe three more) of the original 15 planned orders…

Maybe after these 6 there will be 3 of the export variety of the 22350?

Transfer and Commissioning of the First Frigate for the Royal Moroccan Navy

Mmm, not the best looking ship I ever saw ….. :rolleyes:

Does anyone know if the Indian navy is going to be putting Brahmos cruise missiles onto the fast patrol craft ?

The Russians have had one boat of the Nanuchka class refitted with 2×6 P-160 (3M55) “Onyx” anti-ship missiles, replacing the original armament of 2×3 P-120 “Malakhit” (4K85) or P-20 “Теrmit” anti-ship missiles. Note however that Algeria recently opted to riefit it’s ships with 4×4 launchers anti-ship missiles 3M24E “Uran-E” instead of P-20

2×6 Brahmos could be a possible upgrade for the Veer and Khukri classes, although given the fit of the lastest 2 units of the Veer class (INS Prabal K92, INS Pralaya K91) and of the Kora class, there is also a good case for refitting each with sixteen 3M-24E (SS-N-25) AShMs. That is, if the old hulls still have enough life in them for any kind of refit to be worthwhile….

Turkish Warships To Escort Aid Vessels To Gaza

Only in international waters, of course … :rolleyes:

From the quoted article:
“The United Nations published a report last week condemning last year’s Israeli intervention – but saying the blockade itself was legal.”

Israel continues to maintain exclusive control of Gaza’s airspace and the territorial waters, just as it has since it occupied the Gaza Strip in 1967.

http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/control_on_air_space_and_territorial_waters

Pursuant to the Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1993, the Palestinian Authority was set up as an interim administrative body to govern Palestinian population centres, with Israel maintaining control of Gaza Strip’s airspace, all but one of its land borders and territorial waters, until a final agreement could be reached.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip

I was thinking, which navy am I looking at. One of the boats is the Combat boat 90 from Sweden. But the auxiliary doesn’t match any Swedish navy ship.

I think you’re looking at Riverine Command Boat (RCB) or Riverine Command Boat (Experimental) (RCB-X), the US operated version of the Swedish origin Combat boat 90, of which some are also used for testing and evaluation of alternative fuels. The RCB-X is powered by an alternative fuel blend of 50 percent algae-based and 50 percent NATO F-76 fuels to support the Secretary of the Navy’s efforts to reduce total energy consumption on naval ships. The other boat is a Riverine patrol boat (RPB)

Which would explain why you found it on navy.mil
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=56757
http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=50799

And which probably make this a USN location and a USN auxiliary. Test were conducted last year October by Riverine Group (RIVGRU) 1 at Naval Station Norfolk. Last june they were at Joint Expeditionary Base (formerly Naval Amphibious Base) Little Creek-Fort Story, Norfolk VA. I think that’s where the photo was taken.

Compare:

http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=103391

Now, Isn’t that the very same auxiliary in the background?

It is visible with Google Earth/Maps too, near the intersection of Whidbey Island Rd and Midway Road. It has 3 large cranes and a landing pad over the stern and there are a few containers on deck as well.

My best guess is that it is Military Sealift Command dry cargo ship USNS Del Monte T-AK 5049
http://wiki.worldflicks.org/ss_del_monte_(t-ak-5049).html

One of the Three members of the Cape D Class of breakbulk cargo ships under the custody of MARAD, this ship was laid down in 1968 as a commercial cargo ship SS Delta Brazil and served in the commercial trade until 1984 when she was returned to MARAD for lay-up.
After being renamed SS Del Monte (T-AK-5049), she was assigned to the Military Sealift Command’s Ready Reserve Force (RRF) where she has been making periodic deployments until her 2001 withdrawal from the RRF. Now under the control of MARAD, she is currently being used more or less as a static boarding party training ship by US special forces.Now under the control of MARAD, she is currently being used more or less as a static boarding party training ship by US special forces
http://wikimapia.org/18247532/SS-Del-Monte-T-AK-5049

Info’s http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/135049.htm

Holland class

line drawing here: http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/4176/hollandclassopv1.jpg

to scale comparison with M-frigate: http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2088/nlnewopvdoorman.gif

And which are the two ships behind?

You mean the 2 that look like off-shore supply ships?

…. 2 to 4 passengers?

No doubt these would carry some load each

Plus:

L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical/infrared sensor a.k.a. AN/AAQ-35 and -38 (150-160 kg of which 43-48 kg payload) + OPERATOR
http://www2.l-3com.com/wescam/products/products_services_1g.asp
system pic here

12.7mm M2HB or AN/M2 doorgun (to be replaced by M3M a.k.a. GAU21/A) + GUNNER!
> gun alone approx 40kg, mount probably adds at least another 20kg, plus of course the ammo weight.
http://strikehold.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/uk-commando-helicopter-force-get-to-grips-with-new-gun/
pic here

Because the Mk 9A can carry more weight it can carry more firepower in the form of a 50 cal Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) rather than the 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) that the Mk 7 carried, this makes the Mk9A more effective at engaging targets on the ground.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/defenceimages/4830700126/

So, its 2-4 passengers in addition to 2-3 flightcrew + weapons + sensors.