Old Salts

(Russian Warships Resurface in Chittagong After 50-Years).

The Salts were energized, since there is a morning topic some of us actually understand. DeMille got them quiet at the Production Meeting of thew Writer’s Section. “Three Russian warships are making their way to the Chittagong port in Bangladesh. It is one of several naval deployments featured in the morning messages.”

Black Cloud had been chattering with Splash and then turned to the group. “Yeah, they are bringing two submarines and a fire-fighting tanker with them. The Russian state news messaging outlet Tass says the task force includes destroyers Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev accompanied by the ocean tanker Pechenga.”

Black Cloud furrowed his craggy brow.” That is a curious force mixture. And it has been a half century since the Russians visited that port.”

Rocket laughed. “Yeah, but it was the Soviet Navy that made the call. It used to be a state military operation. This time, they posted the news on Facebook. Things are not the way they were, even if some of the news seems familiar”

Cloud shook his head in agreement. He held up a battered world chart he updates with icons reflecting activity starbursts:

“Tass says the Russian Honorary Consul in Chittagong claims the ships are in the region exclusively for a friendly visit, indicating what he called a ‘remarkably elevated level of relations between the two states.’ The military reason for the deployment is supposed to be mine-clearing, though how you do that with submarines is unclear.”

Vic smiled over his coffee mug. “Except by hitting one. That goes back to the struggle for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan. I remember that. There were no fleets engaged, but hundreds of mines were dropped to interfere port operation for food and weapons. So, what does it mean now?”

Cloud was adamant in his assessment: “It is part of something much bigger on the World Ocean. The Russian ambassador said the arrival of Russian warships has instigated dialogues and assessments on the wider repercussions for Bangladesh’s maritime security, regional equilibrium, and global relations.”

There was general amusement at the quote, since it was similar to what they said about some of our escapades on the World Ocean.”

Vic looked up from his phone. “Fleets are now used as a way of doing diplomatic relations. Teddy Roosevelt did it with the Great white Fleet cruise he dispatched to demonstrate American capability on the world stage. Those ships circumnavigated the globe in 14 months. They steamed 43,000 miles and made twenty port calls on six continents.”

DeMille moved the files around at his end of the table. “The Russian Pacific Fleet Squadron visit to Chattogram symbolizes more than a friendly port visit. It is part of a global effort. There is a ripple effect far beyond those waters, inviting the world to witness the convergence of history, diplomacy, and maritime prowess on the shores of Bangladesh.”

Joe said “Fancy way to say the liberty is good there and helps recruiting. It also puts China’s Cambodian Navy base into a broader strategic context.”

Vince responded: “It brings back some interesting strategy discussions on which I was a back-bencher. Our ship Midway was homeported in Japan, and always considered to do a “pass thru” in the Bay of Bengal, when going into or out of the Indian Ocean. Back then, I would always say’ why the hell are we doing this?’ but no one asked me.”

“Freedom of the seas, navigation and all that,” said Julio. “In my time cooler heads prevailed and don’t remember if we have ever sent any ships into the Bay for any reason. Now, the neighborhood has changed. The Asian Times says Modi’s India is making that body of water a nuclear launchpad.”

“Yeah, India’s Project Varsha is a sprawling 1,680-acre naval base, on the Eastern Coast at Rambilli.FYI. This hardened submarine base makes sense for India’s security as a strategic nuclear power with a “Triad” doctrine. Like ours. I wonder how many nuclear warheads China is now aiming at this target.”

“That is not all that is going on,” said Vic with a smirk. “A little further to the east , The PRC has launched major military exercises off Taiwan. The PLA Eastern Theater Command is showcasing some advanced weaponry, including the J-20 stealth fighter and DF-16A missiles. They call it their “Cross-Straits Lethality” campaign.”

(PLA Navy steams in the Taiwan Strait. Photo NY Times).

Mules smiled after sip of steaming Cup Full O Nuts. “Cross the Pacific and you can see the whole World Ocean is full of activity. The Cubans have announced a 12-17 June “friendly” port call in Havana by a Russian task group, lead by the frigate Gorshkov.”

“Been to his grave in Moscow. He created the Soviet Navy.”

“It should be an interesting visit, since the Ukrainians have sunk every Russian warship in the Black Sea. This is a sort of reaction. It will be interesting where they all visit besides la Habana.”

Joe sighed. “Back to the Cold War future !”

Julio was energized. “Word is there will be exercises with Venezuela and Cuba.”

“Didn’t we do something about Russians in Cuba when we were kids?”

“Yeah, but this is a new calculus in play. The Chinese were negotiating for a naval/commercial seaport in Myanmar/Burma at the Indian Ocean end of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). They bribed the Burmese with a bunch of grants and easy credit to buy missiles and torpedo patrol boats. There has also been talk of the Chinese getting SIGINT facilities on Coco Island, at the northeast end of the Bay of Bengal.”

“Yeah, and if you look down at the Andaman/Nicobar Islands you can see the impact of the change to the transit routes on the world ocean.”

“We used to do that as part of the daily product from the people that ran the satellites. There is a bunch of new naval and space facilities on the Bay of Bengal. But now we don’t have to swear an oath of secrecy to have admission to a special vault to look at them. We can do it here on The Patio.”

“So can Wiki. They say commercial imagery from 2023 revealed upgrades to Coco Island Airport. New 2,300-metre runway, a radar tower, and two new hangars. No visible Chinese military presence, though and they say it is run by the Myanmar Junta’s navy.”

“What about NATO? Weren’t there were reports the Italians are making a big deployment?”

DeMille nodded. “Yes. There is some varying info, but the largest Italian ship is the helicopter carrier Cavour. It deployed 01 June. She is carrying F-35Bs and AV-8Bs embarked. She is escorted by the frigate Alpino. Track reportedly is east through the Med, and down the Suez Canal into the Red Sea. Then across the IO to participate in the Aussie RAAF exercise “Pitch Back” in July.”

“Port call in Darwin? You can’t beat Aussie liberty. I saw Perth with Vince,” said Vic. “I had to stumble through Sydney on my own.”

DeMille did not want to let a discussion on World Geopolitical statements devolve into one of our usual song-and-dance tales of liberty ports far away. “Reportedly, they will also operate with USN, maybe participating in the Rim of the Pacific exercise in Hawaii before heading back via India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia.

Rocket raised a fist in solidarity. “That seems to reflect European powers beyond NATO engaging in the Indo-Pacific region. That story also noted activity by the French, the UK and Norway in the region. It reflects a new emphasis on the World Ocean and the importance of keeping sea lines of communication open and free under the rules-based international order.”

DeMille nodded as the fist came down. “It is also fancy. The Italian training ship Amerigo Vespucci just departed on a 20-month-long worldwide deployment not dissimilar to Teddy’s Great White Fleet. It is visiting several ports in the Indian Ocean and Pacific on the voyage.”

(Cavour and Amerigo Vespucci will rendezvous in Yokosuka, Japan).

“They will be part of RIMPAC- the biggest world naval show we used to run from Third Fleet. Those were fun. I assume Vespucci will turn to for a symbolic broadside to welcome France and Germany. Thatis new.”\

Black Cloud was doubtful. “It is also peaceful. I think joining in a Stop Houthi effort in the Red Sea would have had better operational training dividends, and we could have supported from Djoubuti. That would be more effective international message to the PRC (and Iran).”

Splash “RIMPAC was always- and still is- a freaking waste of time and effort. Just another example of our useless State and NSC team, IMHO!”

Mules looked over the table pensively: “Like some others, more of a “show-boat” effort. Also, like others. Short on logistic support, so refueling and re-supply have to happen during port calls! Combat power ? Non-existent.”

“Well, what about the Russians in Cuba? They cross the Atlantic and brings their port call within a hundred miles of Key West.”

“The Cubans say they won’t be carrying nuclear weapons.”

“Doesn’t it seem like we have done this before?”

“Nah, four Russian vessels, including a nuclear-powered submarine, arriving in la Habana is just an exercise in assuring us their provocative presence is nothing provocative.”

“No threat to the region in which we live, right?”

The group looked a little introspective. It almost seemed like something we had lived before. Vic slipped his phone in a top pocket, clearly done with discussion. “Putin is supposed to be nervous about how his war is going. He said the other day that if the Ukrainians continue to shoot NATO-provided long-range rockets into his homeland something might happen.”
There was silence for a moment, then someone suggested we move happy hour up a little since it is a weekend. As a group, we remembered where that sort of talk can take you. Afloat, above or below the waves, or to the placid homeland in which we sleep.

Splash has a pocket full of starburst icons. If we need some.

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