Nov 13 - Nov 19 Weekly News and Log Updates

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE Nov 13– Nov 19

NAVAL & MARINE OPERATIONS

CHINA Peoples Liberation Army – Navy Task Forces 24th ESCORT TASK FORCE 3-PLAN warships PLAN Handan (FFG) STATUS: Indian Ocean (Anti-Piracy & Shipping Escort Patrols) ·         (Nov 15) @ Pakistan; PLAN Handan visits Karachi for bilateral joint exercises (http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/1115/c90000-9142037.html) Other ·         PLAN Liaoning (CV) ·         (Nov 15) @ East China Sea; China’s carrier left Qingdao shipyard for training at sea (http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/1115/c90000-9141491.html) (http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/1114/c90000-9141394.html)

FRANCE TASK FORCES <CORYMBE Patrol> FS Cpt Ducuing (FFG) FS Dixmude (LHD)DLHD)   FS Ventose (FFG) STATUS: Atlantic (West Africa Patrol) ·         (Nov 4) @ France; frigate Cpt Ducuing returns to homeport following 3-month deployment with landing ship Dixmude, is replaced by frigate Ventose (http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/actualites/fin-de-deploiement-corymbe-pour-le-phm-commandant-ducuing) ·         (Oct 17-22) @ Gulf of Guinea; Dixmude and Cpt Ducuing conduct training with Ivory Coast patrol ship Sekongo Oct 17-22 (http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/corymbe/corymbe-134-cooperation-franco-ivoirienne-fructueuse-dans-la-lutte-contre-la-peche-illicite) Ch de GAULLE CSG FS Charles de Gaulle (CVN) ·         24-Rafale Fighters FS Forbin (DDG) FS Jean Vienne (DDG) FS La Fayette (FFG) 1-SSN   STATUS: Med (OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE) <SYRIA STRIKE OPS> ·         (Nov 21) @ East Med; Royal Navy delegation were received to observe carrier operations during strike ops in Syria (http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actu-marine/une-delegation-britannique-a-bord-charles-de-gaulle) ·         (Nov 16) @ East Med; FS Ch Paul (DDG) and FGS Augsburg (FFG) depart CSG, replaced by FS La Fayette, which is rotating from Indian Ocean (http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/irak-syrie/actualites/point-de-situation-des-operations-au-17-novembre-2016) Other ·         NO UPDATES

RUSSIA TASK FORCES MED. TASK FORCE 2-4 LSTs 6-Warships 3-Supply Ships LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES KUZNETSOV CSG RFS Kuznetsov (Carrier) ·         SU-33 Fighters ·         MIG-29K Fighters (4) ·         Ka-27 / K-29 ASW Helo ·         Ka-52K Recc Helo RFS Peter Veliky (BCGN) RFS Severomorsk (DDG) RFS Adm Kulakov (DDG) 3-Supply 2-SSN 1-SSK STATUS: Atlantic (Med Task Force) <SYRIA STRIKE OPS> ·         (Nov 21) Russia planning to upgrade the battlecruiser Pyotr Veliky in 2018 during its next refit period, after the cruiser Nakimov is completed (http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2016/november-2016-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/4593-russia-s-nuclear-powered-missile-cruiser-pyotr-veliky-to-start-undergoing-upgrade-after-2018.html) ·         (Nov 17) @ East Med; SU-33 fighters stage large strike on Al Nusra at Aleppo on Tuesday, killing 30 (https://en.ria.ru/middleeast/201611171047524817-russia-eliminates-nusra-sham-members/) ·         (Nov 16) Russia planning to upgrade the carrier Kuznetsov during refit period in 2018, when it returns from operations in the Med (https://en.ria.ru/military/201611161047487995-russia-admiral-kuznetsov-upgrade/) Pacific Combat Patrol TF RFS Admiral Tributs (DDG) RFS Bystryy (DDG) RFS Boris Butoma (Supply) RFS Alatau (Tug)   STATUS: S. China Sea ·          (Nov 21) @ Russia; RFS Bystryy (DDG) returns to homeport Vladivostok, remainder of Combat Patrol remains at sea (http://flot.com/2016/%D0%A2%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%A4%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%8289/) Other Project 23560E Leader-Class (DDGN) ·         (Nov 21) Russia says it plans to build 12-Leader Class nuclear powered, ABM capable destroyers in 2023-2025 to replace the current Udaloy and Sovremeny class destroyers, construction is expected to begin in 2018, will be armed with SS-N-27 Sizzler and SS-N-26 Strobile missiles, and navalized S-500 ABM missiles (http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2016/november-2016-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/4591-russia-s-usc-can-build-several-project-23560-leader-class-nuclear-powered-destroyers.html)

UNITED KINGDOM – ROYAL NAVY & COMMONWEALTH TASK FORCES JEF-16 HMS Bulwark (LPD) HMS Ocean (Assault Ship) MV Eddystone Point (Support) 45 Commando? STATUS: Red Sea (Middle East Deployment) ·          NO UPDATES Other “Royal Navy fleet size way below critical mass…” ·          (Nov 21) Report by Defense Select Committee states current fleet size is below what’s needed to meet many tasks that may confront it, if international scene continues to deteriorate (https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-fleet-size-way-critical-mass/)

UNITED STATES NAVY Carrier Strike Groups USS Eisenhower CSG-10 CVN-69 – USS D. Eisenhower Ø  CVW – 3 CG-56 – USS San Jacinto CG-61 – USS Monterey DDG-70 – USS Hopper STATUS: Arabian Sea (CENTCOM) <IRAQ STRIKE OPS> ·          NO UPDATES USS Ronald Reagan  CSG-5 CVN-76 – USS Ronald Reagan Ø  CVW-5 STATUS: Pacific Ocean, 7th Fleet, (Forward-Deployed) <DEPLOYMENT COMPLETED> ·          (Nov 21) @ Japan; CSG returns to homeport Yokosuka, ending WESTPAC deployment (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=97773) USS John C. Stennis   CVN-74 – USS John C. Stennis STATUS: Pacific Ocean (TRAINING) ·          NO UPDATES USS George H.W. Bush  CSG-2 CVN-77 – USS George Bush STATUS: Atlantic Ocean (TRAINING) ·          NO UPDATES USS Carl Vinson  CSG-1 CVN-70 – USS Carl Vinson STATUS: Pacific Ocean (TRAINING) <COMPTUEX> ·         NO UPDATES Amphibious Ready Groups   &   Command Ships USS Wasp ARG LHD-1 – USS Wasp LPD-17 - USS San Antonio LSD-41 – USS Whidbey Island 22nd MEU – Marine Expeditionary Unit STATUS:  Mediterranean Sea (EUCOM Deployment) ·         NO UPDATES   USS Makin Island ARG LHD-8 – USS Makin Island LPD-25 – USS Somerset LSD-45 – Comstock 11th MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) STATUS:  Pacific (WESTPAC / CENTCOM Deployment) ·         (Nov 18) @ Singapore; ARG visits Singapore (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=97743) USS Bataan ARG LHD-5 – USS Bataan LPD-19 USS Mesa Verde LSD-44 USS Gunston Hall 24th MEU STATUS: Atlantic Ocean (TRAINING) ·          NO UPDATES USS America LHA-6 – USS America   STATUS: Pacific Ocean (TRAINING) ·          (Nov 16) @ Pacific; F-35B completes weapons load testing (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=97774) TASK FORCES NO UPDATES NO UPDATES Other USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) ·          (Nov 14) @ NYC; Assault ship departs NYC following Veterans Week 2016 (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=97671)

REGIONAL NAVAL POWERS   BRAZIL NO UPDATES NO UPDATES INDIA NO UPDATES NO UPDATES ITALY NO UPDATES NO UPDATES JAPAN NO UPDATES NO UPDATES NETHERLANDS NO UPDATES NO UPDATES SPAIN NO UPDATES NO UPDATES

NEWS and AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA NO UPDATES ·         NO UPDATES FRANCE   Op. CHAMMAL: IRAQ-JORDAN-SYRIA ·         (Nov 17) IRAQ; advances into Mosul are slow, IS maintains strong defensive positions, Iraqi army forces making effort to secure Euphrates valley Haditah to Bayji, at Tal Kayf Iraqi army lines stop at 20km away, while Peshmerga are securing recently captured areas, SYRIA; Syrian opposition forces continue moving on Al Bab, other forces continue moving on Raqqa supported by air assets (http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/irak-syrie/actualites/point-de-situation-des-operations-au-17-novembre-2016) Op. BARKHANE: MALI-NIGER-CHAD ·         (Nov 17) Terror groups staged attacks on Mali and Niger forces during the week, reinforcements helped end attacks and arrest assailants (http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/irak-syrie/actualites/point-de-situation-des-operations-au-17-novembre-2016) RUSSIA   RUSSIA ·          (Nov 18) Russia planning to begin receiving new Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled guns in near future in artillery brigades (https://en.ria.ru/russia/201611181047569859-russia-koalitsiya-self-propelled-gun/) SYRIA ·          (Nov 21) Russia planning to expand Hmeymim AFB, currently using S-400 and Pantsir AA systems, may add 1+ runway and improve defenses (https://en.ria.ru/military/201611211047664063-hmeymim-base-infrastructure/) UKRAINE ·         NO UPDATES SERBIA ·         NO UPDATES UNITED KINGDOM NO UPDATES ·         NO UPDATES UNITED STATES CENTCOM: AFGHANISTAN ·         (Nov 14) Afghanistan; 1st Cavalry Div, 1st Sustainment Brigade – 2-KIA CENTCOM: IRAQ / SYRIA ·          NO UPDATES CENTCOM: KUWAIT ·         NO UPDATES NATO ESTONIA ·          (Nov 19) France deploying 300-troops and 5-tanks to Estonia in 2017 (https://en.ria.ru/europe/201611191047631837-france-deploy-soldiers-tanks-estonia/)