July 28th Weekly Update

SHIP LOCATIONS:

Ship & Group Locations Checked / Updated (July 23-27)

• RIMPAC 2012: Began (June 29), Active until (August 3)

SHIP LOGS:

July 23

• FS Guepratte (FFG): was operating in the Bab El Mandeb Strait with Djiboutian patrol ships to prevent pirate attacks (July 17-18)
  
• INS Vikramaditya (CV): began touch and go exercises with jets last week during sea trials
  
• USS Cape St. George (CG-71): concludes 4-day visit to Malta (...part of Lincoln CSG, enroute to Norfolk)
• USS Peleliu (LHA-5): Begins COMPTUEX, hosting visit by State Department
  
• USS Swift (HSV-2): visiting Naples, Italy, conduct crew swap, preparing for APS West 2012 deployment in August (...Log cleared of previous SOUTHCOM and APS-East Patrol)
  

July 24

• USNS Mercy (T-AH-19): concludes visit to Vietnam
  
• USS Bataan (LHD-5): began PMA maintenance on (June 4)
  
• USS J. Dunham (DDG-109): in Mediterranean, Completed damage control training with officers from Azerbaijan and Ukraine (...part of IKECSG, assigned to 6^th Fleet)
  

July 25

• FS Dixmude (LHD): arrives in Brest, Deployment ends
  
• USS Carr (FFG-52): visited Cartagena, Columbia on (July 21) for fuel and provisions
  
• USS GHW Bush (CVN-77): arrives at NNSY for PIA maintenance, should last 4-months
  
• USS George Washington (CVN-73): Air Wing flying off, crew conducting SCRUBEX, ops concluded (...schedule adjusted for end of deployment in July)
  

July 26

• HMS Sutherland (FFG): visiting Souda Bay, Greece
  
• RFS Chabanenko TF: in Mediterranean doing exercises, Russia says it has no plans to dock at Tartus, Syria (...Syrian President Assad is currently rumored to be at Latakia, the city dominating the port of Tartus)
  
• USS George Washington (CVN-73): returns to Yokosuka, Japan, deployment ends
  

July 27

• RFS Kuznetsov (CV): planning to hold large exercise in the Barents Sea in August, involves air / land / sea attacks, Ria Novosti mentioned SSK's and SSN's participating (...Estimate possible 4-month November Deployment after 3-months of training)
  
• USS Lincoln (CVN-72): Offloading ordinance in Atlantic to USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10)
  
• USS Makin Island (LHD-8): Underway in Pacific (July 23-27), PROTRAMID training for Midshipmen
  

July 28

• RFS N. Filchenkov and C. Kunikov (LST): return to Sevastopol after “accomplishing their missions” in the Mediterranean with the DDG Smetlivy
• USNS Mercy (T-AH-19): Arrives in Sikanoukville, Cambodia

GROUND UNITS LOGS:

Ground units locations updated per DOD reports, up to (July 23-27)

• 3^rd Special Forces Group, 4^th Battalion – KIA @ Ghazni, Afghanistan (July 21)
• 82^nd Airborne Division, 4^th Brigade – KIA @ Kandahar, Afghanistan (July 22)
• 82^nd Airborne Division, 82^nd Air Combat Brigade – KIA @ Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan (July 23)
• 173^rd Brigade – KIA @ Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan (July 22)
• 173^rd Brigade – KIA @ Wardak, Afghanistan (July 24)

NOTEWORTHY NEWS:

July 23

• CHINA: PLA approves plans to deploy a garrison of troops to guard disputed islands in S. China Sea
• SYRIA: heavy fighting in Damascus and Aleppo, Armored column reportedly heading towards Aleppo

July 25

• IRAN: Iran's Navy plans to deploy warships to the Atlantic, possibly using Cuba and Venezuela as destinations
• SYRIA: rumors surface that Syria's Alawite Sect may is positioning itself to break away from Syria and form a separate state

July 26

• RUSSIA: Russia is planning to resume aircraft carrier construction in 2020
• SUDAN: Sudan and S. Sudan resume oil talks
• SYRIA: Syrian army pounds rebel positions in Aleppo and Damascus
• UK: UK appears to be preparing to send a response force to Syria after the August Amphibious EX in the Mediterranean with France. The UK would send the HMS Illustrious, Bulwark, and Defender, and France may send the CD Gaulle CSG. Their primary mission would be to evacuate nationals from Syria and the region (...Update ship list for August Amphibious EX)

July 27

• RUSSIA: Russia enters negotiations with Cuba, Seychelles and Vietnam

July 28

• RUSSIA: Russia says on (July 26) that it has no plans to dock the Chabanenko TF, and now says it may evacuate it's personnel from Tartus if it comes under attack.
• I find this interesting. The Chabanenko TF was heavy in Amphibious lift capability, not sea control. Essentially, it's an amphibious task force with escort. Russia doesn't do these things very often. Also note the Northern Eagle Exercise was planned for August with the Chabanenko, but the media report “a ten ship fleet” in the Mediterranean, which can oly be the Chabanenko TF. Maybe the Ex is canceled, or they'll bring a different DDG out to play.
• Most commentators have been watching for Russia to deliver advanced weapons to Syria, and possibly to reinforce their position in Tartus. However, what if it's real intention was to evacuate personnel and equipment? Does this mean Moscow's assessment has always been grim for Syria, even thought they support it 100%? If I were Moscow, I'd be playing both sides, keeping Assad alive, but swinging deals with the opposition to honor the military assistance and Tartus base if Assad falls. Russia needs Syria, but not necessarily Assad.