daftandbarmy
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Naval Lessons from Ukraine/Russia
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"You can build a case that the maritime commons are becoming more lawless. China hasn’t cared about the rules for years, neither has Russia or Iran. The Black Sea is an active war zone. The Red Sea is quiet, but ships continue to go around Africa to avoid it. The US is pushing the rules in the Caribbean and exceeding them in some cases."
The Telegraph
Tom Sharpe
Trump’s tanker seizure is a radically different approach. Is it the key to beating Putin?
Sanctions haven’t worked so cracking down on Russia’s dark fleet could be a way of drying up oil money funding Ukraine war
Tom Sharpe
Tom Sharpe
12 December 2025 5:54pm GMT
Trump's equivalent of the RN's old West Africa Squadron?
Abolition of slavers was a great excuse for boarding ships and controlling trade.
.....
"Caracas screamed piracy. They’re technically wrong on the definition, but the optics are undeniably wild.
"The Skipper wasn’t just some random tanker that got unlucky. She’s been sanctioned by the US since 2022 for running Iranian crude to fund the Iranian Revolutionary Guards al-Quds Force – the overseas terrorism arm of the Tehran regime. Ownership traces through Marshall Islands shells to a Swiss-Ukrainian fixer. She had no valid flag (Panama stripped the registry years ago), no class certificate since May 2022, no protection and indemnity insurance, and she was flying a fake Guyanese flag. To stay under the radar, the crew engaged in aggressive Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder spoofing – transmitting bogus location data to make it look as though she was off Guyana while actually loading at Venezuela’s José terminal and then conducting a ship-to-ship transfer of more than a million barrels to the tanker Neptune 6, probably bound for Cuba.
"The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows warships to board a stateless vessel. Caracas has little grounds for complaint. This wasn’t piracy; it was a state executing a judicial warrant against a lawless hull. Of course this is maritime law, which is never simple. For me though, this boarding looks legitimate.
"As an aside, the difference between boarding a stateless vessel without loss of life and blowing up a suspected narco boat without so much as a demand to surrender are so stark that comparisons are largely irrelevant. Sure, both actions took place on the water, but that’s about it. It’s as pointless as comparing the narco strikes to drone strikes in, say, Afghanistan (or Iraq or Pakistan). Many are doing all of this, but largely because they want to score political points or because they don’t understand.
"There are already 30-plus sanctioned or dark tankers loitering off Venezuela right now. Several have switched off AIS altogether (illegally) or cancelled loadings since Wednesday. With US carrier-based air cover in the overhead and one third of the active US navy in the operating area, it’s safe to say that hiding will be nearly impossible. It also means there are plenty of assets in place if this is just the start."
....
As Trump Jr said, with his dad, it's hard to know.
Given the treatment meted out to a few unfortunate drug runners do anyone reckon that a vessel hailed by the USCG won't heave to?
The Telegraph
Tom Sharpe
Trump’s tanker seizure is a radically different approach. Is it the key to beating Putin?
Sanctions haven’t worked so cracking down on Russia’s dark fleet could be a way of drying up oil money funding Ukraine war
Tom Sharpe
Tom Sharpe
12 December 2025 5:54pm GMT
Trump's equivalent of the RN's old West Africa Squadron?
Abolition of slavers was a great excuse for boarding ships and controlling trade.
.....
"Caracas screamed piracy. They’re technically wrong on the definition, but the optics are undeniably wild.
"The Skipper wasn’t just some random tanker that got unlucky. She’s been sanctioned by the US since 2022 for running Iranian crude to fund the Iranian Revolutionary Guards al-Quds Force – the overseas terrorism arm of the Tehran regime. Ownership traces through Marshall Islands shells to a Swiss-Ukrainian fixer. She had no valid flag (Panama stripped the registry years ago), no class certificate since May 2022, no protection and indemnity insurance, and she was flying a fake Guyanese flag. To stay under the radar, the crew engaged in aggressive Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder spoofing – transmitting bogus location data to make it look as though she was off Guyana while actually loading at Venezuela’s José terminal and then conducting a ship-to-ship transfer of more than a million barrels to the tanker Neptune 6, probably bound for Cuba.
"The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows warships to board a stateless vessel. Caracas has little grounds for complaint. This wasn’t piracy; it was a state executing a judicial warrant against a lawless hull. Of course this is maritime law, which is never simple. For me though, this boarding looks legitimate.
"As an aside, the difference between boarding a stateless vessel without loss of life and blowing up a suspected narco boat without so much as a demand to surrender are so stark that comparisons are largely irrelevant. Sure, both actions took place on the water, but that’s about it. It’s as pointless as comparing the narco strikes to drone strikes in, say, Afghanistan (or Iraq or Pakistan). Many are doing all of this, but largely because they want to score political points or because they don’t understand.
"There are already 30-plus sanctioned or dark tankers loitering off Venezuela right now. Several have switched off AIS altogether (illegally) or cancelled loadings since Wednesday. With US carrier-based air cover in the overhead and one third of the active US navy in the operating area, it’s safe to say that hiding will be nearly impossible. It also means there are plenty of assets in place if this is just the start."
....
As Trump Jr said, with his dad, it's hard to know.
Given the treatment meted out to a few unfortunate drug runners do anyone reckon that a vessel hailed by the USCG won't heave to?
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At what point do we reconsider the niceties?
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Further to the hybridization of the seas
Little Green Men on board shadow tankers.
Little Green Men on board shadow tankers.
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And in the Black Sea
"The market price of a Magura V5 boat is around US$250,000. Thirteen emphasises, however, that his unit acquires them at a significantly lower cost."
www.pravda.com.ua
"Russian forces are hunting Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels at sea and from the air. Meanwhile, US and European actors are scrambling to get their hands on the technology, as evidenced by discussions in offices, at exhibitions and during trials.
"The force behind this success are Ukrainian-made unmanned Magura boats – inconspicuous, fast, manoeuvrable and deadly to the enemy. In just two years, they have rewritten the rules of modern naval warfare."
"The market price of a Magura V5 boat is around US$250,000. Thirteen emphasises, however, that his unit acquires them at a significantly lower cost."
The war at sea rages on: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine explains Russia's counter to maritime drones and its effectiveness
Russian forces are hunting Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels at sea and from the air. Meanwhile, US and European actors are scrambling to get their hands on the technology, as evidenced by discussions in offices, at exhibitions and during trials.
"Russian forces are hunting Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels at sea and from the air. Meanwhile, US and European actors are scrambling to get their hands on the technology, as evidenced by discussions in offices, at exhibitions and during trials.
"The force behind this success are Ukrainian-made unmanned Magura boats – inconspicuous, fast, manoeuvrable and deadly to the enemy. In just two years, they have rewritten the rules of modern naval warfare."
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I sense prices going up
www.theguardian.com
united24media.com
www.abc.net.au
www.reuters.com
boereport.com
www.euronews.com
www.navalnews.com
www.twz.com
Hybrid warfare means higher insurance rates.
Does it also mean picketing sea-lanes, escorting high value ships and arming merchant ships with LAA systems? More work for government navies? Or is it PSC work?
French forces board Russian tanker suspected of drone launches – as it happened
French navy reportedly on the Boracay, thought to be part of the ‘shadow fleet’
www.theguardian.com
Swedish Navy Detects Russian Military Guards Aboard Sanctioned Oil Tankers in the Baltic Sea
Swedish Navy confirms armed personnel aboard Russian “shadow fleet” tankers in the Baltic Sea, linked to efforts protecting sanctioned oil vessels.
united24media.com
Sanction-skirting 'shadow fleets' in Trump's sights. Here's how they work
Tensions between the US and Venezuela are soaring after American forces seized an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. So why is US President Donald Trump targeting so-called "shadow fleets"?
www.abc.net.au
Over 30 sanctioned ships in Venezuela at risk after US tanker seizure
Venezuela has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019.
www.reuters.com
Tankers make u-turns after US seizure of Venezuelan oil cargo, shipping data says | BOE Report
A tanker carrying Russian naphtha for Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and at least four supertankers due to pick up crude cargoes in Venezuela have made u-turns after the U.S. seized a vessel carrying Venezuelan crude, ship monitoring data showed on Monday. The U.S. Coast Guard last week...
boereport.com
Ukrainian drones reportedly hit another Russian shadow fleet vessel
Sources at Ukraine’s security service claim the Dashan tanker had received "critical damage" after it got hit by sea drones in Black Sea off Crimea’s coast.
www.euronews.com
Ukraine strikes Russian submarine with 'Sub Sea Baby' drone - Naval News
The Security Service of Ukraine reported that it had struck an Improved Kilo-class submarine at the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk. The attack was carried out with a “Sub Sea Baby” drone.
www.navalnews.com
Russian Retaliation Strike Raises Stakes In Black Sea Shipping War
The Russian attack on the CENK-T cargo ship follows four recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil tankers.
www.twz.com
Hybrid warfare means higher insurance rates.
Does it also mean picketing sea-lanes, escorting high value ships and arming merchant ships with LAA systems? More work for government navies? Or is it PSC work?
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Merchant Vessel Repels Armed Attack Off Yemen Coast as Red Sea Transit Risks Persist
A merchant vessel successfully defended against an armed assault by multiple small craft approximately 15 nautical miles west of Yemen, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, marking...
gcaptain.com
MilEME09
Army.ca Fixture
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Or war gamers
We call them sigs
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Does this justify navies taking extraordinary actions?
How do you manage little green men - civilians who act like soldiers?
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Ukraine acting independently on the high seas.
www.theguardian.com
Ukraine attacks Russian ‘shadow’ tanker off Libyan coast
Reportedly critical drone strike is first in Mediterranean since full-scale invasion began as maritime conflict grows
www.theguardian.com
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Shadow fleet in Singapore
www.aljazeera.com
Singapore is a member of the 5 Power alliance
Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, UK
Wiil they start seizing sanctioned ships?
en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br
"In December 2024, the UK joined a coalition with Nordic and Baltic states (part of the Joint Expeditionary Force - JEF) to begin checking insurance documents of suspected shadow vessels. The agreement outlines that if ships refuse to cooperate, potential next steps could include being put on a prohibition list or being boarded in certain areas. This plan is designed to disrupt the fleet's operations, but specific boarding incidents (by the UK) have not been confirmed ...."
Other members of JEF, notably the Finns, have boarded shadow fleet ships. The ship was borded by the Border Guards and not the navy.
Rogue tankers in Singapore: What are shadow fleets and who uses them?
Ageing ships flying false flags are used to avoid Western sanctions on Russian, Iranian and Venezuelan oil.
Singapore is a member of the 5 Power alliance
Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, UK
Wiil they start seizing sanctioned ships?
The United Kingdom is expanding sanctions and targeting major Russian oil companies in a new economic offensive against Moscow.
The United Kingdom announces new sanctions against Russian oil companies, seeking to reduce revenues used in the conflict in Ukraine.
en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br
"In December 2024, the UK joined a coalition with Nordic and Baltic states (part of the Joint Expeditionary Force - JEF) to begin checking insurance documents of suspected shadow vessels. The agreement outlines that if ships refuse to cooperate, potential next steps could include being put on a prohibition list or being boarded in certain areas. This plan is designed to disrupt the fleet's operations, but specific boarding incidents (by the UK) have not been confirmed ...."
Other members of JEF, notably the Finns, have boarded shadow fleet ships. The ship was borded by the Border Guards and not the navy.
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Another Q-Ship variant?
China Converted a Container Ship into an Arsenal Ship with a Salvo of 60 Missiles - Militarnyi
....
Meanwhile, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
If the Americans can seize shipping on "their" high seas what prevents anyone else from applying their own rules.
www.euronews.com
.....
Prior to the West African blockade of Africa and the suppression of the Slave Trade from 1807 the Royal Navy's great cause was the suppression of piracy, predominantly in the West Indies and eastern seaboard of North America from 1698. The period 1719 to 1723 was a period of peacetime focus on piracy that saw the end of the Golden Age of Piracy. Back to the future?
China Converted a Container Ship into an Arsenal Ship with a Salvo of 60 Missiles - Militarnyi
....
Meanwhile, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
If the Americans can seize shipping on "their" high seas what prevents anyone else from applying their own rules.
Iranian navy seizes 'foreign' oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz
Authorities detained 16 foreign crew members but did not reveal their nationalities or the tanker's flag, Tehran-run state media reported.
www.euronews.com
.....
Prior to the West African blockade of Africa and the suppression of the Slave Trade from 1807 the Royal Navy's great cause was the suppression of piracy, predominantly in the West Indies and eastern seaboard of North America from 1698. The period 1719 to 1723 was a period of peacetime focus on piracy that saw the end of the Golden Age of Piracy. Back to the future?
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U.S. Coast Guard lacks forces to seize Venezuela-linked tanker for now - sources say
The U.S. Coast Guard is waiting for additional forces to arrive before potentially attempting to board and seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker it has been pursuing since Sunday, a U.S. official and a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
kaieteurnewsonline.com
Military actions vs police actions on the high seas.
"The U.S. Coast Guard is waiting for additional forces to arrive before potentially attempting to board and seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker it has been pursuing since Sunday, a U.S. official and a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
"The ship, which maritime groups have identified as the Bella 1, has refused to be boarded by the Coast Guard. That means that the task will likely fall to one of just two teams of specialists – known as Maritime Security Response Teams – who can board vessels under these circumstances, including by rappelling from helicopters."
....
"Unlike the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard can carry out law enforcement actions, including boarding and seizing vessels that are under U.S. sanctions."
....
Question for the lawyers:
Does the entire boarding party need to be comprised of LEOs (Coast Guard or otherwise) or is enough that one member of the party be a LEO and the party operates under that individual's authority?
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