SHIP LOCATIONS Updates:

• Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated

SHIP LOGS Updates:

• April 4^th
• USS Simpson (FFG-56): conducts Mass Casualty EX (...currently deployed to Africa Patrol.)
• April 5^th
• USS Hartford (SSN-768): begins scheduled “underway period” (...deploying?)
• April 8^th
• USS George Washington (CVN-73): @ Japan, preparing to return to sea (...will be deploying soon? ETA Underway in May, 2012)
• RS Smetlivy (Anti-Sub DDG) leaves Tartus, Syria, begins ops off Syria
• April 9^th
• USS BH Richard (LHD-6): @ Sasebo, Japan; Relieving USS Essex (...transferring Homeport to Japan
• April 10^th
• USS Stennis (CVN-74): @ San Diego (...beginning training? If so, then ETA Deployment in October, 2012.)
• USS Peleliu (LHA-5): @ sea (...training for deployment? If so, then ETA Deployment in August, 2012.)
• USS Essex (LHD-2): @ Sasebo, Japan (...will be returning to US? If so, then ETA @ San Diego in late May or June, 2012)
• HMS Queen Elizabeth (CV): Segmental Blocks under construction, aft blocks being joined; (...Trials in 2016-18? Argentina has 4-years to seize Falklands again!)
• HMS Defender (Type-45 DDG): 2^nd Sea Trials in final week; deliver to Royal Navy in July'12; Operational in 2013
• HMS Duncan (Type-45 DDG): Fitting @ Scotstoun, UK; 1^st Sea Trials begin Fall, 2012.

GROUND UNITS Updates:

• US Army / US Marine Unit KIAs updated by DOD Reports up to (4/9/2012), verify units in the field

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

• April 5^th
• SPX
• USAF B-2 bomber completes 18.5 hour North Pole test flight to validate new navigation avionicsApril 9^th
• Debka
• US Navy & GCC Air Power exercise began April 8^th to April 15^th opposite Iran
• Ria Novosti
• Russia deploying S-400 Air Defense Battalion to Baltic Fleet Navy Base in Kaliningrad
• ABM Capable, 400km range, 30km ceiling
• April 10^th
• Reuters
• MALI: Civilians protest rebellion in N. Mali by islamist Taureg rebels, request foreign assistance
• Ria Novosti
• Russia agrees that NK violating UN if it launches satelite
• Russia testing new thermobaric rocket for it's TOS-1 Buratino & TOS-1A Soltsepek MLRS systems
• 90kg warhead, 6km range; TOS-1 carries 30 rockets; TOS-1A carries 24 rockets