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H I Sutton Profile picture
H I Sutton
@CovertShores
Independent Defense Analysis, Unconventional Naval Warfare, author, submarines, #OSINT, illustrations. Mostly typos
31 subscribers
Nov 29 • 7 tweets • 4 min read
Thread 1/n Step by step, the war in the Black Sea, month of November 2023 (1 year ago). From my tracker

#OSINT

Nov 4:

#Russian
Pr.22800 Karakurt class corvette 'Askold' struck by Ukrainian missiles at shipyard in Kerch. hisutton.com/Timeline-2022-…Image
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Image Nov 10 2023: Liberian flagged merchant ship KMAX Ruler hit by Russian AS-17 KTYPTON (Kh-31) anti-radiation missile in port of Odesa Image
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Aug 8 • 13 tweets • 7 min read
Thread 🧵

**NAVY DECOY SHIPS AND DECEPTION**

Always an interesting topic, we all know about inflatable fake tanks, but it can happen with ships too.

Firstly, fake ships before D-Day:
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Image During WW2 the royal Navy converted some fleet tenders to resemble battleships and a carrier, with the idea being to deceive German Luftwaffe reconnaissance flights.
Before/ after (might be exact same ship, but you get the idea)
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Jul 22 • 8 tweets • 5 min read
2 years ago this month in Russo-Ukraine war in Black Sea, JULY 2022

Short thread 🧵 from

Prelude: June 30 Russia withdraws from Snake Island. The island is strategically located near Ukrainian coast and shipping lanes

#OSINT hisutton.com/Timeline-2022-…

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Image Snake island had been subject to air strikes but Ukraine had also started using MLRS from barges at sea and it was in range of new 155mm artillery being delivered by West, especially the French Caesar system


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Jun 28 • 12 tweets • 6 min read
Top 10 tanks thread🧵

According to my inexpert opinion

10. M60A2 'Starship', USA 🇺🇸
If you don't like this tank, you are going to hate this thread


M60A2 tank
M60A2 tank
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M60A1E2 tank 9.
VT 1-1 tank destroyer, West Germany 🇩🇪 Image
Jun 15 • 9 tweets • 6 min read
I don't normally post about aircraft, but here are 5 awesome and usual loadouts from the Cold War which really interest me from a design perspective.

In descending order of awesomeness

5. A-5 Vigilante US Navy bomber with nuclear bomb up backside


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Image 4. English Electric Lightning. Awesome fighter, could carry ferry tanks in the overwing position. Hard to find photos of this, but it could also carry twin SNEB rocket pods above each with, with fuel tanks behind them (!).
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Apr 21 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
**BREAKING**
Thread 🧵

#Ukrainian strike on #Russian Navy base at Sevastopol in Crimea appears to have damaged, possibly seriously (TBC), the submarine support ship Kommuna (ref ) hisutton.com/Russian-Navy-K…
Kommuna, ship cutaway Video
Apr 18 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
***UPDATE***

First images of Australia’s new 3D printed extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle (XLAUV), the Ghost Shark. 🧵 Image This is the previous graphic shared by manufacturer Andruil, when the deal for 3 vehicles was announced. See hisutton.com/Australian-Nav…
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Apr 13 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
Thread 🧵
2 years ago today, Ukraine hit the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva with two Neptune missiles.

At the time it seemed like a spectacular event. But the real story of how Ukraine turned the situation in the Black Sea around was only beginning. #Moskvahisutton.com/Russian-Navy-M… navalnews.com/naval-news/202…
Feb 22 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
***UPDATE***

Reports that Transnistria (part of Moldova) may request annexation by Russia.

May trigger action from Moldova with #Ukraine help

#Russia realistically unable to intervene, in part because Ukraine has sunk so many of its landing ships in past 2 years

Thread 🧵


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Image From

Mar 24 2022: Russian Navy Alligator class landing ship Saratov explodes while unloading at Berdyansk on Sea of Azov. Possibly hit by a Ukrainian ballistic missile. 2 Ropucha class landing ships manage to escape. hisutton.com/Timeline-2022-…
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Feb 14 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
***BREAKING***

Unconfirmed: #Ukrainian GUR maritime drones (USV) (likely Magura) attacked #Russian Ropucha landing ship Caesar Kunikov in (Цезар Куніков) near Crimea.

Reportedly ship sunk. Awaiting more info.
pravda.com.ua/news/2024/02/1… Related
Jan 9 • 12 tweets • 4 min read
**HOT TAKE**

Thread 🧵

Reports that Turkey will allow some #NATO warships through the Bosporus into the Black Sea.

This raises several questions. Still digesting it but sharing some thoughts below. Caveats apply.
#RussianUkrainianWar Image Context
Jan 7 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Quick 🧵 on Turkey not allowing #Ukraine’s 2 new Sandown Class mine hunters to sail to Black Sea

Lots of emotion on here

Yet this is such a non-news, here’s why.. Image Turkey blocked them under the Montreux Convention, which governs shipping through the Bosporus between Med and Black Sea. So the ships cannot sail to Ukraine.

This was *not* a surprise. As far as I’ve been aware it was already a foregone conclusion

Storm in tea cup Image
Sep 26, 2023 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
***UPDATE***

1/n 🧵

One year ago today the NordStream pipelines were attacked in the Baltic.

There are many theories. What many do not attempt to do is explain the systematic of presence of #Russian Navy ships, including a submersible mothership, in the vicinity beforehand
Russian ship SS-750. Reference photo
Image 2.
 There are many theories, some quite fanciful.

Russia has said the British did it, then later changed their mind and agreed with Sy Hersh that the Americans did. Even though you could drive an aircraft carrier through the gaps in that story (it’s nonsense)
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Sep 18, 2023 • 11 tweets • 3 min read
***UPDATE***
Thread 1/n

Refined likely damage assessment: this is an ex-submarine

New photos of #Russian navy submarine hit by #Ukrainian cruise missiles in Sevastopol show damage is even worse than previous noted. Photos appear credible. Pressure hull has massive breaches
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Image 2.
 Damage to rear section near propulsion space, as well as bow area, means basically no hull sections are likely salvageable. Implications are that internals are wrecked along most or whole length of submarine

Note cutaway is port (left) Image
Sep 15, 2023 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
***UPDATE***

Based on the Airbus satellite images shared by UK MoD, it appears that that #Russian Navy Pr.636.3 Improved-KILO class submarine was hit about here.

Downward penetrating warhead may have penetrated main pressure hull, and almost certainly mangled TT etc. #OSINT
Kilo class submarine Sevastopol
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Sep 13, 2023 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
***UPDATE***

Indications are that #Russian Navy KILO class submarine has been hit by #Ukraine in Sevastopol. Unconfirmed at this stage.

This is a big deal.

More info on KILO ->

#OSINT
Thread 1/n hisutton.com/Kilo-Class-Sub…
Kilo class submarine 2.
Imagery already shows a Ropucha Class landing ship on fire. Ru sources suggest two vessels were ‘damaged’

The other is likely a KILO class submarine Image
Aug 23, 2023 • 10 tweets • 4 min read
**UPDATE**

Following #Ukraine’s systematic attacks on key infrastructure and supply lines to Crimea, #Russia is beginning to show signs its working

Yesterday Ru gov asked hotels etc to report food and fuel stocks
Via @JanR210 < follow this account

Thread 🧵 1/n Image 2/n
 This may be strategically significant both because Crimea is a route to reinforce Ru positions in southern Ukraine, and because Crimea itself is the jewel in itself

There is also a major naval base in Sevastopol Image
Aug 4, 2023 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
How it started. How it’s going.

In February 2022 #Russia sailed 5 landing ships into Black Sea to support the invasion, including Ropucha class Olenegorsky Gornyak (012)

Now Olenegorsky Gornyak has been hit by a USV and is listing to port
#Ukraine
Landing ship
Image Ref navalnews.com/naval-news/202…
Jul 28, 2023 • 10 tweets • 4 min read
***BREAKING***

North Korea (DPRK) has shown off a massive new ‘underwater drone’. Several (4?) were paraded through Pyongyang.

It’s a lot like Russia’s Poseidon at first glance

I am on my phone and just seen it, so HOT TAKE caveats apply, but a 🧵

#OSINT New underwater torpedo drone Firstly, it *is* a lot like Poseidon ()

It’s similar size (likely smaller and shorter) and has a very similar stern arrangement with folding fins and a ‘pump jet’ (or at least shrouded screw)

Poseidon is a nuclear-powered nuclear-armed torpedo: https://t.co/dNPdtEHLE4hisutton.com/Poseidon_Torpe…
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Jul 19, 2023 • 18 tweets • 6 min read
***THREAD***

After withdrawing from Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), #Russia is threatening all ships sailing to #Ukraine controlled ports as legitimate targets. Some ambiguity but threat is clear.

What could Russia actually do though?

Info->

🧵 https://t.co/vXAu8FzVS7hisutton.com/How-Russia-Cou…
Russian submarine The threat, reported in Ru media:
"The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that from 00:00 Moscow time on July 20, ships traveling through the Black Sea to the ports of Ukraine will be considered as carriers of military cargo"

"To ports" may also include "from ports"? Image
Jul 18, 2023 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
***UPDATE***
Here ->

Thread 1/6

The latest #Ukrainian maritime drone (USV) is a modified commercial jet ski. Previously Ukraine used bespoke hulls with jet ski propulsion.

Let's unpack it.
#OSINT https://t.co/2NUtAGyiCxhisutton.com/Ukraine-Mariti…
Ukraine USV maritime drones 2/6
 The jet ski was apparently involved in the July 16 Sevastopol raid, not the July 18 Kerch Bridge attack. However, it *may* be the same type as in Kerch - see later.

Sorry no better image - welcome to OSINT Image