recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
FS Provence

Not to be confused with FS Provence (1763), FS Provence (1815), FS Provence (1863), or FS Provence (1912)

## Information

### Fate

Active

***Provence* (D652)** is an *Aquitaine*-class frigate of the French Navy. The *Aquitaine* class were developed as part of the FREMM multipurpose frigate program.

### Career

*Provence* was developed as part of a joint Italian-French program known as FREMM, which was implemented to develop a new class of frigates for use by various European navies. Construction on the ship began in 2010 and was completed in 2015.

*Provence* operated in the north of the Indian Ocean from 23 December 2015, and the frigate briefly joined the USS *Harry S. Truman* carrier strike group, then joined the *Charles de Gaulle* carrier strike group which in addition to *Provence* included the frigates *Chevalier Paul* and *La Motte-Picquet*, a nuclear attack submarine, the replenishment ship *Marne*, the British HMS *Defender* and the German *Augsburg*, which accompanied them in the crossing of the Strait of Hormuz on 26 December as part of Operation Chammal. The Caiman Marine of the 33F flotilla embarked on *Provence* was able to show its ability to land on the American aircraft carrier.

In March 2016, as part of Combined Task Force 150, the frigate made a major arms seizure off the coast of Somalia.

From 18 November to 2 December 2021, *Provence* took part in Exercise Polaris 21 in the western Mediterranean Sea. In October 2022, the frigate participated in joint exercises with the Croatian Navy in the Adriatic Sea.
FS Commandant Ducuing

## FS Commandant Ducuing (F795)

FS Commandant Ducuing

***Commandant Ducuing* (F795)** is a *D'Estienne d'Orves*-class aviso in the French Navy. The vessel is home ported at Toulon.

### Career

*Commandant Ducuing* was laid down on 1 October 1980 at Arsenal de Lorient, Lorient. Launched on 26 September 1981 and commissioned on 17 March 1983.

She took part in Operation Artimon in 1990. In April 2009 the aviso took part in Operation Tanit, an operation to free a French yacht that was hijacked by Somali pirates. The aviso, sailing from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made a stopover on 8 and 9 June 2010 at the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, which was a first for a French ship for 32 years.

In June 2015, the ship was responsible for monitoring bluefin tuna fishing off Malta.

In 2022, it was indicated that the ship would be equipped with the SMDM (navy mini-drone system) to enhance her surveillance capabilities. In 2022–23, the ship deployed to the Gulf of Guinea for two months to assist local navies in countering, principally Chinese, illegal overfishing.

She is scheduled to be withdrawn from service in 2025 and be replaced by one of a new class of ocean-going Patrol Vessels (the *Patrouilleurs Hauturiers*).
HMS Dido (F104)

Not to be confused with HMS Dido (37), or the many sailing ships

HMS Dido

**HMS *Dido*** was a Royal Navy (RN) *Leander*-class frigate. Entering service in 1961, *Dido* was involved in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, served with NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic on several occasions, and was one of the frigates used for the filming of the drama series *Warship*.

Following a defence review at the start of the 1980s, the ship was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), and was recommissioned as **HMNZS *Southland***. *Southland* remained in service until 1995. After decommissioning the frigate was towed to the Philippines where her boilers were removed, and then sent to India for scrapping.

### Service History

The ship was assigned to the Far East, joining the 22nd Escort Group in 1964 and took part in the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, and became leader of the 21st Escort Group the following year.

*Dido* was reassigned to the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) in 1969 and also took part in a fleet review at Spithead on 16 May 1969 as part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the formation of NATO.

The ship was one of four used as the fictional frigate HMS *Hero* in the 1970s BBC television drama series *Warship*.

*Dido* was extensively refitted at Devonport between July 1975 and October 1978, as a Batch 1B Ikara conversion (and the last to be completed), at a cost of £23,000,000. An Ikara ASW missile launcher replaced the 4.5-inch turret, while two Sea Cat launchers were fitted to the hangar roof. The two Bofors guns were retained but moved forward to abreast the ship's mainmast. The Limbo anti-submarine mortar and Wasp helicopter was retained. The long-range Type 965 radar was removed, with improved navigation and target indicating radars fitted, and the ADAWS 5 computer aided combat direction system added to direct Ikara operations. The ship's sonar suite remained unchanged.

After working up following the refit, *Dido* joined the 3rd Frigate Squadron. In 1983 the ship was briefly assigned again to the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT).

HMS *Dido* was sold to New Zealand as HMNZS *Southland* in 1983.
HSwMS Gavle

No image available

## HSwMS Gavle (K22)

**HSwMS *Gävle* (K22)** is a Swedish Navy *Göteborg*-class corvette, named after the Swedish city of Gävle.

### Career

The ship was launched on 23 March 1990 at Karlskrona and entered naval service on 17 September 1990.

Together with its sister ship *Sundsvall*, they took part in the United Nations operation off the coast of Lebanon following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

In June 2017 Saab signed a 1.249BSEK contract for life extension modification and upgrading of the Swedish Navy's *Gävle* and *Sundsvall*. *Gävle* was relaunched into water in September 2020 and the work on began on commissioning platform systems In May 2022 Swedish Defence Materiel Administration delivered the upgraded *Gävle* to the Swedish Navy. The upgrade included a new torpedo guidance system, Bofors 57 mm Mk3B gun, variable depth sonar (VDS), new sensors, all integrated Combat Management System,integrated IFF-system, AMB 3D radar similar to the one in use on the *Visby*-class corvettes. After the MLU the ships were no longer considered part of the *Göteborg* class but a new class, designated the *Gävle* class.

"It is a do over and modernisation of everything on board: She will have the same hull, but more or less all the systems on the inside are new", said Johan Edelsvärd, Project Manager for the Mid-Life Upgrade of HSwMS *Gävle* at FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration).

On 13 May 2022, *Gävle* took part in a PASSEX training with the Finnish and the American navies in the northern Baltic Sea.
FS Tonnerre

## FS Tonnerre (L9014)

Tonnerre (right) at Beirut

***Tonnerre*** (L9014; lit. *Thunder*) is an amphibious assault helicopter carrier of the Marine Nationale. She is the eighth vessel to bear the name and the second ship in the *Mistral*-class amphibious assault ship series.

### Construction and Career

*Tonnerre* was laid down in two parts. On 26 August 2003, the aft section was laid down by Arsenal de Brest at Brest and the bow section was laid down 5 May 2004 by Chantiers de Saint-Nazaire at Saint-Nazaire. The vessel was launched on 26 July 2005 and began active service in December 2006.

*Tonnerre*'s maiden voyage occurred between 10 April and 24 July 2007. During this voyage, *Tonnerre* was involved in *Opération Licorne*, the French co-deploying complement to the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire following the Ivorian Civil War. Gazelle and Cougar helicopters of the French Air Force operated from the ship beginning on 9 July.

At the start of 2008, *Tonnerre* was involved in the Corymbe 92 mission (see Standing French Navy Deployments), a humanitarian mission in the Gulf of Guinea. During this deployment, *Tonnerre* acted on tip-offs from the European Maritime Analysis Operation Centre – Narcotics, and intercepted 5.7 tonnes (5.6 long tons; 6.3 short tons) of smuggled cocaine: 2.5 t (2.5 long tons; 2.8 short tons) from a fishing vessel 520 kilometres (280 nmi) from Monrovia on 29 January, and 3.2 t (3.1 long tons; 3.5 short tons) from a cargo ship 300 kilometres (160 nmi) off Conakry.

In May 2011, the French Military deployed Tiger and Gazelle helicopters on the ship to augment forces engaged in Opération Harmattan and later Operation Unified Protector during the Libyan Civil War. along with allied ships such as the British helicopter carrier HMS *Ocean* which also provided its own attack helicopters.

In 2020, *Tonnerre* was deployed to Beirut, Lebanon, shortly after an ammonium nitrate explosion at the city's port killed roughly 200 people and caused significant destruction, including the loss of the nation's main grain elevator. The ship arrived in Beirut on 13 August with "75,000 army rations, large quantities of flour, [and] medical supplies", as well as fire trucks and construction materials. Around 350 personnel were to join the clean-up efforts around the port, which was expected to take weeks.

In 2021, *Tonnerre* deployed to the Pacific accompanied by the frigate *Surcouf*, to conduct the joint La Perouse naval exercise with the four Quadrilateral Security Dialogue members participating. From 18 November to 2 December 2021, *Tonnerre* took part in Exercise Polaris 21 in the western Mediterranean Sea. In late 2022 she operated with the frigate *Germinal* in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea.

In October 2023 *Tonnerre* was deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, joining the frigates *Alsace* and *Surcouf* which were also deployed to the region.
KDB Darussalam

## KDB Darussalam (06)

KDB Darussalam

**KDB *Darussalam* (06)** is the lead ship of her class of offshore patrol vessels. The vessel is in active service in the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN).

### OPV Program

Brunei ordered the *Darussalam* class from Lürssen, the same company that Brunei contracted to sell the *Nakhoda Ragam*-class corvettes, and the first two vessels were delivered in January 2011. The second batch of two ships were delivered by 2014.

### Career

KDB *Darussalam* was built by Lürssen Werft company in Germany around the late 2000s. She is part of the first batch delivered from Germany to Brunei. *Darussalam* and KDB *Darulehsan* commissioned together on 4 May 2011 at Muara Naval Base. All four of her sister ships work in the offshore patrol vessel role.

*Darussalam* and KDB *Darulaman* fired their missile systems for the first time.  They successfully conducted their first Exocet MM40 Block II surface-to-surface missile firing at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) north of Kaua’i Island.

Both RBN ships participated in Exercise RIMPAC in 2014, hosted by the United States Third Fleet off Hawaii. The ships participated in the SINKEX exercise. *Darussalam* and *Darulaman* simultaneously fired their Exocet missiles, which struck the target which was the ex-USS *Tuscaloosa*.

*Darussalam* participated in the ASEAN Defence Minister Meeting-Plus Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise, the SEAGULL 07/16 Exercise was officially inaugurated between the RBN and Philippine Navy. Representing both navies were *Darussalam* and BRP *Gregorio del Pilar*, with both ships departing Changi Naval base on 12 May 2016.

The exercise integrated the ADMM-Plus ships to strengthen their capability and inter-operability in effectively addressing terrorism and maritime threats as they are put through realistic sea and land based scenarios. The effort from the ADMM-Plus ships showed their continuous commitment in enhancing regional peace and stability.

On 7 March 2018, the French frigate *Vendémiaire* made a goodwill visit to Muara Naval Base after sailing from Hong Kong. On 9 March, *Vendémiaire* conducted a PASSEX with *Darussalam*, before sailing to the Philippines.

Republic of Singapore and Royal Brunei Navy held an exercise which consists of RSS Tenacious, RSS Valour, RSS Vigour, KDB *Darussalam*, KDB *Darulehsan* and KDB *Darulaman*. All Republic of Singapore Navy ships left on 7 November 2019.
Moony

**Moony** is a pet introduced by Free Fire.

Moony has two pet actions that one can get for free by leveling it up. The two pet actions are: Celebrate and Play.

It has a skin that players can get by leveling the pet up. The skin name is Hipster Moony. It can be unlocked at pet level 6.

It has the following skill: 'Paranormal Protection'. This particular skill helps in reducing damage whenever the player is in an interaction cooldown i.e. applying a med-kit, using a repair-kit, etc.

## Description

Although not from this world. He loves everything about us.
Invincible-class Carrier

## Invincible-class

HMS Invincible

The ***Invincible* class** was a class of light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Navy. Three ships were constructed: HMS *Invincible*, HMS *Illustrious* and HMS *Ark Royal*. The vessels were built as aviation-capable anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platforms to counter the Cold War North Atlantic Soviet submarine threat, and initially embarked Sea Harrier aircraft and Sea King HAS.1 anti-submarine helicopters. With cancellation of the aircraft carriers renewal programme in the 1960s, the three ships became the replacements for *Ark Royal* and *Eagle* fleet carriers and the *Centaur*-class light fleet carriers, and the Royal Navy's sole class of aircraft carrier.

The three vessels saw active service in a number of locations, including the South Atlantic during the Falklands War, the Adriatic during the Bosnian War, and in the Middle East for the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

*Invincible* was decommissioned in 2005 and put in reserve in a low state of readiness. She was sold to a Turkish scrapyard in February 2011, and left Portsmouth under tow on 24 March 2011. Pursuant to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, 2010, *Ark Royal* followed, decommissioning on 13 March 2011. This left *Illustrious* as the sole remaining ship, serving as a helicopter carrier from 2011 to 2014 when it was decommissioned as well. The Royal Navy was without an aircraft carrier for the first time in nearly a century, until the commissioning of the first of two *Queen Elizabeth*-class aircraft carriers in December 2017.

### Armament

* Sea Dart missile system (removed during late 1990s)
* 2 × 20 mm anti-aircraft guns
* 3 Phalanx/Goalkeeper close-in weapons systems

### Ships in Class

* HMS Invincible
* HMS Illustrious
* HMS Ark Royal
ARM Oaxaca

## ARM Oaxaca (PO-161)

ARM Oaxaca

**ARM *Oaxaca* (PO-161)** is the lead ship of the *Oaxaca* class of patrol vessels, constructed by and for the Mexican Navy.

### Career

ARM *Oaxaca* participated in UNITAS Gold from 25 April 2009 to 5 May 2009. The ships main guns were tested as well as a BO-105 helicopter from the ship during the sinking of the ex-USS *Conolly* (DD-975) 29 April. This was the first time Mexico participated in UNITAS Gold, sending ARM *Oaxaca* and ARM *Mina*. The ships also practiced fire drills and other exercises.
Durance-class Oiler

## Durance-class

FS Var

The Durance class is a class of 9 oilers built by France, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. Only some are still in use, with the French Navy, Argentine Navy, and Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

### Armament

#### Guns

* 1x 40mm Bofors gun
* 4x M2 Browning

### Ships in Class

* FS Durance (now ARA Patagonia)
* FS Meuse
* FS Var
* FS Marne
* FS Somme
* HMAS Success
* RSNS Boraida
* RSNS Yunbou
RFS Bystry

RFS Bystry

RFS Bystry is a Sovremenny-class destroyer of the Russian Navy.

### Career

RFS Bystry suffered a terrible engine fire in 2010. Aldar Tsydenzhapov, a sailor from Siberia, managed to put it out, but he died of his injuries. RFS Aldar Tsydenzhapov was named in his honor.

From June 3 to 18, 2013, RFS Bystry, RFS Oslyabya, and RFS Kalar participated in the Campaign of Memory of the Great Patriotic War.

In 2016, she returned to Vladivostok from a deployment, to receive an award for Missile Gunnery.

RFS Bystry was decommissioned in 2022.
Daring-class Destroyer

Not to be confused with the other Daring-classes, from the Cold War and pre-WW1

## Type 45/Daring class Destroyers

an example of a Daring class destroyer

The **Type 45 destroyer**, also known as the **D** or ***Daring* class**, is a class of six guided-missile destroyers built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy in the early 21st century. The class is primarily designed for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare and is built around the PAAMS (Sea Viper) air-defence system using the SAMPSON Active electronically scanned array (AESA) and the S1850M long-range radars. The first three destroyers were assembled by BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions from partially prefabricated "blocks" built at different shipyards; the remaining three were built by BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships. The first ship in the *Daring* class, HMS *Daring*, was launched on 1 February 2006 and commissioned on 23 July 2009.

The Type 45 destroyers were built to replace the Type 42 (*Sheffield*-class) destroyers that had served during the Falklands War, with the last Type 42 being decommissioned in 2013. The National Audit Office reported that, during an "intensive attack", a single Type 45 could simultaneously track, engage and destroy more targets than five Type 42 destroyers operating together. After the launch of *Daring* on 1 February 2006, Admiral Sir Alan West, then First Sea Lord, stated that it would be the Royal Navy's most capable destroyer ever, as well as the world's best air-defence ship. The reduction in the number to be procured from twelve, then to (up to) eight, finally with only six confirmed (in 2008) was controversial.

In 2016, it was revealed that due to a design flaw on the Northrop Grumman intercooler attached to the Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines, power availability was diminished considerably when functioning in the warm climate of the Persian Gulf, and it quickly became apparent that the class was not operating as originally envisioned. Therefore, a planned refit was scheduled from 2019 to 2021 to fully resolve the problems with the six ships in the class.

Under current plans, the Type 45 destroyer will be replaced by the Type 83 destroyer, the first of which is expected to enter service in the late 2030s.

### Armament

#### Missiles

* PAAM ADS
* Sylver VLS (x48 cells)
* Aster 15
* Aster 30
* Harpoon (x8)

#### Guns

* Mark 8 4.8-inch Gun (x1)
* DS30B (x2)
* 20mm Phalanx (x2)
* M2 Browning (x2)

### Ships in Class

* HMS Daring
* HMS Dauntless
* HMS Diamond
* HMS Dragon
* HMS Defender
* HMS Duncan
HSwMS Ehrenskold

## HSwMS Ehrenskold (11)

HSwMS Ehrenskold

**HSwMS *Ehrensköld* (11)**, was the lead ship of her class of destroyer in the Swedish Navy during World War II. Together with the sister ship HSwMS *Nordenskjöld* (12), she constituted the *Ehrensköld* class, which, with its size and speed, was a major step in the Swedish destroyer fleet. Initially, *Ehrensköld* had pennant number 11, which was later changed to 1. In 1951-1952, the ship was converted to frigate, and then received the pennant number 71. She was decommissioned in 1963 and was sold for scrapping in 1973.

### History

*Ehrensköld* was built by Kockums in Malmö and was launched on 25 September 1926. The ship was named after the admiral Nils Ehrenschiöld. Initially the ship had the whole name but the first name was removed the year after the christening.

In the summer of 1929, *Ehrensköld* escorted together with the sister ship *Nordenskjöld* and the coastal defence ship HSwMS *Sverige* during a trip to Estonia and Latvia. On board the coastal defence ship was King Gustaf V, and the trip was first to Tallinn and then Riga before the ships returned to Sweden. The following year, the sister ships participated in another international trip. This time, together with the HSwMS *Gustav V* and HSwMS *Drottning Victoria* to the then German city of Swinemünde. The purpose of the trip was to collect the dust from Queen Victoria, who had recently died in Rome.

In 1934 *Ehrensköld* ran aground during a move from Karlskrona to Stockholm, where a large hole was torn up in the bottom of the forebody. By flooding parts of the afterbody and making a powerful reverse maneuver, the ship made it off the shoal and made its way to Stockholm's naval shipyards for repairs.

In September 1938, when Germany claimed Czechoslovak territories, *Ehrensköld*, together with HSwMS *Klas Horn*, were the only mobilized destroyers in the Swedish Navy. In April 1940, when Germany invaded Denmark and Norway, she was demobilized in Karlskrona and the staff shortage in the navy made it difficult to man the ship. Only after many exercises with new crew could the ship be put into service on 2 September.

At the beginning of the World War II, *Ehrensköld* was part of the Karlskrona Squadron, which was part of the South Coast Naval District. In 1942 she was part of the Coastal Fleet, which was the largest and most powerful unit of the Swedish Navy, and then moved back to Karlskrona Squadron.

From 1951 to 1952 *Ehrensköld* was converted to frigate, with the torpedo armament and the aft gun removed and replaced by four 40 mm automatic guns m/36. Furthermore, she was equipped with equipment such as hydrophone and depth charges for anti-submarine warfare. Command center was set up and radar was installed.

*Ehrensköld* was decommissioned on 1 April 1963, after which she was as a target ship. In 1973 the ship was sold and scrapped in Ystad.
40mm Bofors

## Bofors 40 mm L/60

40mm Bofors, British naval mount

The **Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60** (often referred to simply as the **"Bofors gun"**) is an anti-aircraft autocannon, designed in the 1930s by the Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors. The gun was designed as an intermediate anti-aircraft gun, filling the gap between fast firing close-range small calibre anti-aircraft guns and slower firing long-range high calibre anti-aircraft guns, a role which previously was filled by older outdated guns. The Bofors 40 mm L/60 was for its time perfectly suited for this role and outperformed competing designs in the years leading up to World War II in both effectiveness and reliability.

It entered the export market around 1932 and was in service with 18 countries by 1939. Throughout World War II it became one of the most popular and widespread medium-weight anti-aircraft guns. It was used by the majority of the western Allies and some Axis powers such as Nazi Germany and Hungary.

In the post-war era, the Bofors 40 mm L/60 design was not suitable for action against jet-powered aircraft, so Bofors developed a new 40 mm replacement design with significantly more power — the Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70, also known under the generic name 'Bofors 40 mm gun' — which was adopted by many nations during the Cold War and was selected as NATO-standard in November 1953. The Bofors 40 mm L/60 would however continue to see service long after becoming obsolete as an anti-aircraft weapon due to the massive number of surplus guns from WWII, and a small number of Bofors 40 mm L/60 guns remain in service today. Some weapons saw action as late as the Gulf War and Yugoslav Wars.
Aster

## Aster Missile Family

### Users

Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Ukraine, UK (all active)

### Designer

Aérospatiale, MBDA

The **Aster 15** and **Aster 30** are a Franco-Italian family of all-weather, vertical launch surface-to-air missiles. The name "*Aster*" stands for "Aérospatiale Terminale", with French company Aérospatiale having been the project's lead contractor before its missile activities were merged into MBDA. It also takes inspiration from the word "aster" (Greek: ἀστήρ), meaning "star" in Ancient Greek. The missiles as well as the related weapon systems are manufactured by Eurosam, a consortium consisting of MBDA France, MBDA Italy, both with a combined 66% share, and Thales holding 33%.

The Aster missiles were developed to intercept and destroy the full spectrum of air threats from high-performance combat aircraft, UAVs and helicopters to cruise, anti-radiation and even sea-skimming supersonic anti-ship missiles. The Aster 30 Block 1 and Block 1 NT were designed to counter ballistic missiles.

The Aster is primarily operated by France, Italy, as well as the United Kingdom as an export customer, and is an integrated component of the PAAMS air defence system, known in the Royal Navy as Sea Viper. As the principal weapon of the PAAMS, the Aster equips the Horizon-class frigates in French and Italian service as well as the British Type 45 destroyers. It equips the French and Italian FREMM multipurpose frigates, though not through the PAAMS air defense suite itself but specific French and Italian derivatives of the system.
HMS Bacchante (F69)

Not to be confused with HMS Bacchante (1876), HMS Bacchante (1901), or the minor sailing ships

## Information

### Fate

Sunk as an artificial reef, 2005

**HMS *Bacchante* (F69)** was a *Leander*-class frigate of the Royal Navy. *Bacchante* was built by Vickers on the Tyne, launched on 29 February 1968 and commissioned on 17 October 1969.

### Service History

In 1970, *Bacchante* joined Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), with which she visited a variety of ports and performed naval exercises. The following year, in 1971 *Bacchante* deployed to the West Indies. While there, she participated in a number of naval exercises, including an exercise with the aircraft carriers HMS *Ark Royal* and USS *America*. She acted as West Indies Guardship in 1973. During the same period, she was deployed for the Second and Third Cod Wars as part of the Fishery Protection Squadron.

*Bacchante* was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1981 conducting the second ever Armilla patrol taking over from *Minerva* visiting the Somali capital of Mogadishu and the Omani capital of Muscat (often drifting in the Indian Ocean to conserve fuel). In 1982, *Bacchante* became the Gibraltar Guardship and joined the Birmingham group deploying to the South Atlantic to undertake duties during the Falklands War. Shortly after the war was over the crew was sent ashore to aid the local populace in the disaster recovery operations, providing navigational landmarks for ships located in Stanley Sound and attempting to refloat the high commissioner's barge (but failing); also providing well deserved respite for Royal Marines and navy divers (hot food and accommodation). Whilst trying to erect a navigational radar reflector the team sent ashore, they wandered through a mine field (no injuries received). Some Commanding Officers of note include Julian Oswald and John Brigstocke.

In 1982, HMS *Bacchante* was sold to New Zealand as HMNZS *Wellington.*
Limbo Mortar

## Limbo ASW Mortar

Limbo Mortar

**Limbo**, or **Anti Submarine Mortar Mark 10** (A/S Mk.10), was the final development of the forward-throwing anti-submarine weapon Squid, designed during the Second World War and was developed by the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment in the 1950s.

Limbo was installed on the quarterdeck of Royal Navy escort ships from 1955 to the mid-1980s, Australian-built *Daring*-class destroyer and River-class destroyer escorts. Limbo was widely employed by the Royal Canadian Navy, being incorporated into all destroyer designs from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, including the *St. Laurent*, *Restigouche*, *Mackenzie*, *Annapolis* and *Iroquois* classes and the Type 12 President Class frigates built for the South African Navy in the 1960s.
FS Alsace

## FS Alsace (D656)

FS Alsace

FS Alsace (D656) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy, part of the joint French-Italian FREMM project.

### Career

From November 18 to December 2, 2021, Alsace took part in Exercise Polaris 21.

From January-May 2022, Alsace deployed along with FS Charles de Gaulle's strike force. She and FS Forbin performed primary air defense missions.

In October 2023, She, FS Surcouf, and FS Tonnerre deployed to the coast of Israel and later off to the Gulf of Hormuz to deter Houthi missiles attacks.
HMAS Arunta (I30)

Not to be confused with the other HMAS Arunta

HMAS Arunta

HMAS Arunta (I30) was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy.

### Career

In May 1942 HMAS Arunta, USS Perkins, and HNLMS Tromp took part in a search for submarines. On May 18 Arunta escorted a Dutch convoy.

In June, she was assigned to convoy escort and sank Ro-33 on August 24.

On September 4, 1942, she and HMAS Swan escorted 2 Dutch steamers to Milne Bay. One of the steamers was sunk when attacked by IJN Tenryu and IJN Arashi during the Battle of Milne Bay.

In January 1943 Arunta evacuated guerillas from Timor..

She took part in Operation Chronicle with Task Force 74, along with HMAS Australia, HMAS Shropshire, USS Ralph Talbot, HMAS Warramunga, and USS Helm.

In 1943-1944 she operated around New Guinea and the Philippines, destroying ammunition dumps and capturing a Japanese man. She lost 2 sailors to a near-miss by a kamikaze.

From March to April 1945 she operated around Wewak and Brunei.

After the war she was refitted and enforced to armistice in Korea in 1953.

After being decommissioned in 1956, she was kept up as a reserve ship until 1968, when she was stricken and towed for scrapping. While under tow she sank.
HNLMS O-19

HNLMS O-19

***O 19***, laid down as ***K XIX***, was an *O 19*-class submarine of the Royal Netherlands Navy that saw service during World War II. *O 19*, along with her sister ship *O 20*, were the first submarines in the world to be equipped with a submarine snorkel that allowed the submarine to run its diesel engines while submerged.

### Commissioning

The submarine's keel was laid at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard in Rotterdam on 15 June 1936 as *K XIX* but was renamed *O 19* at some point. The submarine was launched on 22 September 1938 and commissioned in the Dutch navy on 3 July 1939. After her commissioning the HNLMS *O 19* was put into service by commander Lieutenant-on-sea 1 (LTZ 1) K. van Dongen on July 3, 1939, following a short training period. Three weeks later, on 25 July 1939, the new submarine was already on its way to the Dutch East Indies via the Suez Canal where the boat arrived on 13 September.

### World War II

On 10 May 1940, the day the Germans invaded the Netherlands, the entire mobilization was proclaimed in the Dutch colony. Most Dutch warships, including the *O 19*, were used to protect allied merchant ships and to patrol the Indonesian archipelago. On May 31, 1941, the command of the Dutch submarine was taken over by LTZ 1 F.J.A. Knoops.

The submarine performed patrols and missions in the Pacific theater, sinking several Japanese vessels, attacking convoys and laying mines. On 8 July 1945, *O 19* was en route to Subic Bay in the Philippines at a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) when it struck Ladd Reef in the South China Sea. Unable to pull free of the reef, the crew of *O 19* were rescued by the U.S. Navy submarine USS *Cod*. To prevent capture, *O 19* was scuttled by both crews using explosives, torpedoes and gunfire.
M2 Browning

## Browning M2 50. caliber Heavy Machine Gun

M2 Browning

The **M2 machine gun** or **Browning .50 caliber machine gun** (informally, "**Ma Deuce**") is a heavy machine gun that was designed near the end of World War I by John Browning. While similar to Browning's earlier M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge, the M2 uses Browning's larger and more powerful .50 BMG (12.7 mm) cartridge. The design has had many designations; the official U.S. military designation for the infantry type is **Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible**. It is effective against infantry, unarmored or lightly armored vehicles and boats, light fortifications, and low-flying aircraft.

The gun has been used extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament by the United States since the 1930s. It was heavily used during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Falklands War, the Soviet–Afghan War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan. It is the primary heavy machine gun of NATO countries and has been used by many other countries as well. U.S. forces have used the M2 longer than any other firearm except the .45 ACP M1911 pistol, which was also designed by John Browning.

The **M2HB** (heavy barrel) is manufactured in the U.S. by General Dynamics, Ohio Ordnance Works, U.S. Ordnance, and FN Herstal for sale to the U.S. government and other nations via Foreign Military Sales.
IJN Karukaya

IJN Karukaya

The **Japanese destroyer *Karukaya*** (刈萱) was a *Wakatake*-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. One of a class of eight 2nd-class destroyers, the ship was built by the Fujinagata Shipyard in Osaka, Japan. She was laid down on 16 May 1922, launched 19 March 1923, and commissioned 20 August 1923 as *Dai-18-Go Kuchikukan*, the name being changed to *Karukaya* on 1 August 1928.

### Design

The *Wakatake*-class destroyers were essentially slightly modified *Momi*-class ships with a deeper draft to improve handling characteristics in heavy seas, particularly against rolling. Weaponry layout, general arrangement and silhouette were all identical with the *Momi* class.

The small displacement and shallow draft of the *Wakatake* class limited their use as fleet escorts. As with the *Momi* class, in the 1920s and 1930s, they were mainly used in Chinese coastal waters.

*Karukaya* was refitted in the winter of 1941–1942, with one of its 120 mm guns being replaced by six 25 mm Type 96 anti-aircraft cannon in two triple mounts, together with several 13.2 mm (0.52 in) machine guns. The destroyer's minelaying and sweeping gear was removed to allow four depth charge throwers and up to 48 depth charges to be fitted.

### WW2 Service

*Karukaya* was assigned to the 32nd Destroyer Division on the outbreak of the war in the Pacific, and spent the early months of the war protecting shipping traffic in the Tsushima Straits.

On 10 April 1942, the 1st Surface Escort Division of the Southwest Area Fleet was created, and Destroyer Division 32, including *Karukaya* was assigned to it to provide protection for convoys against Allied submarine activity. They initially escorted convoys running between Moji in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, but later added routes to Singapore, French Indochina, the Netherlands East Indies, and Palau. In the course of this service *Karukaya* set a record by successfully completing 54 convoy escorts before her loss.

#### Loss

*Karukaya* was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS *Cod* in the South China Sea west of Luzon on 10 May 1944, at 15°47′N 119°32′E.
CH-46 Sea Knight

### Operators

United States (current (military, civil)), Canada (current (civil, formerly military)), Japan, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Thailand (former)

### Status

Limited Use

The **Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight** is an American medium-lift tandem-rotor transport helicopter powered by twin turboshaft engines. It was designed by Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol following Vertol's acquisition by Boeing.

Development of the Sea Knight, which was originally designated by the firm as the **Vertol Model 107**, commenced during 1956. It was envisioned as a successor to the first generation of rotorcraft, such as the H-21 "Flying Banana", that had been powered by piston engines; in its place, the **V-107** made use of the emergent turboshaft engine. On 22 April 1958, the V-107 prototype performed its maiden flight. During June 1958, the US Army awarded a contract for the construction of ten production-standard aircraft, designated as the **YHC-1A**, based on the V-107; this initial order was later cut down to three YHC-1As though. During 1961, the United States Marine Corps (USMC), which had been studying its requirements for a medium-lift, twin-turbine cargo/troop assault helicopter, selected Boeing Vertol's **Model 107M** as the basis from which to manufacture a suitable rotorcraft to meet their needs. Known colloquially as the "Phrog" and formally as the "Sea Knight", it was operated across all US Marine Corps' operational environments between its introduction during the Vietnam War and its frontline retirement during 2014.

The Sea Knight was operated by the USMC to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment until it was replaced by the V-22 Osprey during the 2010s. The USMC also used the helicopter for combat support, search and rescue (SAR), casualty evacuation and Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP). The Sea Knight also functioned as the US Navy's standard medium-lift utility helicopter prior to the type being phased out of service in favor of the MH-60S Knighthawk during the early 2000s. Several overseas operators acquired the rotorcraft as well. Canada operated the Sea Knight, designated as **CH-113**; the type was used predominantly in the SAR role until 2004. Other export customers for the type included Japan, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia. The commercial version of the rotorcraft is the **BV 107-II**, commonly referred to simply as the "Vertol".
Cv Inhauma

## Cv Inhauma (V-30)

Cv Inhauma

**Cv *Inhaúma*** **(V-30)** was the lead ship of the *Inhaúma*-class corvette of the Brazilian Navy.

### Career

The ship was built at Naval Arsenal Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro and was launched on 13 December 1986 and commissioned on 12 December 1989.

She was decommissioned on 25 November 2016.

On June 18, 2019, *Inhaúma* was sunk as target during a Brazilian Navy missile test exercise, having been hit by an AGM-119 Penguin anti-ship missile launched from an SH-helicopter, '16' Seahawk, as well as other bombs used against it during this exercise.
20mm Oerlikon

## Oerlikon 20mm Gun

20mm Oerlikon on a French warship.

The **Oerlikon 20 mm cannon** is a series of autocannons based on an original German Becker Type M2 20 mm cannon design that appeared very early in World War I. It was widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others, with various models employed by both Allied and Axis forces during World War II. Many versions of the cannon are still used today.
RBNS Sabha

**RBNS *Sabha* (90)** (Arabic: ﺱﻡﺏ صبحا) is an *Oliver Hazard Perry*-class frigate in service with the Royal Bahraini Naval Force. The ship was former United States Navy frigate **USS *Jack Williams* (FFG-24)**. The frigate is now considered as the lead frigate of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force.

## Information

### Construction and career

Main article: USS Jack Williams (FFG-24)

During its career as USS *Jack Williams* (FFG-24) in the United States, it was the sixteenth ship of the *Oliver Hazard Perry* class of guided-missile frigates. It was named for Pharmacist's Mate Second Class Jack Williams, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The frigate was ordered from Bath Iron Works on 28 February 1977 as part of the FY77 Program. *Jack Williams* was laid down on 25 February 1980; launched on 30 August 1980 and commissioned on 19 September 1981. Decommissioned and stricken on 13 September 1996, she was transferred to Bahrain the same day as a gift.

The ship was formally recommissioned as the RBNS *Sabha* (90) on 25 February 1997. The frigate was named after a sea fort in Zubarah (located in today Qatar), historically belonged to Al Khalifa royal family of Bahrain. *Sabha* arrived in the Persian Gulf in June 1997 for a workup and crew training.

*Sabha* participated in Saudi-led Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen, returning to Bahraini waters in December 2015.
K-141 Kursk

K-141 Kursk

K-141 Kursk was a Oscar II-class submarine of the Russian Navy. She was a victim in a famous incident in 2000 involving a torpedo explosion.

### Career

K-141 only completed 1 mission before 2000. In 1999 she shadowed the US fleet that had responded to the Kosovo crisis.

In 2000 she took part in a major exercise called 'Summer-X'. She successfully test-fired a Granit missile during the first day.

On August 12, 2000, she was preparing to fire dummy torpedoes at RFS Petr Velikiy. At the firing time, a torpedo exploded inside of the submarine, killing all but 23 crewmen. The submarine collapsed from the explosion and the 23 survivors were trapped in a rear compartment, eventually suffocating or drowning. The cause was considered to be a failure in a Type 65 Torpedo.

By 2002 the ship had been salvaged and scrapped.
H-21 Shawnee

## Piasecki H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee

a US Army H-21

The **Piasecki H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee** is an American helicopter, the fourth of a line of tandem rotor helicopters designed and built by Piasecki Helicopter (later Boeing Vertol). Commonly called "the flying banana", it was a multi-mission helicopter, capable of being fitted with wheels, skis or floats.

The H-21 was originally developed by Piasecki as an Arctic rescue helicopter. The H-21 had cold-weather features permitting operation at temperatures as low as −65 °F (−54 °C) and could be routinely maintained in severe cold weather environments.
INS Visakhapatnam

## INS Visakhapatnam (D66)

INS Visakhapatnam

**INS *Visakhapatnam*** is the lead ship and the first of the *Visakhapatnam*-class stealth guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. The ship, commissioned on 21 November 2021, is one of the largest destroyers in service with the Indian Navy.

### Career

The keel of *Visakhapatnam* was laid down on 12 October 2013 and she was launched on 20 April 2015 at Mazagon Dock Limited of Mumbai. This was made under Make In India initiative. The ship steering and stabilizer system was manufactured by Larsen & Toubro and hydraulics by Polyhydron Systems.

During Navy Day 2020, Chief of the Naval Staff announced that INS Visakhapatnam has started its sea trials.

*Visakhapatnam* was delivered to the Indian Navy on 28 October 2021 and commissioned on 21 November 2021 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Indian Navy's Western Naval Command, headquartered in Mumbai.

On 11 January 2022, *Visakhapatnam* successfully fired an advanced variant of the Brahmos missile in sea-to-sea mode validating its extended range and improvements.
BRP Andres Bonifacio

Not to be confused with BRP Andres Bonifacio (PF-7)

## BRP Andres Bonfacio (PS-17)

BRP Andres Bonifacio

BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17), formerly USCGC Boutwell, is a Gregorio Del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessel in the Philippine Navy.

### Career

She visited ports in Malaysia and participated in exercises with the Royal Malaysian Navy during LIMA 2017.

During RIMPAC 2018, BRP Andres Bonifacio, together with BRP Davao Del Sur, took part in the exercises along with the other ships.

In Balikatan 2019, she practiced boarding procedures.

BRP Andres Bonifacio had a run-in with ROCS Wu Chang in April 2019.
Imperial Japanese Navy

Japanese Ensign

The **Imperial Japanese Navy** (**IJN**; Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國海軍 Shinjitai: 大日本帝国海軍 *Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigunⓘ* 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or 日本海軍 *Nippon Kaigun*, 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender in World War II. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) was formed between 1952 and 1954 after the dissolution of the IJN.

The Imperial Japanese Navy was the third largest navy in the world by 1920, behind the Royal Navy and the United States Navy (USN). It was supported by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service for aircraft and airstrike operation from the fleet. It was the primary opponent of the Western Allies in the Pacific War.

The origins of the Imperial Japanese Navy go back to early interactions with nations on the Asian continent, beginning in the early medieval period and reaching a peak of activity during the 16th and 17th centuries at a time of cultural exchange with European powers during the Age of Discovery. After two centuries of stagnation during the country's ensuing seclusion policy under the *shōgun* of the Edo period, Japan's navy was comparatively backward when the country was forced open to trade by American intervention in 1854. This eventually led to the Meiji Restoration. Accompanying the re-ascendance of the Emperor came a period of frantic modernization and industrialization. The navy had several successes, sometimes against much more powerful enemies such as in the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, before being largely destroyed in World War II.
Mark 45 5-inch Gun

## 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 Gun

### Users

Australia, Denmark, Greece, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, USA (current), UK (future)

### Designer

United Defense, BAE

The **5" (127 mm)/54 caliber (Mk 45) lightweight gun** is a U.S. naval artillery gun mount consisting of a 5 in (127 mm) L54 Mark 19 gun on the Mark 45 mount. It was designed and built by United Defense, a company later acquired by BAE Systems Land & Armaments, which continued manufacture.

The latest 62-calibre-long version consists of a longer-barrel L62 Mark 36 gun fitted on the same Mark 45 mount. The gun is designed for use against surface warships, anti-aircraft and shore bombardment to support amphibious operations. The gun mount features an automatic loader with a capacity of 20 rounds. These can be fired under full automatic control, taking a little over a minute to exhaust those rounds at maximum fire rate. For sustained use, the gun mount would be occupied by a six-person crew (gun captain, panel operator, and four ammunition loaders) below deck to keep the gun continuously supplied with ammunition.

### History

Development started in the 1960s as a replacement for the 5" (127 mm)/54 caliber Mark 42 gun system that had debuted in 1953 with a new, lighter, and easier-to-maintain gun mounting. The United States Navy uses the Mark 45 with either the Mk 86 Gun Fire Control System or the Mk 34 Gun Weapon System. Since before World War II, 5 inches (127 mm) has been the standard gun caliber for U.S. Naval ships. Its rate of fire is lower than the British 4.5 in (114 mm) gun, but it fires a heavier 5-inch (127 mm) shell which carries a larger burst charge that increases its effectiveness against aircraft.

### Variants

#### Mod 0

Used mechanical fuze setter. Two-piece rifled construction, with replaceable liner.

#### Mod 1

Electronic fuze setter replaces the mechanical one. Made with a unitary construction barrel, which has a life span approximately twice that of the Mark 42 gun.

#### Mod 2

Export version of Mod 1, but now used in the U.S. Navy.

#### Mod 3

Mod 2 gun with a new control system; never put into production.

#### Mod 4

Receives a longer 62-caliber barrel (versus Mod 1 and 2's 54 caliber) for more complete propellant combustion and higher velocity and thus more utility for land attack. Was designed to use the Mark 171 Extended Range Guided Munition (ERGM), which was canceled. The Mk 45 mod 4 uses a modified flat-panel gun turret, designed to reduce its radar signature.

In sustained firing operations (Mode III), the gun is operated by a six-person crew: a gun captain, a panel operator, and four ammunition loaders, all located below decks. In fully automatic non-sustained firing operations (Mode IV), 20 rounds can be fired without any personnel inside the mount, using an automatic loader.
ARA Veinticinco de Mayo

Not to be confused with ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (C-2), ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (1890)

## Information

### Used from

1944-1947 (UK), 1947-1968 (Netherlands), 1969-1997 (Argentina)

### Fate

Scrapped 2000

ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (V-2) was a Colossus-class aircraft carrier of the Argentine Navy. She was formerly HMS Venerable and then HNLMS Karel Doorman.

### Career

ARA Veinticinco de Mayo was received as a replacement for ARA Independencia. In 1970 she received many upgrades to make her more useful.

She was planned to be used in an invasion of Chile, which never happened.

In the Falklands War she took part in the initial landings, escorted by ARA General Belgrano. In 1982 she was planned to attack the British fleet, however when HMS Conqueror sank ARA General Belgrano she vacated.

In 1983, ARA Veinticinco de Mayo was upgraded, but engine problems confined her to her port. She was stripped for spare parts for Brazil's NAeL Minas Gerais and scrapped in 2000.
HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl

No Broken Links*This article has No Broken Links! The Admiral approves.*

## HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl (F314)

HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl

**HNoMS *Thor Heyerdahl*** is a *Fridtjof Nansen*-class frigate of the Royal Norwegian Navy.

### Career

Built by the Spanish shipbuilders Navantia, in Ferrol, *Thor Heyerdahl* was the fifth and last of the *Fridtjof Nansen* class to be launched and then commissioned into the Royal Norwegian Navy. Unlike the other members of her class, she was built with two 8-cell VLS modules instead of one.