May 25th Weekly Update

WORLD SUPERPOWER NAVAL OPERATIONS AND UPDATES (May 19 – 25)

CHINA EAST SEA FLEET (May 22) E. Sea Fleet Landing Ship Brigade conducts live fire amphibious assault training (Peoples Daily PIC ) HUAIHUA TASK FORCE (May 21) Huaihua TF @ Fujian, province, Ships return to port, finishing 16-days of training in W. Pacific (Peoples Daily ) FRANCE FS Dupleix (Destroyer) (May 24) @ Mediterranean, complete Franco-Algerian Ex “RAIS HAMIDOU 2013” (Defense ) FS Somme (Supply / Command) (May 20)@ Socotra Island, refuel SPS Numancia (Defense ) FS Vendemiaire (Patrol Frigate) (May 6-10) @ Vladivostok, Russia, attending 68th Anniversary of end of WWII (Defense ) RUSSIA MEDITERRANEAN TASK FORCE (May 21) LST-Azov and LST-N. Filchenkov joins Task Force from Black Sea Fleet (RIA Novosti ) UNITED KINGDOM HMAS Canberra (LHD) (May 11) @ Melbourne, Finishing final touches and cable work, Prep for for Sea Trials this year and being operational in 2014 (NEWS, Data & PICS ) HMS Bulwark (LPD) (May 24-28) @ Liverpool, UK for the Battle of the Atlantic 70th Anniversary (Royal Navy ) HMS Daring (Destroyer) (May 27) @ Portsmouth, UK, begin Far East deployment (Royal Navy ) HMS Lancaster (Frigate) (May 28) @ Portsmouth, UK, Depart for Atlantic Deployment for 6-months (Royal Navy ) HMS Portland (Frigate) (May 17-20) @ Portland / Weymouth, UK, crew conducts home town visit and parade, is returning to Plymouth to continue Sea Trials, will begin BOST training in June (Royal Navy ) HMS Richmond (Frigate) (May 22) @ Cape Verde, nearing end of FOST training, conducting anti-drug exercise with Cape Verde CG, will soon undertake comprehensive maintenance, then deploy later this year (Royal Navy ) HMS Trenchant (Attack Submarine) (May 22) @ Devenport, UK, returns from 335-Day Indian Ocean deployment (Royal Navy ) UNITED STATES USS Bataan (LHD-5) (May 23) @ Norfolk, returning from 1-week pre-deployment training with USMC (US Navy PIC ) USS BH Richard ARG (May 23) @ Sasebo, Japan preparing for 3M Certifications (US navy PIC ) (May 21) LSD-Tortuga @ Jakarta, Indonesia, begin CARAT'13 joint exercises with USS Safeguard (Salv) and Momsen (DDG) (US Navy )(US Navy PIC ) USS GHW Bush (CVN-77) (May 24) @ Norfolk, return to homeport after 2-week defense testing (New torpedo self defense system, UCAS, etc...) (US Navy ) USS Cheyenne (SSN-773) (May 24) @ Yokosuka, Japan, Rest & Relax visit, planning friendship activities with JS Uzushio (US Navy ) USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) (May 16) @ Shimoda, Japan for the cities 74th Annual Black Ship Festival (US Navy ) USS Frank Cable (AS-40) (May 18) @ Guam, end 3-week repair period, 12-reservists from US assisted (US Navy ) USS Gravely (DDG-107) (May 20) @ Mediterranean Sea, conducted PASSEX with Egyptian Frigate Toushka, ...currently deployed to 6th Fleet (US Navy ) USS Kearsarge ARG (May 22) @ Red Sea, refuel with USNS Laramie (T-AO-203) (US Navy PIC ) USS Momsen (DDG-92) (May 23) @ Jakarta, Indonesia, participate in CARAT 2013 with USS Safeguard (Salv) and Tortuga (LSD) (US Navy PIC ) USS Monterey (CG-61) (May 16) @ Bahrain, SECNAV visits ship (US Navy ) USS Mt. Whitney (LCC-20) (May 22) @ Mediterranean Sea (US Navy PIC ) USS Nimitz CSG (May 23) @ S. China Sea (US Navy PIC ) (May 22) @ S. China Sea, US Ambassador to Singapore visits ship (US Navy PIC ) USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) (May 6-30) @ Bahrain, IMCMEX-13 Command Ship, international mine countermeasures exercise with 30-nations participating (US Navy ) USS Roosevelt (CVN-71) (May 22) @ Newport News, VA, On-loading equipment, in final months of Refueling (US Navy PIC ) USS Vinson (CVN-70) (May 21) @ Coronado, CA, completes Mid-Cycle Material Assessment (US Navy ) USS Washington (CVN-73) (May 22-23) @ Yokosuka, Japan, Japanese students, employees and government workers tour ship (US Navy PIC )(US Navy PIC )(US Navy PIC ) (May 17) @ Yokosuka, Japan, Combat Systems Department completes 2-week C5RA Readiness Assessment (US Navy ) OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS INS RANVIJAY TASK FORCE NEXT VISIT = Vietnam (May 25) Ranvijay TF @ Port Klang, Malaysia for 5-days, deployed to S. China Sea and W. Pacific (Bernami ) DDG – INS Ranvijay (Destroyer – FLAGSHIP) FFG – INS Satpura (Stealth Frigate) CRG – INS Kirch (Missile Corvette) SUP – INS Shankti (Supply Ship) SPS Cantabria (Supply Ship) (May 19) @ Sydney, Australia, new temporary homeport until November, completed 4-weeks of at-sea training with 2-RAN Frigates (Armada ) (May 4) @ Darwin, Australia, en-route to temporary homeport of Sydney during duration of 1-year deployment and integration with Australian Navy (Armada )(Deployment Details ) SPS Numancia (Frigate) (May 20) @ Socotra Island on patrol (Defense)

WORLD SUPERPOWER GROUND OPERATIONS AND UPDATES (May 19 – 25)

AFRICA SOMALIA (May 23) @ Beledweyn, 10-killed when Al-Shabaab fighters attack village, Ethiopian troops respond, drive them Islamists away (UPI ) AMERICAS USA - 1st Fleet (May 13-24) @ Norfolk, US Fleet Forces Command preparing for upcoming HURREX 2013 and CITADEL GALE 2013 fleet exercises (US Navy ) USA – WESTPAC (May 20) @ Pearl Harbor, Japanese Naval ships visit for 5-days, en route to San Diego for Ex DAWN BLITZ with US Navy / Marines (US Navy ) DDG – JS Atago DDH – JS Hyuga LST – JS Shimokita ASIA / PACIFIC AFGHANISTAN (May 16) US 29th Infantry Brigade (NG-Guam) – KIA @ Kabul (DOD ) RUSSIA – NORTH CAUCASUS (May 20) @ Dagestan twin blasts kill-3, Injure-40 (RIA Novosti ) EUROPE UK – CYPRUS (May 24) @ CYPRUS, UK Royal Welsh Regiment concludes 2-week Exercise “LION STAR” along the Episkopi coast (MOD )

MAPPING UPDATES (May 19 - 25)

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May 18th Weekly Update

WORLD SUPERPOWER NAVAL OPERATIONS AND UPDATES (May 12 – 18)

CHINA PLAN Jiangmen (Frigate) (May 16) @ Nansha Islands, Live-Fire training exercise (Peoples Daily PIC ) DIAOYU SURVEILLANCE TASK FORCE (May 13) @ Diaoyu Islands, Task Force continues patrol (Peoples Daily ) FRANCE FS Aquitaine (FREMM Class Frigate) (May 9) @ Brest, France, returns from 4-month Atlantic training patrol (Defense Ministry ) FS Latouche-Treville (Destroyer) (May 7-13) @ Cape Verde, training and PASSEX with CV Coast Guard (Defense Ministry ) FS Nivose (Patrol Frigate) (May 1-10) Escorts World Food Program ship Yakima Princess from Djibouti to Mombasa, Kenya (Defense Ministry ) FS Somme (Support / Command Ship) (May 13-14) @ Gulf of Aden, patrol and train with Yemeni Naval vessel (Defense Ministry ) (Apr 14) BEGIN NATO CTF-150 INDIAN OCEAN PATROL FS Tonnerre (Amphibious Assault Ship) (May 14) @ Indian Ocean, END NATO CTF-150 Patrol, continues Jeanne de Arc Tour (Defense Ministry ) RUSSIA BALTIC FLEET (May 16) @ Kaliningrad, Russia commissions new Project 20380 Boiky Stealth Corvette, optimized for Anti-Sub, Surface, and Land Ops; weapons include KH-35 Anti-Ship Missiles, 3M-54 KLUB Cruise Missiles, Kashtan AA gun/missile system, 100mm gun, 2-30mm CIWS, Torpedos, and Kamov KA-27 Anti-Sub Helo (RIA Novosti ) MEDITERRANEAN TASK FORCE (May 16) Pacific Fleet Ships @ Mediterranean, en route to Limassol, Cyprus (RIA Novosti ) (May 13) Pacific Fleet Ships @ Red Sea, heading to Mediterranean (RIA Novosti ) (May 12) Russia says Task Force may be expanded to include nuclear submarines (RIA Novosti ) UNITED KINGDOM HMS Bulwark (LPD) (May 24-28) @ Liverpool, UK for the Battle of the Atlantic 70th Anniversary (Royal Navy ) HMS Daring (Destroyer) (May 27) @ Portsmouth, UK, begin Far East deployment (Royal Navy ) HMS Defender (Destroyer) (May 16) @ Portsmouth, UK, Preparing for upcoming BOST training; participating in “The Road to Twinkenham” charity event (Royal Navy ) HMS Dragon (Destroyer) (May 16) @ Bahrain, participating in IMCMEX 2013 with HMS Atherstone, Quorn, Ramsey, Shoreham (MCM) and RFA Cardigan Bay (SUP) (Royal Navy ) HMS Monmouth (Frigate) (May 13) @ Plymouth, returns from 7-month deployment (Royal Navy ) UNITED STATES USS GHW Bush (CVN-77) (May 17) @ Atlantic, X-47B conducts Touch & Go tests (US Navy ) (May 14) @ Atlantic, test launches X-47B UCAS-D, V. Adm. Buss calls “watershed moment” in naval aviation (US Navy ) USS Eisenhower CSG (May 17) @ 5th Fleet AOR, training UK sailors in Large-Deck Ops, in preparation for the launching of HMS Queen Elizabeth (US Navy ) USS Ford (FFG-54) (May 14) @ Everett, WA, Frigate returns home after completing exercise TRIDENT FURY 2013 with Royal Canadian Navy (US Navy ) USS Freedom (LCS-1) (May 14) @ Singapore, CNO Adm. Greenert visits ship (US Navy ) USS Kearsarge ARG (May 14) @ Eilat, Israel (US Navy ) (May 14) LPD-San Antonio @ Bahrain, participating in IMCMEX-13 (US Navy ) USS Lassen (DDG-82) (May 9) @ Vladivostok, Russia, crew joins Victory Day events and parade (US Navy ) USS Nimitz CSG (May 11) @ Busan, S. Korea, ship hosts reception for local dignitaries (US Navy ) USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52) (May 14) @ San Diego, depart for WESTPAC “Pacific Partnership 2013” Deployment as the Command Platform, planning to exercise with Australia, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand (US Navy ) USS Peleliu ARG (May 14) @ San Diego, WESTPAC / CENTCOM deployment ends (US Navy ) (May 6) @ Pearl Harbor, depart for San Diego on Family Tiger Cruise (US Navy ) USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) (May 6-30) @ Bahrain, IMCMEX-13 Command Ship, international mine countermeasures exercise with 30-nations participating (US Navy ) OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS INS Vikramaditya (Indian Carrier) (May 15) @ Arkhangelsk, Russia, ship in dry dock for repairs before final sea trials in July to September, plan to deliver to India in December (RIA Novosti )

WORLD SUPERPOWER GROUND OPERATIONS AND UPDATES (May 12 – 18)

AFRICA MALI (May 11) @ Gao, French 6th Light Armored Brigade replaces 3rd Mechanized Brigade (Defense Ministry ) AMERICAS NONE ASIA / PACIFIC AFGHANISTAN (May 14) US 1st Armored Division, 1st Brigade – KIA @ Sanjaray (DOD ) KOREA (May 18) N. Korea launches short range missiles into Sea of Japan, may have been anti-ship missiles or KN-02 Surface to surface missiles (RIA Novosti ) RUSSIA (May 17) Russia is developing “Killer-Robots” for anti-terror and evacuation ops (RIA Novosti ) (May 11) Russia says the re-arming of it's paratrooper units should be completed in the next 3-5 years; APV's are currently being tested with the aim of being able to drop three vehicles from one aircraft (RIA Novosti ) SYRIA (May 16) Syria appears to be breaking apart ...Islamist militias control North, Pro-Gov forces control center and are pushing to control coastlands, and Kurds control NE Syria (NY Times ) ...something I'm watching for, the re-establishment of Assyria / Kurdistan in Syria and Iraq, but not Turkey. (May 15) @ Aleppo, rebels launch assault on government prison, Army responds with tanks and air raids (BBC ) EUROPE NONE

MAPPING UPDATES (May 12 - 18)

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May 11th Weekly Update

WORLD SUPERPOWER NAVAL OPERATIONS AND UPDATES (May 5 – May 11)

CHINA PLAN Liaoning (Carrier) (May 10) @ Beijing, Central Military Commission formally establishes the Navy's first carrier-borne aviation force (Peoples Daily ) 14th ESCORT TASK FORCE (May 5) 14th ETF @ Gulf of Aden, visited by commander of CTF-151 (Peoples Daily ) HUAIHUA TASK FORCE (May 6) @ Donghai, Fujian Prov, PLAN Huaihua (FFG), Foshan (FFG) and Qiandaohu (SUP) depart for drills in Pacific (Peoples Daily ) FRANCE NONE RUSSIA NONE UNITED KINGDOM HMS Argyll (Frigate) (May 9) @ Walvis Bay, Namibia (Royal Navy ) HMS Bulwark (LPD) (May 24-28) @ Liverpool, UK for the Battle of the Atlantic 70th Anniversary (Royal Navy ) (May 8) @ Rotterdam, Netherlands to celebrate the formation of the UKNLLF (Royal Navy ) HMS Defender (Destroyer) (May 9) @ Hamburg, Germany for Harbor Festival (Royal Navy ) HMS Northumberland (Frigate) (May 10) @ Plymouth, UK, returns home from Indian Ocean deployment (Royal Navy ) HMS Queen Elizabeth (Carrier) (May 10) @ Scotland, UK, second island built, ready for installation (Royal Navy ) HMS Sutherland (Frigate) (May 8) @ Plymouth, UK (Royal Navy ) UNITED STATES USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) (May 10) @ Yokosuka, Japan, Us Navy CNO Adm. Greenert visits ship (US Navy Pic ) USS BH Richard ARG (May 10) @ E. China Sea, conducting counter-measure wash down, preparing for INSURV (US Navy PIC ) USS GHW Bush (CVN-77) (May 6) @ Norfolk, Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator on-loaded, plan to be first carrier to launch UCAS (US Navy PIC ) USS Chosin (CG-65) (May 4) Enters 7th Fleet AOR, plans to join Nimitz CSG (US Navy ) USS Eisenhower CSG (May 8) @ N. Arabian Sea (US Navy PIC ) USS Ford (FFG-54) (May 3) @ Vancouver BC, Canada, Exercise TRIDENT FURY with Royal Canadian Navy (US Navy ) USS Frank Cable (AS-40) (May 1) @ Guam, Toby Keith performs on board ship (US Navy ) USS Lassen (DDG-82) (May 7) @ Vladivostok, Russia on friendship visit (US Navy ) USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) (May 6-30) @ Bahrain, lead the multinational mine countermeasures exercise IMCMEX-2013 (US Navy ) USS SB Roberts (FFG-58) (May 10) @ Souda Bay, Crete, currently deployed to 6th Fleet AOR (US Navy ) USS Spruance (DDG-111) (May 3) @ Vancouver BC, Canada, Exercise TRIDENT FURY with Royal Canadian Navy (US Navy ) USS Washington CSG (May 6) @ Yokosuka, Japan, HMAS Sydney (Adelaide Class Frigate) arrives, plans to embed in CSG (US Navy ) OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS ITS Cavour (Italian Carrier) (May 9) @ Taranto, Italy, US 6th Fleet commander tours ship (US Navy PIC)

WORLD SUPERPOWER GROUND OPERATIONS AND UPDATES (May 5 – May 11)

AFRICA NONE AMERICAS USA (May 7) DOD releases report detailing activated NG and Reserve forces in Federal service (DOD ) USA – WESTPAC (May 6) @ Yellow Sea, joint 5-day naval exercise with South Korea, N. Korea protests (Peoples Daily ) ASIA / PACIFIC AFGHANISTAN (May 8) UK 1st Mechanized Brigade begins Herrick-18 Deployment (May 4) US 1st Armored Division, 1st Brigade – KIA @ Maiwand SYRIA (May 6-15) @ Adana, Turkey, Turkish Army stages 10-day YILDIRIM 2013 mobilization exercise (Peoples Daily ) (May 6) Syria deploys missile batteries opposite Israel (Peoples Daily ) EUROPE NONE

MAPPING UPDATES (April 7 - 13)

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May 4th Weekly Update

WORLD SUPERPOWER NAVAL OPERATIONS AND UPDATES (April 28 – May 4)

CHINA 14th ESCORT TASK FORCE (Apr 26) @ Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for 4-days of rest & replenishment (People's Daily ) FRANCE FS Latouche-Treville (Destroyer) (Apr 24-30) @ Benin, Training with Benin Navy (Defense Ministry ) (Apr 21-22) @ Ivory Coast, conduct aviation exercises with french army helos, and PASSEX with Belgian Godetia (Defense Ministry ) FS Tonnerre – Jeane de Arc Deployment (Apr 26) @ Seychelles, exercise with Seychelles TOPAZ Coast Guard patrol (Defense Ministry ) (Apr 16) depart Djibouti (Defense Ministry ) RUSSIA MEDITERRANEAN TASK FORCE (May 1) LST-Azov @ Haifa, Israel for resupply and rest, and guided tours of the ship (RIA Novosti ) UNITED KINGDOM HMS Bulwark (LPD) (May 24-28) @ Liverpool, UK for the Battle of the Atlantic 70th Anniversary (Royal Navy ) (Apr 29) @ North Sea, Coordinated with HNLMS Rotterdam (LSD) for JOINT WARRIOR, celebrate 40th anniversary of UK & Netherlands Joint Amphibious coordination, plan to visit Rotterdam, Netherlands next month HMS Dragon (Destroyer) (May 2) @ Gulf of Aden, conduct live fire exercises (Royal Navy ) (Apr 29) @ Arabian Sea, replenish and coordinate with USS Eisenhower CSG (Royal Navy ) HMS Illustrious (Carrier) (May 7) @ London for Battle of Atlantic 70th Anniversary, 6-day visit (Royal Navy ) (Apr 29) @ Dublin, Ireland following exercise (Royal Navy ) HMS Sutherland (Frigate) (Apr 30) @ Invergordon, UK following exercise, 5-sailors are racing the ship back to Plymouth on foot for charity (Royal Navy ) UNITED STATES USNS Swift (HSV-2) (May 1) @ Key West, FL, begin 4th Fleet patrol for counter-drug Operation Martillo (US Navy ) USS Chosin (CG-65) (Apr 30) @ Pearl Harbor, HA, deploy for WESTPAC patrol (US Navy ) USS Eisenhower CSG (Apr 23) @ Manama, Bahrain for rest, MWR, and COMREL projects (US Navy ) USS Lake Champlain (CG) (Apr 28) @ Vancouver, Canada (People's Daily ) USS Monterey (CG-61) (Apr 28) @ Porto Palermo, Albania, conduct surveillance exercises with Albanian Navy (US Navy ) (Apr 26) @ Livorno, Italy for 3-days, host luncheon and tour for Italian Rear Admiral Dragone (US Navy ) USS Nimitz CSG (May 3) CSG enters 7th Fleet AOR (US Navy ) (May 2) DDG-Stockdale @ sea, Change of Command (US Navy ) (Apr 30) DDG-WP Lawrence @ Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE, leaves port after R&R visit (US Navy ) USS Peleliu ARG (May 3) @ Pearl Harbor, final port call before returning home (US Navy ) USS Reuben James (FFG-57) (May 3) @ Pearl Harbor, HA, returns from final WESTPAC deployment, will be decommissioned this summer (US Navy ) USS Stennis CSG (Apr 29) @ San Diego, CA, return from WESTPAC / CENTCOM deployment (US Navy ) OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS FGS Bremen (Frigate) (Apr 29) @ North Sea, participate in JOINT WARRIOR 2013 (German Navy ) SPS Mendez Nunez (Frigate) (Apr 25) @ Ferrol, Spain, arrive home, end anti-piracy patrol (Armada )

WORLD SUPERPOWER GROUND OPERATIONS AND UPDATES (April 28 – May 4)

AFRICA NONE AMERICAS USA – CENTCOM (May 3) 376th Air Exped Wing @ 60km W of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, USAF KC-135 Tanker crashes (RIA Novosti ) (May 2) US 4th Infantry Division, 1st Brigade – KIA @ Camp Buerhing, Kuwait (DOD ) ASIA / PACIFIC AFGHANISTAN (May 1) US 1st Special Forces Group, 4th Battalion – KIA @ Arian KOREA (May 2) US DOD releases report on Military and Security Developments involving North Korea (DOD ) RUSSIA – CUACASUS (May 2) Moscow says 73-militants were killed in 2013 (Jan – March), and 83-detained, both numbers are lower than during the same period in 2012 (RIA Novosti ) (May 1) @ Dagestan, assailants open fire on police car, 3-killed, 2-injured (Ria Novosti ); 2-teens were killed when they picked up a package bomb (RIA Novosti ) SYRIA (May 3) Israel confirms airstrike in Syria on missile shipment bound for Hezbollah in Lebanon (RIA Novosti ) EUROPE NONE

MAPPING UPDATES (April 7 - 13)

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