November 10-16 Weekly Log Updates

WEEKLY LOG UPDATE November 10 – 16

NAVAL OPERATIONS

CHINA PLAN Liaoning (Carrier) (Nov 11) @ Qingdao, Carrier returns to home port following successful round of carrier flight deck and aircraft handling qualifications (Peoples Daily) FRANCE FS Cassard (Destroyer) (Nov 13) @ E. Mediterranean; conduct air defense training with USS Monterrey (Cruiser), USS Ramage (Destroyer) and UK 11 Squadron Typhoon fighters based in Cyprus, followed by harbor defense training with Lebanese warship Tabarja (MOD) FS Jean de Vienne (Destroyer) (Nov 12-14) @ Mediterranean; conduct geopolitical major crisis scenario exercise with FS Surcouf (Frigate) (MOD) FS PM L'Her (Frigate) (Nov 4) @ Atlantic off Gabon; conduct counter-piracy drill with MV Bourbon Liberty 223 (MOD) FS La Motte-Piquet (Destroyer) (Nov 15) @ Atlantic; conduct anti-submarine training with HMS Northumberland (Frigate) versus the German Navy’s U-31 (MOD) RUSSIA MEDITERRANEAN TASK FORCE (Nov 15) @ Sevestopol; RFS Moskva (Cruiser) ETA return to homeport (RIA Novosti) (Nov 11) @ Mediterranean; RFS Pyotr Veliky (Battle Cruiser) assumes FLAGSHIP role of task force, relieves RFS Moskva (Cruiser) (RIA Novosti) (Nov 11) @ Alexandria, Egypt; RFS Varyag (Cruiser) makes port visit for 6-days, first Russian warship to visit since 1992, precedes Russian delegation to interim Egyptian government in an effort to secure weapons contracts and expand influence (RIA Novosti) RFS Adm. Istomin (Adm. Grigorovich Class Frigate) (Nov 15) @ Kaliningrad; Construction begins on 4th Frigate of the new Project 11356M “Adm. Grigorovich” Class Guided Missile Frigate, expected to join the Black Sea Fleet in 2014 (RIA Novosti) UNITED KINGDOM COUGAR 2013 DEPLOYMENT (Nov 12) @ Karachi, Pakistan; HMS Bulwark (LPD) makes short port visit, met Commander of Pakistani Marines to discuss tactical techniques for boarding teams, and counter-piracy issues (Royal Navy) (Nov 12) @ Muscat, Oman; HMS Illustrious (Carrier) makes port visit with 21-gun salute for the Sultan of Oman's Royal Yacht Al Said, following completion of exercise OMANI COUGAR (Royal Navy) “OPERATION PATWAN” – TYPHOON HAIYAN RESPONSE TASK FORCE (Nov 15) @ Philippines; HMS Daring begins surveying outlying areas of Typhoon Haiyan disaster area, overflying Palawan Island by 815 NAS (Royal Navy) (Nov 14) @ Indian Ocean off Somalia; HMS Illustrious (Carrier) is diverted from COUGAR 2013 deployment to respond to Typhoon Haiyan disaster in Philippines, expected to arrive in 10-days (Royal Navy) (Nov 12) @ S. China Sea; HMS Daring (DDG) ordered to break away from exercises off Malaysia, heading at best speed for Philippines in response to Super Typhoon Haiyan (Royal Navy) HMS Dragon (Destroyer) (Nov 14) @ Malta; port visit while en-route back to UK, crew attended Remembrance Day event at Upper Barrakka Saluting Battery, is due back in UK later this month (Royal Navy) HMS Duncan (Destroyer) (Nov 11) @ Atlantic; testing gunnery systems off Dorset (Royal Navy) HMS Lancaster (Frigate) (Nov 11) @ Dominican Republic; depart Santo Domingo after port visit and tour, begin final counter-narcotics patrol with 3-officers from Trinidad (Royal Navy) HMS Montrose (Frigate) (Nov 15) @ Abu Dhabi, UAE; Frigate visits UAE with HMS Quorn and Atherstone (MCM), visited by UK Minister for Defense Equipment, Support and Technology (Royal Navy) (Nov 11) @ N. Arabian Gulf; Frigate pauses it's Gulf patrol to honor the fallen (Royal Navy) HMS Queen Elizabeth (Carrier) (Nov 11) @ Rosyth, UK; Ski Ramp installed, only aircraft lifts and radar remains to be completed (Royal Navy) HMS Richmond (Frigate) (Nov 14) @ S. Africa; crew undertakes basic maintenance visit to Ukhanyo Primary School during operational port call (Royal Navy) RFA Fort Victoria (Supply) (Nov 11) @ Indian Ocean off NE Somalia; resupply Frigates HMAS Melbourne and HNOMS F. Nansen in risky Double-RAS operation, continues counter-piracy operations with HMAS Melbourne (Royal Navy) UNITED STATES “OPERATION DAMAYAN” – TYPHOON HAIYAN RESPONSE TASK FORCE (Nov 16) @ Philippines; USS Washington & Lassen delivered 11-tons of water and supplies, and relocated injured civilians to medical centers; @ Okinawa, USS Ashland & Germantown are on-loading Marines, supplies and heavy equipment; @ Leyte Gulf, USS Antietam, Cowpens & Emory Land deliver supplies from Tacloban to remote areas; @ Ormoc Bay, USS Mustin & Charles Drew are moving supplies to remote areas (US Navy) (Nov 14) @ Philippines; USS Washington CSG arrives near Leyte Gulf, supporting efforts of 3rd MEB with Philippine OPERATION DAMAYAN; CSG now also includes USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10), USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-62) and USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) (US Navy) (Nov 14) @ Sasebo, Japan; BHR-ARG USS Ashland and Germantown leave port for Okinawa, will be on-loading Marines and heading to Philippines, ETA arrival in 1-week (Nov 14) @ S. China Sea; USS McCampbell (DDG-85) is en-route to Philippines to assist Typhoon Haiyan recovery efforts (Nov 13) @ Pearl Harbor; Adm. Harris activates USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), expect to be underway in a couple days (US Navy) (Nov 13) @ Sasebo, Japan, US Navy orders BHRARG ships USS Ashland and Germantown (LSD's) to Philippines to assist Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts, USS Denver (LPD) is placed on standby, US Commander requests more MV-22 Ospreys be diverted to effort (Channel News Asia) (Nov 12) @ Hong Kong; USS Washington CSG leaves port early to respond to Super Typhoon Haiyan massive strike on Philippines, will assist relief efforts, elements of 3rd MEB are already deployed (Stars & Stripes) US CARRIER GROUPS USS Roosevelt (CVN-71) (Nov 10) @ Atlantic; X-47B (UCAS-D) unmanned fighter conducts flight operations on carrier, testing ability to integrate into carrier operating environment (US Navy) US AMPHIBIOUS GROUPS & COMMAND SHIPS USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) (Nov 13) @ Batumi, Georgia; depart after 3-day visit, conducted joint firefighting and emergency actions training with Georgian Coast Guard, Command Ship is currently on 6th Fleet patrol (US Navy) USS Ponce (AFSBI(I)-15) (Nov 9) @ N. Arabian Gulf; assist adrift fishermen 30nm off Bahrain until Bahraini Coast Guard arrive to tow skiff back to port (US Navy) US WARSHIPS USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) (Nov 5-13) @ San Diego; conducts dynamic interface operations on the Pt. Mugu Test Range with the Navy’s VTUAV MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV helo, planning to deploy next year with HSM-35, Det-1 “Mad Hatters”, the US Navy’s 1st composite Air Detachment, which includes SH-60R helicopters and Fire Scout UAVs (US Navy) USS Ramage (DDG-61) (Nov 15) @ Souda Bay, Greece; Navy Sec. Mabus visits ship during port visit (US Navy) USS Stout (DDG-55) (Nov 14) @ Aksaz, Turkey; returned to port following the completion of Exercise DOGU AKDENIZ 2013, participants included FGS Sachsen and SPS A. de Bazan, TCG Giresun and 18 other Turkish Navy ships (US Navy) USS Tucson (SSN-770) (Nov 12) @ Busan, SK; visits South Korea for bilateral training and rest, currently on WESTPAC deployment (US Navy) OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS NATO SNMG-2 (Nov 4) @ Haifa, Israel; ITS Grecale participates in bilateral exercise RISING STAR 2013 with Israeli Navy Corvette Eilat, training included rescue, merchant traffic control and response to asymmetric attacks (Marina) TASK FORCE-508 “OCEAN SHIELD” (SNMG-1) (Nov 15) @ Gulf of Oman; HMNOS F. Nansen (Frigate) conducted series of exercises with USS Truman CSG, including personnel exchanges, air defense, and simulated boarding and live-fire exercise (NATO) (Nov 15) @ Gulf of Aden; UPS H. Sagaidachny (Frigate) conducted combined training with Chinese ETF frigate PLAN Heng Shui (NATO) (Nov 10) @ Gulf of Aden; HDMS Esbern Snare (L17 – Absalom Class Combat Support Ship) intercepts and detains suspected pirates following failed attack on MV Torm Kansas (NATO) INDIA INS Vikramaditya (Carrier) (Nov 16) @ Sevmash, Russia; Indian Defense Minister Antony receives carrier during commissioning of carrier in Russia (Defense News) (Ship History) NETHERLANDS HMNLS Rotterdam (L800) (Nov 13) UK 45 Commando (W-Company) applauds the completion of jungle training exercise AFRICAN WINDS 13, a multinational exercise including US, Spanish and Dutch Marines, and forces from Senegal, Ghana, Benin and Cameroon (Royal Navy) (Nov 10) @ Naples, Italy; Allied Marine task force disembarks HMNLS Rotterdam following 3-month AFRICAN WINDS deployment to Africa Patrol Station in E. Africa (US Navy)

GROUND OPERATIONS

AFRICA NONE AMERICAS NONE ASIA / PACIFIC AFGHANISTAN (Nov 13) US 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 3rd Battalion – KIA @ Panjwai (DOD) EUROPE FRANCE – IVORY COAST (Nov 8) @ Abidjan, IC; Licorne Force conducts jungle combat exercise ANACONDA (MOD)