See Australia's Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) article, of October 26, 2020, at

https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/australia-singapore-works-on-joint-helo-exercises/

Foreign Affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic and Defence Correspondent Andrew Greene, of Australia’s Government owned ABC News,reported, October 23, 2020:

“Australia no longer sending Navy to the Middle East, shifts focus to Asia-Pacific, China”

A three-decades-long Australian naval presence in the Middle East [under Operation MANITOU] will come to an abrupt end this year as the Federal Government grapples with an increasingly uncertain strategic environment closer to home.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds [a former Brigadier!] has announced Australia will no longer send a Royal Australian Navy ship to the Middle East every year.

The last Australian Navy ship deployed to the region, HMAS Toowoomba, returned to Australia in June this year.

Australia will also withdraw from the United States-led naval coalition patrolling the Strait of Hormuz at the end of 2020.

That means around 30 years of Australian maritime operations in the Middle East — largely focussed on counter-terrorism and counter-piracy operations — will soon come to an end.

In a statement, Senator Reynolds said the Government's priorities had shifted.

"This year alone has seen [the] Navy respond to the bushfire and COVID-19 crises, a five-ship deployment throughout South-East Asia and the Pacific, a continued commitment to initiatives under the Pacific Step Up, and several highly successful activities with our regional partners," Minister Reynolds said.

"We now face an increasingly challenging strategic environment which is placing greater demand on ADF resources closer to home."

"As a result, the Australian Defence Force will reduce its naval presence in the Middle East to enable more resources to be deployed in our region."

The shift was flagged in the Government's recent Defence Strategic Update, which declared that deteriorating strategic circumstances would force the military to focus more sharply on the Indo-Pacific and Australia's immediate region.

China has engaged in a massive naval build-up over the last decade, as well as asserting increasing control over the contested waters of the South China Sea by building a series of military fortifications.

The relationship between the United States and China has also become increasingly hostile, sharply raising the risk of conflict in the region.

Australia has participated in a growing number of naval exercises in the region with a series of allies and partners, including the United States and Japan.

Earlier this year Australian warships encountered the Chinese Navy while sailing near contested islands claimed by Beijing on their way to trilateral exercises.

[Inset: If [Australian Prime Minister] Morrison's defence strategy sounds like war talk, that's because it is.]

Next month the Australian Navy will also re-join the Malabar naval exercises with the US, Japan and India after a hiatus of more than a decade.

Senior officials, military officers and Morrison Government ministers have been contemplating the shift away from the Middle East for several years.

Last year there was debate inside the Federal Government when the Trump Administration asked Australia to join a US-led naval coalition to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran.

In the end, the Morrison Government agreed to send a surveillance aircraft and a frigate to join the mission.

But one Government source told the ABC the decision was "pretty hotly contested."

The [Australian Defence Force’s] Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, said the change announced by the Government was "historic" and Senator Reynolds declared Australia could be "proud" of its naval contribution.

"For over 30 years we have supported freedom of navigation, maritime security and the free flow of commerce in the Middle East," she said.

"In cooperation with our partners, our commitments have been invaluable in disrupting global drugs trade, supporting the reduction of funding lines to terrorism activity and building the capacity of regional forces."

Following the October 19, 2020 article on Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) numbers Anonymous reported, on October 27, 2020, further information on LIB costs, numbers and arrangements for Japan’s most recent 3 submarines.

Japanese Soryu Mk 2 submarines Oryu(27SS) equip with 640 LIBs (battery modules) (=320 LIBs x 2 groups [1, 2] ) andToryu (28SS) with possible 679 LIBs [3]. First of the new submarine class Taigei (29SS) may equip with 672 LIBs (=336 LIBs x 2 groups [3] ) and has somewhat improved power compared with 27SS or 28SS.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) is developing a new power storage and supply system [4]. Onsite testing of the system might be conducted by using Taigei as a test ship. 

[1]http://blog.livedoor.jp/wispywood2344/others/SMC-8B%20P_9_s.png

[2] Battery modules in a group are presumably consisted of two sets i.e., 240 and 80 battery modules.

[3] The price of LIBs (all of the new “SLH” type made by Japanese company GS Yuasa) are:
- 8.3 Billion Yen (US$80 million) for Oryu 28SS,
- 8.6 B Yen (US$83 million) for Toryu29SS and
- 8.4 B Yen (US$81 million) for Taigei30SS.
Price of defense equipment usually goes down every year. But, in 29SS, price of LIBs went up compared with 28SS suggesting increased number of LIBs. If 28SS equips with 640 LIBs, then perhaps the estimated number of LIBs in 29SS is 679 [=640 x 8.6 /(8.3 x (8.4/8.6))]. Then, the most likely number of LIBs for 30SS is 672(=28 columns x 12 rows x 2 groups) based on pricing, cancellation of stray magnetic field and so on.

[4] Research and trial production of high-efficiency power storage and supply system for submarines. Trial production (budget 8.2 billion yen (US$79 million)) and offsite testing will be conducted in 2019-2022 and 2023, respectively.

From the LIB information above see the estimated number of LIBs and their known cost of LIBs (in Billions Yen) for 28SS, 29SS and 30SS in the Table below.

Japanese Submarine Table as at October 28, 2020. 

On October 24, 2020 former US sonar specialist submariner, "Jive", uploaded a brief on Russia's new  Harmony Autonomous Seabed Sonar System (built under Project Cephalopod). The video brief is here https://youtu.be/Axvo1LwCEBc and below: 

Enjoy the video, where Jive concludes that systems like Harmony are now sensitive enough for the Russians to hear Western reconnaissance submarines coming.

They say an army marches on its stomach - well the UK Royal Navy sails on its alcohol and other vices, in excess. 

Pre 1815 to 1970 
From before the end of the Napoleonic Wars copious beer and over proof rum rations led to drunken sailors. 

1970 rum ration abolished
Due to DUI concerns not to mention nuclear weapons handling concerns. Crew instead allowed to purchase beer, with amount limited to how much could be stowed.

1986 on HMS Resolution(SSBN)
Seaman Richard Humphreys in Under Pressure: Living Life And Avoiding Death On A Nuclear Submarine, September 2019 paperback edition reports, page 175: the “crew of 143 men could drink roughly the equivalent of three cans a day for an average patrol length of, say, 60 days [= A grand total of 25,740 cans of beer per patrol, on patrol.] "...of an evening, some of the crew and I could easily be drinking at least nine to twelve cans of beer each.” 

Do times change? 

2011, April 8 on HMS Astute (SSN)
One naval officer killed and another injured in a shooting on board HMS Astute berthed at Southampton Docks. During a changeover of armed guards, 22-year old Able Seaman Ryan Donovan opened fire with an assault rifle in the sub's control room, hitting two officers before being overpowered...In the 48 hours before going on guard duty, Donovan had drunk 20 pints of cider, lager, and spirits, leaving him well beyond the drink-drive limit when on duty. Heavy drinking before duties was common practice amongst the crew.

2017, October 3 and 2017 October 9 HMS Vigilant(SSBN)
Submarine Matters reported that the Captain and his XO were removed for “inappropriate” relationships with 2 female crew members causing 5 officers to threaten to resign.

What is it about HMS Vigilant?

2020, October 14 Daily Mail reports:
“...dubbed “HMS Sex and Cocaine” has seen a coronavirus outbreak among its rule-breaking crew. Highly-secretive HMS Vigilant saw more than 35 crew members test positive after several left the Kings Bay US Navy [SSBN] base in Georgia, a source has revealed. Among those who tested positive - a quarter of the vessels team - was a doctor and an executive officer.”

2020, October 19 Daily Mailagain reports:
A Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander in charge of the HMS Vigilant’s nuclear missiles was found to be drunk while on duty when he turned up for a shift with a bag of barbecue chicken. .

Stay tuned for nuclear missile armed, HMS Vigilant's, next misadventures.

The Australian Minister for Defence Media Release, November 3, 2020, reports:

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/media-releases/australia-joins-exercise-malabar-2020

"Australia has joined key regional defence partners India, Japan and the United States for Exercise MALABAR 2020.

HMAS Ballarat will be involved in activities this month to enhance maritime interoperability in support of regional peace and security.

HMAS Ballarat will join

Indian Navy Ships Shakti, Ranvijay, Sukanya, Shivalik; Indian submarine Sindhuraj; Indian Navy aircraft;

[USS] John S. McCain

and Japanese Ship Ōnami.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the imperative to cooperate closely with regional defence partners on shared challenges was stronger than ever.

“Exercise MALABAR is an important opportunity to work in concert with like-minded nations to support a secure, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region,” Minister Reynolds said.

“Participation in sophisticated exercises like MALABAR not only highlights the strategic trust between the members, but also strengthens our collective ability to contribute to regional security.

“India and Australia are natural partners in the Indo-Pacific, and Exercise MALABAR is a clear demonstration of the depth of trust and cooperation between our defence organisations.”

During the exercise, the four participating navies will conduct a range of high-end training, including air defence and anti-submarine exercises, aviation, communications and at-sea replenishment between ships.

The exercise is being conducted in two phases in the Bay of Bengal and the north of the Arabian Sea, in accordance with COVID-19 safety measures."

On Australia’s On Line Opinion, under the pseudonym “plantagenet”, on 29 October 2020 at https://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=9299&page=0

I started a discussion under with the predictive title “Trump Tipped To Win Election”.

So far it has proven more accurate than most pollsters who predicted a landslide for Biden with Biden 9% or more ahead. The discussion has attracted 102 comments so far. So what do you think of my 
29 October 2020 prediction below?:

" Trump Tipped To Win Election

Short Proposition

It is better to be pessimistic, that way you won’t be disappointed. While the collective polls at http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/national/ currently tip Biden to win on a 9% basis, collective poll predictions proved wrong in 2016.

Within the collective polls Rusmussen Reports, a very accurate pollster in 2016 http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2016/how_we_did 
sharply disagreed with the collective on 28 October 2020, tipping Trump to win by 1%.

Long Proposition

See Rusmussen's 2020 prediction here http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2020/white_house_watch_oct28

“Trump 48%, Biden 47%, Wednesday, October 28, 2020

President Trump has seesawed back into a one-point lead over Democrat Joe Biden in Rasmussen Reports’ daily White House Watch survey.

The latest national telephone and online survey finds Trump edging Biden 48% to 47% among Likely U.S. Voters. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and two percent (2%) remain undecided... The margin of sampling error is +/- 2.5 percentage points...”

The US voting system is very complicated, due to:

The President is elected according to the Electoral College System http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Electoral_College not directly on the popular vote. In 2016 Trump won more Electoral College votes (304 to Hillary’s 227) while Hillary won more popular votes (65,853,514 compared to Trump’s 62,984,828).

Tied to Electoral College system, Swing/Battleground/Toss-up State results often determine who wins. See this Electoral Map http://www.270towin.com/maps/biden-trump-polling-map where Trump or Biden needs 270 Electoral College Votes to win. Swing States (Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Wisconsin and Iowa) are identified and predicted here http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/28/us-election-polls-tracker-swing-states-donald-trump-joe-biden .

In very close State counts disputes have been filed with State or Federal courts, perhaps ultimately for the US Supreme Court to decide. http://theconversation.com/the-case-of-biden-versus-trump-or-how-a-judge-could-decide-the-presidential-election-146367 .

This 2020 election is very unusual in that the President says he won’t accept a Biden win under the electoral system http://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/24/politics/trump-election-warnings-leaving-office/index.html .

Here's hoping Biden wins.

Posted by plantagenet, Thursday, 29 October 2020 5:13:02 PM "

Biographics reports: super soldier hero, Adrian Carton de Wiart, made Britain Great again

 The Youtube is herehttps://youtu.be/y-E_n0q0ttIand below:

The China Coast Guard (CCG) would be allowed to use weapons against foreign ships in waters China claims sovereignty. This is under a proposed revision to China's maritime police/coast guard law, according to a translated version. Lets call it the "fire on law".

China routinely accuses the US of infringing its sovereignty by sending naval vessels through contested waters. China claims waters within 12 nautical mile of some Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea (SCS). See map above (courtesy). These are waters the USN conducts FONOPs through with the US considering them international waters.

This Chinese announcement may have been timed to counter an earlier US Trump Administration  October 24, 2020 announcement that the US Coast Guard would base "Enhanced Response Cutters" which seems to mean Fast Response Cutters (main gun only being a 25mm autocannon) in the Western Pacific. China may positioning itself for a test of future Biden Administration resolve, after Biden is  augurated on January 20, 2021.

Also China may be facing down a Philippine intention, expressed in October 2020 that the Philippines was considering recruiting fishermen into SCS seaborne militia units similar to those used by Beijing. In early November the Philippines appeared to shelve that idea as Manila is keen to avoid “actions that would be misconstrued”.

China's consideration of a fire on law would also weaken the resolve of less formidable Southeast Asian navies and coast guards (all but Singapore's and Vietnam's relatively strong navies) to entertain any counter Chinese naval militia or CCG policies.
_________________________________________

 CCG VESSELS AND WEAPONS

The draft fire on law of course does not specify what weapons the CCG could use. Vessel classes and weapons include:

- 100+  Chinese patrol boats size “cutters” with twin 14.5mm Type 56 machine guns and
  smaller weapons.

- 70+ corvette sized (500-2,700 ton) cutters and

- 44 x destroyer sized (3,325-5,500 ton) with corvette and destroyer sizes capable of mounting 40mm up
  to 76mm guns.

Australia is currently hosting France's Rubis class nuclear attack submarine FNS Emeraude and the  submarine tender/support vessel FNS/BSAM Seine at Australia's Fleet Base West, near Fremantle and Perth, Western Australia. 

The Australian and French navies are united in their Indo-Pacific security relationship, which is heightened by Australia's decision to buy/build 12 French designed large conventional Attack class submarines.

Australia's Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) reports, 9 Nov, 2020 [hyperlinks added by Pete]:

"The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will host Marine Nationale units FNS Emeraude and FNS Seine at Fleet Base West from 9 November 2020. Prior to the maintenance and logistics visit, Australian Defence Force elements, including HMAS Anzac, HMAS Sheean and a P-8A Poseidonaircraft exercised with the French Navy units off the coast of Fremantle..."

SEE WHOLE APDR ARTICLE

Part Australian designedIndependence class LCS doing well, unlike the Freedom class LCS: 

see https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2020/11/09/now-is-the-perfect-time-to-sink-the-freedom-class-littoral-combat-ship/?sh=76234bcb3e1d

A long 84 page primer dated Novmber 2020 by experts. 

Document under copyright. See:

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-does-australia-need-12-submarines/

https://www.aspi.org.au/report/submarines-your-questions-answered

84 page Document  .PDF( 3.19 MB ) at https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ad-aspi/2020-11/SR%20161%20Submarines_Your%20questions%20answered.pdf?wIOA0OmHVANberKRdkahqghNwBef796O

Pages 20-22: good on Australia's submarine history.

Pages 25-28: Australia's submarine history including Secret operations

Pages 31-41: 12 future Attack-class submarines

Page 45 crewing and some issues.

Nuclear issues. 

Other

Mark Episkopos for THE NATIONAL INTEREST has written a very interesting article 

“Why India Leases Some of Russia's Best Nuclear Submarines” of November 12, 2020
at https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-india-leases-some-russias-best-nuclear-submarines-172463

Especially on Russia’s 1980s restrictions on the Chakra I nuclear submarine lease to India.

“Jive” at Sub Brief here http://youtu.be/45yXkHdYkLU?t=2m8sand below, provides new insights into Russia's giant torpedo:

5:10 Earlier, in 1953-54 the T-15 giant, 40 ton, 1,500mm diameter strategic nuclear torpedo had been considered . Soviet Navy decided they did not need it.

7:10 October 2001 Putin revives the giant torpedo idea

8:00 The B-90 SAROV a modified Kilo SSK appeared to have major changes for something unknown

9:45 November 2015 an illustration of a very large nuclear warhead torpedo accidently/on purpose revealed. Like the old T15 it seemed to be 1,500mm in diameter. Something new - it was to be nuclear propelled.

10:45 March 2018 the STATUS-6 POSEIDON torpedo revealed. Later called “Kanyon” by the CIA. 1.6m diameter, 24m long which can remain at sea “months at a time” and other distressing facts.

13:20 There is a stealth variant of STATUS-6 and to be a noisy super-cavitating variant

14:10 Two Russian submarines MAY eventually be able to launch STATUS-6s

15:00 Jive claims no counter to the threat yet, in part because it is an autonomous drone (ie. AUV) and long term nuclear propelled that can dive deeper than manned subs and deeper than deep diving torpedos (to sink a STATUS-6)

16:10 Its a global weapon.

16:25 It was tested from the SAROV in 2016. Russia may build 30 such AUVs which could “patrol” for months without submarine or other support.

More details at Submarine Matters about Soviet/Russia’s Nuclear Warhead Torpedos here https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2020/08/russian-status-6-giant-dronetorpedo-not.html

President Trump’s sackings and forced resignations of US defense and intelligence heads may only benefit Trump's financial creditor, Russia.

Trump's Pentagon purge is reportedlyan attempt to get troops out of the Middle East before he leaves office.

A withdrawal of US military and CIA paramilitary personnel from the Middle East could create power vacuums that Russia could fill. Russian policy for a return to influence in Afghanistanand inroads into Syriais already documented.

Following Lee McCurtayne's comment bellow SubMatt's Status-6 article of August 28, 2020 and noting the article of November 13, 2020, I comment:

Once Russia has fully developed its giant Status-6 Nuclear tipped doomsday AUV/torpedo the other military superpower-thermonuclear powers,  US and China will do likewise. Thus sharply escalating the magnitude of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).

However, the island chains of US allies, that inhibit Russian and Chinese access to the open (Pacific, Atlantic and Indian) oceans, actually favor Russian and Chinese use of Status-6 type weapons. 

In contrast the geo-strategic advantage of unimpeded access to open ocean enjoyed by the US, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Japan, Australia and India makes for greater Tsunami danger from Status-6 weapons. 

Russia's key cities, St Petersburg, Moscow, Murmansk-Northern Fleet, Vladivostok-Pacific Fleet, Black Sea and Baltic fleets would not be directly vulnerable to such weapons. Nor would China's island chain screened Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. 

Status-6 remains a concept not fully tested, and due to its Radioactive Tsunami effect cannot be fully tested.

As Status-6 is a long term multi-month autonomous unmanned weapon - an AUV - Russia cannot have 24/7 control over it. There is no continuous line-of-sight satellite control or below water sonic countrol possible to the 1,000 meters deep diving Status-6 AUV .

During Status-6 long missions a very large, sophisticated, terrorist organisation or country (North Korea?) might Electronically take control of this weapon and explode it - say in the north Atlantic Ocean (?) where the US east coast and UK would be hit by 50m high(?) radioactive Tsunamis.

The Soviet's T-5 530mm nuclear torpedo (of less than 10kt) was designed to destroy a US carrier and close in escorts. While the giant T-15 and now Status-6 was/is of up to 100 MT explosive power designed to destroy a whole coast, like the US East Coast (from Miami, Kings Bay SSBN Base, Norfolk Carrier Base, Washington DC, New York city to Boston). 

The concept that a nuclear weapon is so terrible it would make war unthinkable has not worked since 1945. Conventional wars since 1945 have killed millions.

While Australia’s Trump damaged US alliance shifts to a Biden Administration Australia is again wringing its hands over “What Can We Do Against The China Threat?”

WHAT AUSTRALIA SHOULD DO

Fortunately Australia is buying the first diesel version of the French Barracuda SSN.
 
French Barracuda SSNs are relatively small and cheap compared to larger, more expensive, US observance of NPT blocked, US/UK SSNs.

The Australian public is Not Yet ready to OK Australia purchasing the French Barracuda Nuclear Propelled submarine but will be by 2030, by which time:

(A) the Chinese threat will create sufficient fear.

(B) Australia will have started building 4 diesel Barracudas (known as Attack class) from the early 2030s. There will be time to modify the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Attack class subs to the original Barracuda NUCLEAR propelled baseline and arm them with nuclear warhead cruise missiles (N-SLCMs?).

(C) If Australia sticks with the French Nuclear path the next 4 subs could be nuclear armed ballistic missile (SLBM) firing submarines, known as SSBNs. Fortunately France already has new SSBNs on the drawing board, known as SNLE 3G, to be built in France from the 2030s.

Note that France has a track record of helping Israel build a nuclear weapons establishment and Jericho MRBM/IRBMsto carry them. France then conducted Joint Nuclear Tests with Israel in the Sahara and Pacific.

From the early 2020s until the mid 2030s the US will likely decide that Australia switching such vast $ sums and a nuclear future to a French alliance is disturbing for America's military industrial complex and the US Indo-Pacific alliance.

The USA will be far more attentive and forthcoming with nuclear weapons for us - its Australian ally.

(D) If you want to get a "new idea" read an "old book", like the following article on Australian Prime Minister John Gorton's AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR DETERRENT at http://www.smh.com.au/national/when-australia-had-a-bombshell-for-us-20080705-32ai.html

The next in our popular series of US nuclear submarine visits to Australia (Submarine Matters coverage began May 31, 2015) is:

Submarine USS Texas Visits Stirling Naval Base Western Australia

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Litzenberger

[Texas was under Commander, Yokosuka, Japan based, Submarine Group Seven]

http://www.dvidshub.net/news/360914/uss-texas-arrives-stirling-australia  of January 30, 2020 reveals

“STIRLING, Australia – The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) [photo below] arrived at [Australia’s main Naval Base West aka HMAS Stirling, at Rockingham, Western Australia, January 30th, 2020] for a scheduled port visit.

Texas is visiting HMAS Stirling as part of their routine patrol in the Indo-Pacific to demonstrate U.S. Navy’s ongoing commitment to theater security cooperation and friendship with partner navies.

"Australia is one of America’s greatest friends and most loyal allies in the Pacific,” said Cmdr. Mike Dolbec, USS Texas commanding officer. “Our longstanding alliance is a force for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the globe, and I and my crew welcome the opportunity to do our part to strengthen that relationship, while getting to know Australian submariners on a more personal level.”

During their port visit, Texas will have the opportunity to give tours to dignitaries and media, including the U.S. Ambassador to Australia. Additionally, the crew will engage in a series of community relations events and enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

“Throughout the planning of this port visit, our friends in the Australian Navy and the larger Perth community have been responsive and kind," said Dolbec. "I am honored to welcome our Australian friends on board, and I'm certain that our time here will be memorable for my entire crew, who have been looking forward to this visit."

"For many crewmembers, this is their first time visiting Australia, and the opportunity to visit some of the iconic sites in Stirling excited them the most. “We arrived here right on the heels of Australia Day, and 232 years after the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Harbor,” said Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) Charles B. Cardell, Texas Chief of the Boat. “We’re excited to join in the celebration of Australia’s diversity, ingenuity and progress, and to be in one of Australia’s most vibrant cities!"

“I look forward to enjoying the sunniest capital city in Australia and taking advantage of as many outdoor activities as I can,” said Texas Corpsman, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Michael A. Peralta. “Also, being a beloved 49ers fan, I am extremely happy to have the opportunity to watch the Super Bowl alongside the football fanatics of Australia and support their hometown kicker who has helped lead them to the big game!”

Virginia-class submarines are built to dominate the world's littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; irregular warfare and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities: sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence."

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/

[Commander, Submarine Group 7 (COMSUBGRU Seven) based at Yokosuka, Japan, is responsible for submarines deployed to the Western Pacific, the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean [including Western Australia]].

Note USS Texas is now listed as being based at Pearl Harbour. So perhaps it was just on loan to COMSUBGRU Seven for the mission through the Indian Ocean?].

The US backing the 9 dash line control by 

ROC/Taiwan to the South China Sea

faced

the subsequent complication of claimed ownership of the South China Sea

by China.

This claim is backed up by centuries of legitimacy https://youtu.be/acojc6aZjgE .

A bit like America's unquestioned geo-strategic security patronage of the Caribbean -

not to mention all of central America and South America.

BUT it goes down to which side you are on.

I am on the US-Aussie side natürlich!

After all, did Mexico and Haiti have a choice of how many times they were invaded or couped ?

This is something the US and allies cannot simply dismiss, even on American exceptionalism grounds.