It appears that anyone can start tracking US Navy vessels online whenever they are traveling through congested waters:
A tweet posted on Sunday, Oct. 1. 2017, that maps the location of a “US GOV VSL” approaching Hong Kong reads: “Reason to believe this is USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).”
Naval enthusiasts are tweeting what they believe are U.S. warship positions after commanders ordered the vessels to activate their beacons while in congested waters to avoid collisions.
The order to turn on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) locators, reported by National Public Radio on Sept. 29, follows a series of collisions that have killed 17 sailors in the Pacific in recent months.
However, it appears that the new procedure is also allowing people to track the warships online.
A tweet posted on Sunday that maps the location of a “US GOV VSL” approaching Hong Kong reads: “Reason to believe this is USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).”
The aircraft carrier and the guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee anchored near Hong Kong on Monday, a Pacific Fleet statement said. [Stars & Stripes]
Another reason to ban twitter. Too many twats on it.
MTB Rider
7 years ago
Well, I’m fairly sure “The Other Teams” have pretty good tabs on the big boys. Cruisers, carriers, Aegis destroyers. Small boys like little destroyers and frigates, and submarines are harder to figure out where they are, or where they will be going in the next few days or weeks.
Filipina Intel usually knew what ships would be in Olongapo by about a week back in the day. While I posted this article to one of my reunion groups, the days of no one knowing who would be where until a sealed envelope is torn open seems to be in the past.
Twits like this is the modern version of Father Goose, sitting on an island, looking for hidden whisky and radioing in Japanese shipping activity.
Another reason to ban twitter. Too many twats on it.
Well, I’m fairly sure “The Other Teams” have pretty good tabs on the big boys. Cruisers, carriers, Aegis destroyers. Small boys like little destroyers and frigates, and submarines are harder to figure out where they are, or where they will be going in the next few days or weeks.
Filipina Intel usually knew what ships would be in Olongapo by about a week back in the day. While I posted this article to one of my reunion groups, the days of no one knowing who would be where until a sealed envelope is torn open seems to be in the past.
Twits like this is the modern version of Father Goose, sitting on an island, looking for hidden whisky and radioing in Japanese shipping activity.
Google tracking android phones and tablets keeps the Chinese well-informed.