SHIP LOCATIONS:

• Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated
• AFRICAN LION ends today
• CITADEL GALE ends today

SHIP LOGS:

April 14

• USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98): participating in JOINT WARRIOR (Commander, DESRON 26)
• USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195): participating in JOINT WARRIOR
• SNS Reina Sophia (FFG): Captures 16-pirates in Arabian Sea, return them to Somalia (...R.Sophia is part of the EU “Op. Atalante' anti-pirate patrol)

April 16

• FS Nivose (FFG): Joins Anti-Pirate patrol in Indian Ocean

April 15

• FS Marne (Supply): Begin escort of MV Sunrise V, sponsored by UN World Food Program, in eastern Indian Ocean

April 18

• HMS Protector (Survey): visited Rothera research base in Antarctica
• SNS Blaz De Lezo (F-103): verified training as part of USS Eisenhower CSG
• USS Essex (LHD-2): @ Sasebo, Japan. Preparing for hull swap with USS BH Richard
• USS Wasp (LHD-1): arrives at New Orleans for FLEET WEEK

GROUND UNITS:

• Ground units locations updated per DOD reports (4/18)
• FRANCE deploys 3-Mirage 200D fighters to Chad from the 133 Nancy-Ochey AB, flying non-stop with mid-air refueling (...currently France has 4-Mirage F1s in theater. Please note, since fighting has broke out in southern Sudan, the Darfur rebels have become rather bold and begun staging raids in Sudan ...and the Darfur rebels main bases of operation are in Chad ...and the main threats to french nationals and the Chad government are pro-Ghaddafi rebels in the north (as if they still exist) and Sudan)

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

April 16

• UK: Prime Minister changes airwing plan for new carrier, switching from conventional naval version (F-35C) to the jump jet version (F-35B), due to cost overruns for the C-version, as well as the added cost for outfitting the Queen Elizabeth with catapults and landing arresters.

April 17

• RUSSIA: Poland and the Baltic states voiced concerns over Russia's plan to install S-400 ADA missiles and ABM radars in eastern Europe, as well as the earlier announcement to base Iskander short range ballistic missiles in Kaliningrad.

April 18

• INDIA: India delays test launch of new ballistic missile Agni-V due to weather, which is capable of reaching Beijing or Europe. NATO says it doesn't consider India a threat.
• RUSSIA: Russia continues delivery of Tor-M2 air defense systems to Belarus.
• SUDAN: Sudanese army repulses a S. Sudan push near Mairem, in an effort to weaken Sudan's attempt to recapture Heglig.