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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia could offer support to the Iran-backed Houthis as they menace key shipping lanes.</li><li>A senior US State Department official said Moscow is engaging with the rebels at a "serious level."</li></ul>Russia could decide to help the Houthis with their Red Sea attacks and is engaging with the Iran-backed rebels at a "serious level," a senior US State Department official said.The Houthis have long received <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-battles-best-iranian-tech-red-sea-admiral-2024-10">extensive support from Iran</a>, including weapons and training, which the rebels have relied on over the past year to carry out attacks on military and civilian vessels transiting key Middle Eastern shipping lanes.But the State Department has grown increasingly concerned in recent months that the Houthis could be receiving assistance from another country: Russia, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking told Business Insider in a recent interview."It does seem as though there is a fairly serious level of engagement happening," Lenderking said of the Houthis and Russia. "We are particularly concerned about the kind of equipment that would really enable the Houthis to be more accurate in their targeting of US and other ships in the region — that would enhance the Houthi capability to strike those targets."<div type="image" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin exits his limousine as he arrives at Red Square in Moscow earlier this month." height="3456" width="5184" msid="115428314" hostid="261" sizebytes="326430"></div>Lenderking said the US has discussed the situation at "high levels" with Saudi Arabia, a partner nation that fought the Houthis for years, and with Russia as well. The relationship between Washington and Moscow has been fraught with tension since the latter invaded Ukraine in February 2022.The US has also made efforts to convey messages to the Houthis. Lenderking said that the Yemeni rebels appear to be determined to strike the American and European warships that have spent the past year <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photo-nato-warship-destroys-drone-boat-red-sea-rescue-mission-2024-8">defending merchant shipping</a> from their relentless attacks."The fact that the Russians might assist in this effort is diabolical," Lenderking said. "It's a very strong concern."The full scope of Russian support for the Houthis is unclear. Some Western media reports suggest that Moscow has already provided the rebels with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-provided-targeting-data-for-houthi-assault-on-global-shipping-eabc2c2b">targeting data</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/us/politics/russia-houthis-weapons.html">small arms</a> and was considering supplying them with missiles — a development that could significantly escalate the conflict.The Houthis are known to have received help from outside of Yemen. A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/houthis-got-help-from-iran-others-for-dangerous-weapons-un-2024-11">recent United Nations report</a> found that the rebels have been getting weapons, training, technical assistance, and financial support from Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and armed Iraqi groups.<div type="image" title="Newly affiliated Houthi fighters shout slogans while attending a demonstration against Israel and in solidarity with Palestinians in Yemen in October." height="3651" width="5476" msid="115428315" hostid="261" sizebytes="1188336"></div>Russia and Iran have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-images-show-russian-cargo-ship-transported-iranian-ballistic-missiles-2024-9">increased their military ties</a> since the start of the Ukraine war. Tehran has provided Moscow with lethal aid, including missiles and drones similar to what it has given the Houthis in previous years. Both countries have been isolated on the world stage over their malign actions and involvement in Ukraine.The Houthis have used their arsenal of missiles and drones over the past year to tirelessly carry out attacks on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-images-show-difficult-mission-save-stricken-red-sea-tanker-2024-9">military and civilian vessels</a> in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a campaign that the rebels claim is connected to the Israel-Hamas war.American forces <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-weapons-expenditure-cost-middle-east-conflicts-2024-10">operating in the region</a> in defense of the merchant shipping lanes are frequently tasked with intercepting Houthi threats. Just last week, for instance, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-destroyers-unscathed-after-missile-exploding-drone-houthi-attack-2024-11">two US Navy destroyers</a> had to fend off a complex missile and drone attack.The US also routinely <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/f-35-variants-seen-combat-after-fighter-struck-houthis-2024-11">carries out airstrikes in Yemen</a>, targeting rebel missile systems, weapons storage facilities, and other sensitive sites in an effort to curb their ability to carry out the attacks.Lenderking said that the Houthis still "maintain the ability to launch pretty aggressively at passing ships," but the US is committed to keeping shipping lanes open in the Red Sea.

Russia's engagement with the Houthis as they lob missiles at ships is getting 'serious,' US official says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Norwegian fisherman caught a US submarine in his nets this week.</li><li>The USS Virginia's propellers got tangled in the nets, reports said, dragging them out to sea.</li></ul>A Norwegian fisherman made a surprising catch on Monday in the form of a US submarine.Harald Engen was delivering a catch of halibut to the village of Malangen, on Norway's west coast, when he got an unusual message, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/harald-fra-sommaroya-fikk-atomubat-i-kveitegarnene-1.17123634">Norwegian broadcaster NRK News reported</a>.He was told that the propellers of a submarine had become tangled in his nets and had dragged them two nautical miles — about 2.3 miles — out to sea, NRK reported.The 377-foot, nuclear-powered USS Virginia had been on its way from the port of Tromsø, the outlet reported, adding that a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel escorting it had to help cut it loose from the nets."I know about other vessels that have sailed over fishing nets, but no one out here have ever heard about a submarine doing so," Engen said, per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/norwegian-fishermen-snagged-us-nuclearpowered-submarine/420357">the Barents Observer</a>.He told the outlet that he wasn't angry, and that the coast guard had been in touch about possible replacements.Lt. Pierson Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US 6th Fleet, confirmed basic details of the incident to BI but declined to confirm the name of the vessel.Nobody was hurt in the incident, he said, adding: "The investigation into the cause of the incident is still ongoing."Speaking on the matter of compensation, Hawkins said: "In general, when the US is responsible for damage to civilian equipment, there is a claims process to reimburse the expense."Norway's Armed Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Hawkins didn't outline what the submarine was doing off the coast of Norway, beyond the fact that it was leaving Tromsø."The US is an Arctic nation and has enduring security interest in the region," he said, adding that the 6th Fleet appreciates Norway's support to US submarine deployments "to deter and defend the increasingly complex security environment of the High North."There have been multiple US naval deployments in the waters in recent months amid increased cooperation between Norway and the US.In June, the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Tennessee and the cruiser USS Normandy were deployed to the Norwegian Sea in response to Russian maneuvers, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2024/us-navy-strategic-deployment-in-norwegian-sea-counters-russian-military-maneuvers">defense news site Army Recognition reported</a>.More recently, in October, Norway's armed forces <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.forsvaret.no/en/news/articles/truman-nor-forces">announced</a> joint naval exercises running through to November with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was also set to join, the announcement said.Two guided-missile destroyers from the group, the USS Jason Dunham and USS Stout, were sent on "routine maritime operations" to international waters in the Barents Sea, US Naval Forces Europe and Africa <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.c6f.navy.mil/Press-Room/News/News-Display/Article/3943702/truman-strike-group-destroyers-conduct-barents-sea-operations/">announced.</a>The Barents Sea, which is bordered by northern Norway and Russia, is considered <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/hot-water-arctic-fisheries-proxy-geopolitical-tensions#:~:text=The%20Arctic%20today%20is%20playing,security%20relations%20in%20the%20Arctic.">a sensitive zone</a> for Russia.In September, US lawmakers expressed concerns about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-submarines-17-billion-over-budget-in-crisis-lawmaker-2024-9">delays and soaring costs</a> in building new vessels, including Virginia-class submarines, particularly in light of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-senators-express-concern-over-low-attack-submarine-procurement-plan-2024-3">China's recent naval expansions</a>.The US Navy's Virginia-class submarine program is projected to run $17 billion over budget through 2030, Rep. Ken Calvert, chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, said.

A Norwegian fisherman accidentally caught a US submarine in his nets

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US has sent Ukraine and Israel billions of dollars worth of ammunition in recent years.</li><li>The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East show the US how much ammo it will need for its next big war.</li></ul>From Ukraine to Israel, the US has sent billions of dollars worth of ammunition to its key partners as they fight two grinding — and vastly different — conflicts that appear to show no signs of slowing down.These two wars, and the US Navy's demanding counter-Houthi mission in the Red Sea, offer the American military a taste of what would be needed in a high-end fight: a lot of firepower."The volume of weaponry — the number of missiles and other systems that are going to be required to deal with a high-end conflict — are just much more than we had planned," Bradley Martin, a retired Navy surface warfare captain, told Business Insider."We also lack the industrial base to rapidly expand," he added. "So it's really important that we start addressing those sets of issues quickly."<h2 id="29d6004e-34b5-4e94-aaf1-4e939cf91eaf">Billions of dollars in ammo fired overseas</h2>The Biden administration has outfitted Ukraine with over $60 billion in security assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.<div type="image" title="A Ukrainian soldier installs a fuse for a 155 mm artillery shell, which has been a key munition during the war." height="5760" width="8640" msid="115116354" hostid="261" sizebytes="3631720"></div>According to<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://media.defense.gov/2024/Nov/01/2003576673/-1/-1/1/UKRAINE-FACT-SHEET-1-NOVEMBER.PDF"> publicly available information</a> provided by the Pentagon, this lethal aid includes tens of thousands of rockets and missiles, hundreds of thousands of mortar rounds, and millions of artillery shells and bullets. 155mm shells have been in particularly high demand, and stockpiles have been strained.Beyond the ammunition, the US has also sent Ukraine a significant amount of armored vehicles, air-defense systems, drones, anti-tank weapons, small arms, and more.The Biden administration has been far less transparent about the security assistance it has sent to Israel, but the Costs of War Project, a research initiative at Brown University, found last month that the US had approved <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-spent-over-22-billion-arming-israel-battling-houthis-2024-10">at least $18 billion</a> in security assistance to Israel since war broke out after Hamas' October 7, 2023 massacre.Weapons deliveries since then have consisted of heaping amounts of ammunition, including thousands of anti-tank missiles, tens of thousands of artillery shells and cannon ammunition, as well as tens of thousands of air-dropped bombs.Meanwhile, the US military has spent the past year <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-aircraft-carrier-eisenhower-planes-in-air-constantly-houthis-2024-2">actively engaged in combat operations</a> against the Houthis, the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen that have been using missiles and drones to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-us-navy-aircraft-carrier-tactics-shift-houthi-missiles-drones-2024-2">attack merchant shipping lanes</a> in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.<div type="image" title="An F/A-18 Super Hornet lands on the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in April." height="3712" width="5568" msid="115116360" hostid="261" sizebytes="397940"></div>US warships and aircraft have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-carrier-strike-group-fired-nearly-800-munitions-houthi-fight-2024-7">fired hundreds of munitions</a> to shoot down Houthi threats and strike the rebels in Yemen, including a wide range of land-attack missiles, surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-surface weapons.The Navy also fired interceptor missiles to defend Israel from Iranian attacks in April and October. These two instances, along with the counter-Houthi operations, have seen the US <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-weapons-expenditure-cost-middle-east-conflicts-2024-10">expend nearly $2 billion</a> worth of munitions.On the low end, the US has contributed some $80 billion in weaponry — including the transfer or expenditure of a significant amount of munitions — to support the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which aren't showing any sign of winding down.<h2 id="f33dbabf-f05c-4841-b64b-46c880e766cf">Production woes — and improvements</h2>Former US military officers who have taken part in war-gaming exercises for various research institutions say the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East underscore the high munitions expenditure needed in a major fight."We have seen the munitions demands of a major war, which are not a surprise — everybody knows that protracted great-power wars use a lot of munitions," Mark Cancian, a defense expert and retired US Marine Corps colonel, told BI.<div type="image" title="The destroyer USS Bulkeley fires an interceptor to defend Israel from an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Tuesday." height="1566" width="2880" msid="115116356" hostid="261" sizebytes="54094"></div>"We never really thought we would be in such a position, and these events have shown us what the demands could be, combined with a strategy that now recognizes we could end up in a great-power conflict that might go on for a long time," said Cancian, now a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.Martin, the former Navy captain, said that backfilling the US stockpiles of ammunition that have been transferred to partners or fired overseas is important, but it's crucial that the defense-industrial base actually has the capacity to manufacture new munitions when the demand spikes."What we are seeing from the real-world examples is that munitions expenditure will be very high," said Martin, now a senior policy researcher at RAND. "If there was ever a wake-up call, it would be the campaigns in Ukraine and in the Middle East."Indeed, a US Army official previously told BI that "the Army is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-army-rethinking-how-much-ammunition-it-needs-ukraine-war-2023-11">looking very closely at the war in Ukraine</a>" and "investing to better prepare for potential conflict." But that preparation is a substantial undertaking.One kind of weapon that would be needed in great numbers for a potential conflict with an adversary like China, the Pentagon's "pacing challenge," is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-missile-new-combat-got-another-workout-against-iran-2024-10">air-defense interceptors</a>, particularly those from the Standard Missile family.<div type="image" title="The US has sent three Patriot batteries to Ukraine, along with associated interceptor missiles." height="3278" width="4579" msid="115116362" hostid="261" sizebytes="617300"></div>A US-China war could largely be fought in the maritime domain. Given <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/irans-missile-strike-israel-just-fraction-what-china-could-do-2024-10">Beijing's formidable arsenal</a> of anti-ship missiles, Navy vessels would need to be well-armed with interceptors to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-warships-used-weapon-combat-first-destroy-iranian-missiles-2024-4">take down these threats</a> and defend American assets in the Pacific.Officials and analysts have expressed concern over stockpiles of these interceptors, especially <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-burns-through-key-missiles-needed-for-china-fight-2024-10">given their use</a> during high-tempo Middle East operations. They argue that the US <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-more-missiles-recently-got-first-kill-pacific-threats-2024-5">needs more key interceptors</a> for future conflicts. However, these munitions come with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-top-interceptor-missile-heavy-price-tag-low-procurement-2024-10">hefty price tag,</a> and production has dropped.Land-based air defenses have also proven their worth in major conflicts in recent few years. The US has transferred <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-army-instructors-say-ukrainians-amazing-mastering-patriot-missile-system-2024-3">Patriot batteries</a> and their associated interceptor missiles to Ukraine, where they have gotten a workout against Russian missiles. This advanced system was also used to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-forces-destroyed-iran-missiles-drones-massive-air-defense-battle-2024-4">defend Israel from Iranian missiles</a> in April. Lockheed Martin is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.defensenews.com/land/2024/04/09/how-companies-plan-to-ramp-up-production-of-patriot-missiles/">boosting</a> PAC-3 interceptor production, but there are questions as to whether it is sufficient.Beyond air defense, air-launched <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-air-force-weapon-sinks-warships-cant-fight-china-navy-2024-8">standoff weapons</a> like the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) would also be critical for US forces in a major conflict, especially against China.The Tomahawk Land-Attack Cruise Misisle, a premier Navy long-range strike asset that the military has been relying on heavily would also be needed in significant quantities for a high-end conflict, which, given <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-rivals-pressure-same-time-russia-china-iran-north-korea-2024-9">stronger ties between US foes</a>, may not be a fair fight.

The US needs ammunition for its next big war — a lot of it

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Replenishment ships are essential to resupplying carrier groups at sea with fuel, food and bombs.</li><li>The US is overhauling its aging ships while China has built a dozen.</li></ul>Involved in nearly every crisis since World War II, aircraft carriers have been called upon to assure allies, deter enemies, and strike directly at hostile targets.Yet for all their importance, their missions would be impossible if not for the US Navy's unsung workhorses: replenishment ships.Replenishment ships loaded with food, fuel and bombs are the reason US carrier strike groups can stay at sea for months at a time. This capability is increasingly vital for the US Navy's chief competitor, China. With the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-shrinking-china-biggest-fleet-shipbuilding-taiwan-2024-4">largest navy in the world</a>, its lack of overseas military bases only makes the need for this capability greater.But replenishment ships also form the weakest link in the chain of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-vs-chinese-navy-aircraft-carriers-2024-5">American</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-more-to-learn-to-match-us-2024-5">Chinese carrier</a> groups. Often unarmed and full of explosive cargo, they are prime targets for any hostile force.<div type="image" title="USNS Supply is one of the two largest combat logistics ships in the US Navy's Military Sealift Command." height="1500" width="2100" msid="115143523" hostid="261" sizebytes="299192"></div><h2 id="3d01aa20-7b10-4f31-9c1e-4e4a0f3254e6">US replenishment ships</h2>The US Navy's Military Sealift Command's Combat Logistics Force (CLF) operates 17 fleet replenishment oilers, 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships, and two fast combat support ships.These ships are built to deliver wet cargo (mainly aviation and diesel fuel) and dry cargo like ordnance, food, and spare parts. Though US carriers are nuclear-powered, their escort ships still run on diesel, and their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/newest-us-navy-supercarrier-underway-with-all-airpower-first-time-2023-3">air wings</a> require aviation fuel.The most capable replenishment vessels in the CLF are the fast combat support ships of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2174658/">Supply-class</a>, the largest combat logistics ships in the MSC fleet.Equipped with four cargo booms for loading cargo, they are capable of carrying 156,000 barrels of fuel, 1,800 tons of ordnance, 400 tons of refrigerated store, and 250 tons of other dry cargo.<div type="image" title="Fleet replenishment oiler Henry J. Kaiser refuels a US warship via two hose lines suspended on a tensioned wire between the ships." height="1331" width="2000" msid="115143326" hostid="261" sizebytes="123714"></div>These ships have two primary means to transfer cargo: sling loads carried by helicopter or tensioned lines between the ships. They have five fuel-at-sea (FAS) stations that utilize long flexible refueling hoses that travel on the tensioned wire, and six replenishment at sea (RAS) stations that move supplies via the horizontal wire pulley systems on the tensioned line. In addition, the Supply-class ships have a helicopter hangar and deck with space for two helicopters at the stern, enabling helicopter transfer known as vertical replenishment, or VERTREP.The FAS/RAS stations, combined with aerial resupply, enable Supply-class vessels to replenish up to four ships at once. Only two Supply-class ships, the USNS Supply and USNS Arctic, remain in service.The backbone of the CLF's refueling fleet are the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/Ships/Ship-Inventory/Fleet-Replenishment-Oiler/">Henry J. Kaiser-class</a> fleet oilers. Built between 1984 and 1996, the ships are 677 feet long, displace around 41,000 tons, and can carry up to 159,000 barrels of fuel.The Kaisers can refuel two warships simultaneously. They lack a helicopter hangar, but have a deck at the stern where helicopters from nearby ships can sling-load pallets.Fourteen Kaisers are in active service with the MSC.Though effective for refueling, the Kaiser-class has limited space for dry cargo — only enough for 586 pallets, including frozen and chilled food. The Navy relies on 14 Lewis &amp; Clark-class dry cargo/ammunition ships to fill in the gap.The Lewis &amp; Clark-class ships can carry a massive 8,391 tons of dry cargo, including 1,716 tons of refrigerated stores. They also have tanks capable of carrying approximately 25,000 barrels of fuel.<div type="image" title="An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter delivers supplies to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower from the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic." height="1331" width="2000" msid="115143525" hostid="261" sizebytes="207016"></div>The Kaiser-class replacement effort kicked off in earnest in 2016, when the Navy signed a design and construction contract with General Dynamics, a leading defense contractor and shipbuilder that reported $11.7 billion in revenue in its third-quarter earnings.Five years later, the lead ship of the new John Lewis-class was christened.The 746-foot-long, double-hull ships can carry 162,000 barrels of fuel, 6,675 tons of dry cargo, and 1,716 tons of refrigerated stores. A helicopter deck at the stern also enables VERTREP.Three John Lewis-class oilers — USNS John Lewis, USNS Harvey Milk, and USNS Earl Warren — are in service, and a fourth, USNS Robert F. Kennedy, is set to begin sea trials soon. Another was recently launched and two more are under construction.The class will soon become the main fleet oiler. An order for six ships was made in 2018, with options for three more exercised in 2022 and 2023. In September, the Navy signed a $6.7 billion contract for eight more John Lewis-class oilers with General Dynamics's National Steel and Shipbuilding Company. The Navy hopes to have 20 of the vessels in total, supplemented by 13 yet-to-be-designed light replenishment oilers.<div type="image" title="The Hulunhu fast combat support ship is part of a new class that was built to service China's carrier strike groups." height="1060" width="2000" msid="115143528" hostid="261" sizebytes="205312"></div><h2 id="02ad4c6d-8c78-4ca1-ab92-1b32a6c75d25">China's replenishment ships</h2>The US Navy has over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2018/june/century-replenishment-sea">100 years of experience</a> building and operating replenishment ships. China's experience began in the 1980s.Its first replenishment ships could only carry about 10,500 tons of fuel. As China's fleet grew in the 1990s, it searched for a stopgap measure and found it in the Qinghaihu, an oiler built in Ukraine that was intended for the Soviet Navy.Ultimately, the Chinese opted to pursue a new design for its next replenishment ships: the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/qiandaohu.htm">Type 903-class</a> oiler.These ships can carry around 11,000 tons of cargo, including some 10,000 tons of fuel. Like the Qinghaihu, the Type 903s have a helicopter deck and helipad.Nine ships were built between 2002 and 2018, all of which are in service.The Type 903s form the backbone of China's replenishment fleet, but they are not the most capable. That title goes to the PLAN's Type 901-class fast combat support ships.The ships, which NATO designated the "Fuyu-class," are 787 feet long, displace 45,000 tons, have a helicopter deck and hangars, and are equipped with 5 FAS and 2 RAS stations. They are primarily meant to service China's carrier groups and can keep up as they are propelled by four gas turbine engines.The size, mission, and speed of the ships are comparable to the US Navy's Supply-class. Two Type 901s have been built: the Hulunhu and the Chaganhu.<div type="image" title="Replenishment ships like the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ships are essential to carrier operations but are highly vulnerable to attack." height="1333" width="2000" msid="115143527" hostid="261" sizebytes="344510"></div><h2 id="e54916fd-474c-416c-9f6b-46ac068eead5">'Weakest link'</h2>The important role these ships play is hard to overstate.Between October 2023 and May 2024 in support of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-weapons-expenditure-cost-middle-east-conflicts-2024-10">Red Sea operations</a>, for instance, USS Supply <a target="_blank" href="https://gcaptain.com/usns-supply-crew-honored-for-exceptional-service-in-red-sea-operations/">replenished</a> US and allied ships 143 times, transferring over 87 million gallons of fuel and 14,928 pallets of supplies in the process.The Henry J. Kaiser- and Lewis and Clark-class vessels also enabled the continuous presence of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-carrier-strike-groups-significant-combat-power-middle-east-2024-8">two carriers in the Middle East</a>.The PLAN's oilers, meanwhile, have extended the reach of its warships. <a target="_blank" href="https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&amp;context=cmsi-notes">Its contributions to international anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden</a> have, since 2008, almost always been made up of two surface combatants and one oiler, enabling each task force to stay on station for 4 months.The new Type 901s are already proving their worth. Last year, the Type 901-class oiler Chaganhu supported the Shandong carrier group during a series of exercises near Taiwan, Guam, and in the South China Sea. This included 620 aircraft sorties in just 18 days, <a target="_blank" href="https://news.usni.org/2023/07/14/japan-releases-fighter-scramble-data-against-chinese-aircraft">according</a> to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.In all, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-growing-navy-conducts-first-dual-aircraft-carrier-drills-2024-10">Shandong</a> spent about as much time at sea as any US carrier in the western Pacific that year, due in no small part to its replenishment ships.Yet replenishment ships are also the weakest link in each country's carrier groups. The most obvious reason is that they are almost completely unarmed, making them defenseless. Their defenses are instead provided by escort ships.They also face additional challenges unique to each country. The US, for instance, faces a manpower shortage, limited <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-us-navy-warships-delayed-photos-2024-4">shipyard capacity</a>, and an aging fleet with ships approaching the end of their expected service lives.Military Sealift Command employs mostly civilian merchant mariners, but now has a recruiting issue of its own.The manpower issue has been serious enough for MSC to <a target="_blank" href="https://news.usni.org/2024/08/22/navy-could-sideline-17-support-ships-due-to-manpower-issues">propose sidelining 17 of its ships</a> — including two Lewis &amp; Clark-class ammo ships and one Kaiser-class oiler — so their crews could be sent to serve on other vessels.The Kaiser-class itself is aging quickly. Four of the active oilers are already past their 35-year service lives, while one, USNS Pecos, departed for deactivation last month.Ships can have their service lives extended, but American shipyards appear unable to <a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4624326-almost-all-navy-shipbuilding-is-hopelessly-behind-schedule-as-war-looms/">keep up with demand</a> for new ships and maintenance for active ones, with some estimating that the Navy is as many as 20 years behind in needed maintenance.The backlog may be why only one Kaiser-class oiler, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-fired-captain-didnt-fix-steering-problem-near-miss-2024-9">USNS Big Horn</a>, was present in the Middle East during tensions between Israel and Iran in late September. This almost caused major problems when the ship accidentally <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-fuel-ship-damaged-incident-middle-east-2024-9">ran aground</a> and could no longer operate, forcing the Navy to rely on two Lewis &amp; Clark-class ammunition ships for refueling duties despite their smaller capability. The incident exposed <a target="_blank" href="https://responsiblestatecraft.org/refueling-navy-middle-east/">just how fragile UNREP networks can be</a>.China, meanwhile, has just 12 oilers despite having the world's largest navy, which puts a considerable strain on those ships. Additionally, its logistical network is hampered by a lack of overseas naval bases, which can serve as refueling and resupply stations for the oilers.China has the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-shipbuilding-power-players-making-warships-at-a-rapid-pace-2024-9">largest shipbuilding industry</a> in the world, however, enabling it to quickly build more oilers and convert some of its merchant ships into replenishment ships. It has also been attempting to expand its "String of Pearls"— Chinese-controlled ports in countries across the Indian and Pacific oceans that could support military ships.Benjamin Brimelow is a freelance journalist covering international military and defense issues. He holds a master's degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in international security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His work has appeared in Business Insider and the Modern War Institute at West Point.

US vs. Chinese replenishment ships: The workhorses that keep aircraft carriers operating

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I moved from the US to Canada for my husband's job and family.</li><li>Little did I know, that move would help me grow my family in ways I couldn't have foreseen.</li></ul>I met my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/traditional-wife-made-first-move-husband-bible-belt-2024-10">future husband</a> in a coffee shop in New York City where I was on a blind date for a column I was writing for Jane Magazine.Sitting across from me was the cutest and sweetest Canadian I had ever seen. It wasn't long before we moved in together and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-to-talk-about-before-getting-engaged-2021-10">got engaged</a>.His company was based in Toronto. Most of his family was also in Canada. So, after getting married, we decided to try <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/we-moved-to-canada-not-perfect-but-prefer-over-us-2024-11">living in Toronto</a> full-time and soon became serious about having kids.I gave birth to my firstborn, a boy, when I was 40 and spent the first few months on paid maternity leave. It wasn't until I went back to work a few months later that I noticed the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/how-to-check-for-breast-cancer">lump in my right breast</a>.<h2 id="c84de569-622b-40dc-8350-b4970d027820">Best cancer robbed me of giving birth, again</h2>Luckily, the breast cancer hadn't spread and was relatively easy to treat. But the treatments prevented me from being able to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/workplace-fertility-benefits-employee-recruiting-retention-2024-8">carry another baby myself</a>.I looked at my almost 10-month-old son and knew I wanted to give him a sibling.My sister was my rock in life — especially as I navigated all the doctor's appointments and tests after my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/my-breast-cancer-diagnosis-affected-my-sex-life-and-confidence-2024-11">cancer diagnosis</a> — and I wanted my child to have that same support in life.Adoption was an option. But I had also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-used-frozen-embryo-to-conceive-baby-20-years-later-2023-7">frozen my embryos</a> a few years prior as a backup plan in case my husband and I couldn't have kids. Those healthy embryos were at a fertility clinic just a few blocks away.My husband and I decided to try the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/concurrent-surrogacy-people-paying-hundreds-of-thousands-to-have-twiblings-2024-7">surrogacy route</a>.<h2 id="02f8b858-2a9f-424f-9c63-55ff2d432f52">I could not have afforded surrogacy if I'd still lived in the US</h2><div type="image" title="young child with blonde hair in blue pajamas holding a newborn" height="3024" width="4032" msid="115420583" hostid="261" sizebytes="523976"></div>We knew very little about surrogacy in Canada. What we did know was that, unlike in the US, commercial surrogacy was illegal. In Canada, you could not pay anyone to carry your child.We explored <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surrogate-paid-22500-and-30000-twice-said-experience-was-empowering-2024-6">options in the US</a> but didn't have upward of $100,000 to go that route.After Canadian surrogacy agencies yielded few prospects, we took to social media and shared our story in several surrogacy Facebook groups.Within days, we had a few responses and one very viable lead: a lovely woman in Quebec who had done this successfully once before and was excited to explore another surrogacy journey.Much like my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/sex-relationships/first-date-ideas">first date</a> with my now husband, I immediately connected with our potential surrogate upon our first meeting.We spent all day at a spa near her home, laughing and getting to know each other. I met her husband and their three amazing kids, and by the following day, we were discussing the next steps.<h2 id="81bbe14a-15b4-4347-9cfa-392d2e934b96">The surrogacy wasn't cheap</h2>We never paid our surrogate a flat fee for carrying our baby, but there were still pregnancy-related expenses that we were responsible for.To start, I paid for her lawyer and mine, as well as an additional lawyer in Quebec, as the law in the province stipulated I had to technically "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/adoption-is-my-first-choice-for-motherhood-2022-1">adopt</a>" my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.quebec.ca/en/famille-et-soutien-aux-personnes/grossesse-parentalite/grossesse-autrui/surrogacy-inside-quebec#c265524">own child</a>. These expenses, alone, amounted to about $8,000.Our surrogate also had to take leave from her job early due to health issues, and we were obligated through our contract to cover some of her salary.The lawyers also decided upon a monthly amount that was legally reimbursable for pregnancy-related expenses such as prenatal massages, physiotherapy, and travel expenses to and from doctor's appointments.Regardless, we were thrilled to be able to pay for it all. This woman was doing a remarkable thing for our family.Plus, even with all the expenses incurred from flights, lawyer fees, medications, and monthly expenses, the total was nowhere near what it would have been in the US.<h2 id="6e5c3c5a-197b-4cf5-9e26-61b8f1444822">We've kept in touch with our surrogate</h2>Our surrogate is the godmother of the baby she carried and one of my dearest friends.We even have birthdays within a day of each other and are currently making plans for a belated celebration, allowing ourselves some girl talk and Netflix binging.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/more-young-women-getting-breast-cancer-two-potential-reasons-2024-10">Having breast cancer</a> was horrible, taking both my breasts and fertility from me. But <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-canada-from-us-pros-cons-heathcare-home-prices">living in Canada</a> gave me the chance to grow our family, something we could've never afforded had we stayed in the US.Now our family is complete, and we are so grateful to both our surrogate and the country we live in for helping us make that happen.

I moved from the US to Canada for my husband. But living here is what helped me afford my second child.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>My son is 15 and we have a very open communication. </li><li>This starkly contrasts my relationship with my mom at the same age he is now. </li></ul>My son is 15 and our lines of communication are wide open — a stark contrast from my relationship with my mom at his age. One of the reasons we <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-does-social-media-affect-teenagers">stay connected is social media</a>.As a GenXer, staying current with technology has always been important. I was around for Pong, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aim-shutting-down-december-2017-10">AOL Instant Messenger</a>, and Netscape, and now I buy coffee through an app and pay for haircuts with Venmo. Keeping up with trends and lingo is part of my work. So I spend time daily on my old lady platform (Facebook) but also on Reddit, Instagram, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-ramped-up-hiring-chinese-employees-amid-us-political-scrutiny-2024-11">TikTok</a>.TikTok and Instagram have allowed me to continue communicating with my kid even when the sound of my voice is annoying. <h2 id="13d7749f-a448-4214-a3c1-a6a69c81cb7e">We watch videos together</h2>I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-create-healthy-boundaries-for-coparenting-after-divorce-2023-9">have shared custody</a>, so I see him every other week. A year ago, he started sending me TikToks and Reels from his dad's, with the admonishment that I would not watch them until we were together the following week. This is now a ritual. One of the first things we do when he arrives is watch everything he sent.This can be a time suck. There can be hundreds of videos to watch. But I know it's important to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/study-teens-would-rather-text-with-friends-than-hang-out-in-real-life-2018-9">find this time to connect</a>. He sometimes sends videos from school or at night after I've gone to bed so we have daily content to watch. He'll hop on the bed next to me before I go to sleep so we can watch them together and discuss. Mostly, we laugh a lot.<h2 id="50062a7a-8a22-4c97-ae3a-4e101c7654d0">He isn't into snuggles anymore</h2>This precious time is pretty much all the physical connection we have left. Gone is the little boy who loved to be carried for hikes, toddled next to me through farmer's markets, and sat on my lap while we watched movies at home. This tall, gangly kid <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/my-husband-and-i-share-family-bed-with-our-kids-2023-10">isn't into snuggles</a>. But I believe physical touch is still an important part of our bond. For him, it's OK to sit next to me with his leg touching mine if we're sharing these laughs.It's more than laughs, though. While many videos are gross or silly teenage boy humor, others are thought-provoking, sparking deep discussion and spirited debate.Politics, religion, science, life choices, and risk-taking are just some of the discussions social content has sparked. He questions things at a more advanced level than I ever could have at his age. <h2 id="7687b206-5e23-4c5a-98d2-81f88d552a13">We are learning things</h2>Recently, we had an hourlong debate about chores based on a TikTok I sent that quoted a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2338">Harvard study</a> that concludes that kids who do chores are ultimately more successful. I give him chores, but his dad doesn't. His friends who do chores get paid for them via an allowance. Nobody pays adults to do chores, so I don't pay him because, in my view, we should all contribute to the upkeep of our home for mutual good. He presented his viewpoints, and I argued each one, discussing adult responsibilities and the importance of a place that's kept nice, even if it's just for you. When it was over, he said, "About halfway through, I realized I was wrong, but I felt like I had to keep arguing." We talked about that, too — how to gracefully concede.I also use it to show him what's coming up — I have always prepared him for what's next. I send him funny videos of parents teaching their kids to drive, and he sends them back to me. At the end of the summer, I sent videos of college students on their first night in the dorm after being dropped off by their parents. Some were funny; some were definitely poignant. He also sends them back to me — like a kid not knowing how to answer questions at the on-campus medical clinic, with the message, "Me when I get to college."None of this connection would be happening if we didn't communicate through these videos.My hope is that we can continue to stay connected this way. I don't want him to roll his eyes when he sees me calling; I want to be the mom with whom he can still freely share his questions, challenges, and, most especially, what made him laugh today.

Watching TikTok videos with my teen keeps us connected. We've had thoughtful conversations thanks to social media.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russian President Vladimir Putin is engaging in a war of attrition in Ukraine.</li><li>Russia has more to gain by prolonging the war, regardless of who wins the US presidential election.</li></ul>Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have starkly different visions of how they'll seek to end one of the gravest security crises in recent decades: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zelenskyy-ukraine-north-korean-troops-preemptively-long-range-strike-restrictions-2024-11">the</a><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zelenskyy-ukraine-north-korean-troops-preemptively-long-range-strike-restrictions-2024-11"> Ukraine war.</a>Harris has pledged to continue the policy of President Joe Biden, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-soldiers-look-up-abrams-tanks-face-new-threats-ukraine-2024-8">arming Ukraine to defend itself </a>against Russia's two-year invasion.Trump, meanwhile, claims he can bring about a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-handle-ukraine-war-if-reelected-scenarios-2024-10">rapid end to the conflict </a>through negotiations.Whoever is in charge in the White House come January, analysts believe Putin is likely wagering that he has more to gain by prolonging his war of attrition than ending it.<h2 id="3a744150-ba82-4dfb-b30b-8811820f42fe">Pressure mounts on Ukraine</h2>Russia has, in recent months, been ratcheting up pressure on Ukraine, bringing its larger troop numbers and artillery supplies to bear, and making incremental but important gains on the front lines."There are plans to call up more than 160,000 people," the secretary of Ukraine's National Security Council, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, told parliament last week.North Korea is also believed to have <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-appears-show-north-korean-soldiers-gearing-up-in-russia-2024-10">sent thousands of troops</a> to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine, per officials from South Korea, Ukraine, and the US."The key advantage gained by Russia [in prolonging the war] is 'events'" Robert Dover, Professor of Intelligence and National Security at the University of Hull in the UK told Business Insider."Ukraine seems to be highly strained by the conflict, and this is - in part - a product of the numbers Russia is able to throw into the conflict," he said.<div type="image" title="Trump n Putin" height="820" width="1024" msid="114953184" hostid="261" sizebytes="31598"></div><h2 id="712a570c-ce6b-49c6-b90b-0c08b2faeb64">Trump's peace plans could embolden Russia</h2>The terms on which Trump would seek to broker peace in Ukraine are unclear, though he's criticized the aid Biden sent to Ukraine, suggesting it could be used as leverage.He has also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://newrepublic.com/post/185652/trump-sanctions-promise-adviser-charged-russia-media">questioned the effectiveness </a>of the administration's sanctions against Russia.His running mate, JD Vance<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-trump-could-handle-ukraine-war-if-reelected-scenarios-2024-10">, recently outlined a </a><a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/12/vance-trump-ukraine-russia-war-plan/">plan for ending the war in Ukraine</a> under a possible Trump administration, with the establishment of a "demilitarized zone" in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.Both candidates have also questioned US commitments to NATO, the security pact that has been the main bulwark against Russian aggression in Europe.However, in reducing aid to Ukraine and, in effect, handing over swaths of territory to Russia, the US would likely embolden Kremlin aggression, say critics."If Russia knows its territorial revisionism in Ukraine can be permissible by Washington, it is hard to see how Moscow will not see the same elsewhere (or even further in Ukraine, like it did after 2014)," Paul Cormarie, a policy analyst at the RAND Coproration, told BI."Peace in Ukraine in favor of Russia isn't peace, it's a truce."Undermining Western unity by criticizing NATO could have much the same effect.<div type="image" title="Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden shake hands during a joint press conference at the Masseria San Domenico on the sidelines of the G7 Summit hosted by Italy." height="683" width="1024" msid="114953181" hostid="261" sizebytes="29734"></div><h2 id="43d5159f-1892-46df-b087-cadcd5c43edf">Harris pledges to continue backing Ukraine – but it likely won't be enough</h2>Harris, by contrast, has pledged to continue US support for Ukraine, which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine/#:~:text=To%20date%2C%20we%20have%20provided,invasion%20of%20Ukraine%20in%202014.">has cost $64.1 billion</a> in military assistance since the 2022 Russian invasion.US aid has played a key role in helping Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion and inflict vast losses on Russia's forces.But the Biden administration has long placed limits on how Ukraine can use the weapons. Ukraine also says US aid often arrives in a piecemeal way.It's part of a US effort to balance support for Ukraine with not provoking Russia and causing a bigger war.But it means that Putin likely believes he can continue to wage his war of attrition against Ukraine with Harris as president as she likely won't provide enough military aid to defeat his forces.It's a war Putin has staked Russia's economic future on, underlining the importance of victory for the Russian leader.One key tool Biden has used to punish Russia is sanctions designed to damage its economy by limiting its capacity to sell oil and gas internationally.However, Russia has managed to open new export markets in major economies including China and India, making the economic damage of the sanctions has been more limited than some experts projected.Economist <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-crisis-ukraine-war-moscow-inflation-sanctions-putin-spending-2024-10">Alexander Mertens recently wrote</a> that Russia would likely suffer economic damage regardless of whether it continues the war or not, meaning there's not a major incentive for Putin to stop now.<div type="image" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping enter the hall for Russian-Chinese talks on May 16, 2024 in Beijing, China." height="760" width="1024" msid="114953186" hostid="261" sizebytes="24578"></div><h2 id="41991dd2-f4c0-4eea-aac2-1fdc873df772">Putin plays the long game</h2>Putin's thinking about the global picture, too said Dover.China is observing the Ukraine conflict closely as it weighs whether to launch an invasion of US-ally Taiwan, say analysts, while the Middle East is engulfed in a conflict that could spiral into a much bigger war.Dover said a major conflict in either region could draw in US resources and energy and distract from Ukraine."A regional conflict in the Middle East will help Russia maintain a conflict in Ukraine, with lower risks," he said, cautioning though that the situation was a "fluid assessment conditioned by events."Overall, Putin's mission is to not just seize Ukraine but also work in tandem with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-china-brink-military-alliance-may-overwhelm-us-putin-xi-2023-12">other authoritarian leaders</a> to damage US global power."In the near-term, Russia and China have embraced a strategy of joint confrontation with the United States and its Allies in Europe and Asia respectively," analyst Jonathan Ward of the Hudson Institute told BI last year.Neither Harris nor Trump are likely to get Putin to change course in his pursuit of victory in Ukraine, and his bigger global ambition."He has taken personal responsibility for achieving that outcome and likely judges it as worth nearly any cost. Trying to coerce him into giving up is a fruitless exercise that just wastes lives and resources," wrote Peter Schroeder, former Principal Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council, for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://archive.is/Y92WB#selection-1479.348-1479.412">Foreign Relations in September.</a>The best course, writes Schroeder, is for the US to play Putin at his own game and outlast him in his war of attrition, waiting for him to die or leave office."Only then will there be a chance for a lasting peace in Ukraine," he said.

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I moved from the US to Canada for my husband. But living here is what helped me afford my second child.

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