July 13-19 Weekly News and Log Updates

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE July 13 - 19

NAVAL & MARINE OPERATIONS

CHINA Peoples Liberation Army – Navy Task Forces 16th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Huangshan (Frigate) PLAN Luoyang (Frigate) PLAN Yanchen (Frigate) U/I-Supply Ship LOCATION: EST Indian Ocean, heading home NO UPDATES 17th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Changchun (DDG); U/I-Frigate U/I-Supply Ship LOCATION: Gulf of Aden (Jul 14) @ Gulf of Aden; 17th TF participates in Exercise VENUS-2 anti-piracy drills with EU Operation ATALANTA CTF-465 ships (People's Daily)   Other NO UPDATES

FRANCE Task Forces JEAN DE ARC TASK FORCE FS Mistral (LHD) FS La Fayette (FFG) LOCATION: Mediterranean (Jul 17) @ Toulon; Task Force returns home after 4-month Atlantic deployment (MOD.FR)   Atlantic Patrols FS Germinal (Frigate) FS Ventose (Frigate) <CORYMBE> FS Cdt Blaison (Frigate) (Jul 7-8) @ Caribbean; FS Germinal intercepts go-fast boat identified by US-FAA, seizes 35 kilo of cannabis (MOD.FR)   Med Patrol FS Cassard (Destroyer) FS Cdt Ducuing (Frigate) FS Marne (Supply) FS Surcouf (Frigate) (Jun 10) @ Mediterranean; FS Marne sets sail for home after supporting SNMG-2 for 1-month (MOD.FR)   Indian Ocean FS Floreal (Frigate) FS Nivose (Frigate) NO UPDATES                                                                                                             Pacific Patrols FS Prairial (Frigate) FS Vendemiaire (Frigate) NO UPDATES Other FS Primaguet (Destroyer) ·         (Jul 11-15) @ Saint Malo; FS Primaguet stops at Saint Malo for tours, recently conducted anti-aircraft exercises with FS Latouche-Treville (MOD.FR)

RUSSIA Task Forces MED. TASK FORCE RFS Vice Adm. Kulakov (DDG) (3-5) U/I LSTs LOCATION: E. Mediterranean NO UPDATES Exercises INDRA-2014 Naval EX (July 14-19) RUSSIA RFS Adm. Vinogradov (DDG) RFS Bystry (DDG) RFS Peresvet (Supply) RFS Varyag (CG) U/I Support Ships INDIA INS Ranvijay (DDG) INS Shivalik (FFG) INS Shakti (Supply) LOCATION: Sea of Japan @ Vladivostok, Russia (Jul 19) @ Vladivostok; Task Force debriefing aboard RFS Varyag (RIA) (Jul 17-19) @ Sea of Japan; Active Sea Phase begins in the Peter the Great Gulf, includes tactical maneuvering, artillery and missile drills, and helicopter deck-landing drills (RIA) (Jul 14) @ Vladivostok; Indian Task Force arrives for INDRA 2014 (RIA)(NIC.IN)   Other NO UPDATES

UNITED KINGDOM Task Forces NONE NO UPDATES Atlantic Patrol HMS Argyll (Frigate) HMS Clyde (Patrol) HMS Iron Duke (Frigate) HMS Portland (Frigate) HMS Protector (Ice Patrol) (Jul 18) @ Gulf of Guinea; HMS Iron Duke and RFA Black Rover conduct exercises with FS Cdt Blaison and (2) Guinean patrol ships (MOD.UK) (Jul 16) @ Guinea; HMS Iron Duke visits Conakry for 4-days with RFA Black Rover to conduct capability training with Guinean forces (MOD.UK) (Jul 15) @ Grand Turk; HMS Argyll visits for 2-days for disaster relief planning (MOD.UK) (Jul 14) @ St. Vincent; HMS Portland visits Kingstown (MOD.UK) (Jul 14) @ Florida; HMS Argyll departs Key West, begins anti-narcotics patrol (MOD.UK)   Med Patrol HMS Enterprise (Survey) NO UPDATES   Indian Ocean Patrol HMS Defender (Destroyer) HMS Northumberland (FFG) HMAS Darwin (Frigate) RFA Fort Austin (Supply) SEE NATO TASK FORCES CTF-150 & CTF-151   Far East Patrol HMAS Sydney (Frigate) NO UPDATES Other HMS Illustrious (Carrier) ·         (Jul 22) @ Portsmouth; UK’s last Invincible Class carrier arrives, will be decommissioned (MOD.UK) HMS Lancaster (Frigate) ·         (Jul 14) @ English Channel; HMS Lancaster, and Dutch warships HNLMS Evertsen and Friesland escort Russian destroyer RFS Admiral Levchenko through the Channel (MOD.UK) HMS Ocean (Assault Carrier) ·         (Jul 18) @ Atlantic; HMS Ocean begins Sea Acceptance Trials with helicopters from 771 NAS (MOD.UK) HMS Prince of Wales (Carrier) ·         (Jul 15) @ Scotland; 8,000 ton Lower Block 03 segment of UK’s next carrier begins journey by barge to Rosyth for assembly, segmental assembly is scheduled to begin in September (MOD.UK) HMS Queen Elizabeth (Carrier) ·         (Jul 17) @ Rosyth; UK’s newest carrier is floated out of dry dock, begin outfitting ship for 2016 sea trials (MOD.UK) HMS Westminster (Frigate) ·         (Jul 14) @ Iceland; HMS Westminster visits Iceland for R&R following participation in Exercise DEEP BLUE (MOD.UK) HMAS Stuart (Frigate) ·         (Jul 20) @ Sydney; last week HMAS Stuart provided tours to Aborigine Navy recruits (GOV.AU)

UNITED STATES NAVY Carrier Strike Groups USS Carl Vinson (CSG-1) USS Bunker Hill (CG) USS Gridley (DDG) USS Sterett (DDG) USS Dewey (DDG) LOCATION: California (Ready to Deploy) (Jul 17) @ Coronado, CA; USN-MCPON visits crew of US carrier prior to deployment (USN)   USS George HW Bush (CSG-2) USS Philippine Sea (CG) USS A. Burke (DDG-ABM) USS Roosevelt (DDG) USS Truxun (DDG) <SNMG-2> USS Leyte Gulf (CG) LOCATION: CSG @ 5th Fleet, Arabian Gulf (Supporting Ops in Iraq) NO UPDATES   USS George Washington (GWCSG) <Forward-Deployed: Japan> Carrier Air Wing – 5 USS Antietam (CG-54) USS Shiloh (CG-67) USS Stethem (DDG-63) LOCATION: CSG @ 7th Fleet, Yellow Sea (Jul 19) @ Yellow Sea; ROKN commander of MTF-7 and staff visits USS G. Washington during bi-lateral operations at sea for 5-days, GWCSG includes USS Antietam, Shiloh (USN) (Jul 15) @ Korea; CSG departs Busan following 4-day goodwill visit, GWCSG includes USS Antietam, Shiloh and Stethem (USN)   USS Theodore Roosevelt (CSG-12) Carrier Air Wing – 1 Commander, DESRON – 2 USS Normandy (CG-60) USS Winston Churchill (DDG-81) USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) USS Farragut (DDG-99) LOCATION: Atlantic, (Training to Deploy in 2015) (Jul 16) @ Atlantic; US carrier USS Roosevelt on-loads ammo from USS Truman an USNS W. McLean (T-AKE-12), USS Truman is preparing for maintenance; USS Roosevelt is preparing for deployment (USN) (Jul 15) @ Atlantic; CSG conducts Pass-and-Review, continuing to conduct integration exercises for 2015 deployment (USN)   Amphibious Ready Groups USS America (SOUTHCOM Underway) USS America (LHA-6) 300-Marines (SP-MAGTF) LOCATION: 4th Fleet, Caribbean Sea (Jul 17) @ Colombia; US assault ship visits Cartagena for tours and COMREL projects (USN)   USS Bataan ARG USS Mesa Verde (LPD); USS Gunston Hall (LSD); 22nd MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: ARG @ 6th Fleet, Mediterranean LOCATION: USS Mesa Verde @ Arabian Gulf (Iraq Ops) NO UPDATES USS Bonhomme Richard ARG  <Forward-Deployed: Japan> USS Denver (LPD); USS Germantown (LSD); 31st MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) <CARAT> USS Ashland (LSD-48) LOCATION: ARG @ 7th Fleet, Homeport (Sasebo, Japan) LOCATION: USS Ashland @ S. China Sea (CARAT 2014) NO UPDATES USS Peleliu ARG USS Green Bay (LPD); USS Rushmore (LSD); 15th MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: ARG @ Hawaii (RIMPAC 2014) SEE RIMPAC 2014 Exercises & Task Forces CARAT 2014 PHILIPPINES PHASE USS Ashland (LSD-48) <BHRARG> USS JS McCain (DDG) USS Safeguard (Salvage) LOCATION: 7th Fleet @ S. China Sea / Philippine Sea NO UPDATES PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2014 JS Kunisaki (LST-4003) LOCATION: 7th Fleet @ S. China Sea off Philippines (Jul 15) @ Philippines; PP-14 concludes 10-day Philippines Phase @ Tacoban (USN)   RIMPAC 2014 (June 26 – August 1) USA USS Anchorage (LPD-ASB) USS Chosin (CG) USS Independence (LCS-2) USS Peleliu ARG USS Reagan (CVN) USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) Australia HMAS Sheean (SSG) HMAS Success (SUP) Canada HMCS Calgary (FFH) HMCS Nanaimo (MM-Coastal Def) HMCS Victoria (SSK) HMCS Whitehorse (MM-Coastal Def) China PLAN Haikou (DDG); PLAN Yueyang (FFG); PLAN Peace Ark (HOS); PLAN Qiandaohu (SUP) India INS Sahyadri (FFG) Japan ? New Zealand HMNZS Canterbury (LSD) Norway HMNWS Fridtjof Nansen (FFG) Singapore RSS Intrepid (FF) Brunei KDB Darulaman (OPV); KDB Darussalam (OPV) LOCATION: 3rd Fleet @ Pacific @ Hawaii (Jul 17) @ Hawaii; USS Independence trains with US / Japanese / Korean / Peruvian SOF teams in boarding operations during RIMPAC 2014 (USN) (Jul 16) @ Hawaii; USNS Mercy conducts MEDEVAC drill with observers from Canada and China during RIMPAC 2014 (USN) (Jul 15) @ Pacific; Norwegian frigate HNMS Fridtjof Nansen scores direct hit on ex-USS Ogden with Naval Strike Missile during SINKEX phase of RIMPAC 2014 (Defense News) (Jul 15) @ Hawaii; USNS Mercy departs Pearl Harbor to participate in Sea Phase of RIMPAC 2014 (USN) (Jul 14) @ Pacific; RIMPAC warships and aircraft from US / Brunei / Canada / Japan conduct SINKEX, hitting and destroying ex-USS Tuscaloosa (LST-1187) NW of Kauai (USN) (Jul 10) @ Hawaii; USNS Mercy demonstrates newest patient transfer capability using tender boats (USN)   3rd / 4th Fleet (see Exercise RIMPAC-2014) 5th Fleet NO UPDATES 6th Fleet USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) ·         (Jul 16) @ Cyprus; US destroyer conducts SAREX with Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center (USN) USS Elrod (FFG-55) ·         (Jul 19) @ Norfolk; US frigate returns home from final 6th Fleet deployment to Mediterranean and Africa, will be decommissioned (USN) USS Mt. Whitney (LCC-20) ·         (Jul 15) @ Italy; US command ship returns to forward-deployed homeport following participation in BALTOPS 2014 (USN) USS Nitze (DDG-94) ·         (Jul 15) @ Norfolk; US destroyer returns home following 8-month deployment to 6th Fleet (USN) USS Ross (DDG-71) ·         (Jul 18) @ Spain; Forward-Deployed destroyer begins 6th Fleet patrol (USN)   7th Fleet (see Task Force CARAT-2014) (see Task Force PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2014) USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) ·         (Jul 18) @ Japan; US command ship visits Otaru, hosts ship tours and crew visits Sapporo air show (USN)   Other News USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) ·         (Jul 14) @ Norfolk; US assault ship returns to homeport after completing sea trials and 5-month maintenance phase, will continue to certify crew and systems during summer (USN)

OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS EU Naval Task Forces EUROMARFOR INDIAN OCEAN “OPERATION ATALANTA” (CTF-465) FGS Berlin (Supply) FGS Brandenburg (FFG) HS Psara (FFG) TCG Gelibolu (FFG) LOCATION: Indian Ocean (Jul 14) @ Horn of Africa; FGS Berlin arrives, begins 4-month patrol, German Admiral assumes command of ATALANTA (Marine.DE)   EUROMARFOR MEDITERRANEAN SEA FS Montcalm (DDG); PS Vasco de Gama (FFG) SPS Santa Maria (FFG) LOCATION: E. Mediterranean NO UPDATES NATO Naval Task Forces NATO OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD (CTF-508) HDMS Esbern Snare (FFG) ITS Mimbelli (DDG) LOCATION: Indian Ocean NO UPDATES NATO – SNMG-1 HNOMS Thor Heyerdahl (FFG) LOCATION: Mediterranean NO UPDATES NATO – SNMG-2 FGS Niedersachsen (FFG) HMCS Regina (FFH) TCG Kemalreis (FFG) USS Leyte Gulf (CG) <GBCSG> LOCATION: Atlantic Ocean (Jul 17) @ Alboran Sea; USS Leyte Gulf takes command of Task Force last weekend, includes HMCS Regina and TCG Kemalreis, begin anti-terror exercises (NATO) (Jul 16) @ Spain; FGS Niedersachsen joins SNMG-2 at Rota; SNMG-2 is planning to conduct exercises at Canada and USA, then patrol E. Mediterranean as part of NATO “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR” in September, visiting Spain, Turkey and Egypt; FGS Niedersachsen will return to Germany in December, then decommission (Marine.DE)   NATO – SNMCMG-1 HDMS Thetis (FFG) <FLAG> FGS Elbe (Supply) (2) Minehunters LOCATION: Baltic Sea (Jul 15) @ Denmark; last week SNMMCG-1 conducts anti-mine sweeps a the Bay of Kiel, eliminating British mines from WWII (Marine.DE)   NATO – SNMCMG-2 ITS Aviere (FFG) <FLAG> (3) Minehunters LOCATION: Black Sea “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR” Patrol (Jul 17) @ Romania; Task Force visits Constanta, participated on EXERCISE BREEZE 2014 (NATO)   CMF Task Force (CTF-150) HMS Northumberland (FFG) HMAS Darwin (FFG) RFA Fort Austin (Supply) LOCATION: Indian Ocean (Jul 18) @ Seychelles; RFA Fort Austin takes break at Seychelles, Royal Marines (42 Commando Det.) conduct training with Seychelles Coast Guard boarding Team (MOD.UK)   CMF Task Force (CTF-151) HMS Defender (DDG) JS Samadare (DDG) JS U/I Destroyer ROKS Munmu The Great (DDG) LOCATION: Gulf of Aden (Jul 13) @ Gulf of Aden; ROKS Munmu the Great resumes command of CTF-151 since June, visiting various ports and conducting exercises with NATO and EUNAVFOR ships, will retain command until August (CMF) UN SYRIAN WMD (UNSC-2118) FGS Augsburg (FFG) FGS Schleswig-Holstein (FFG) USNS Cape Ray U/I Denmark Ship LOCATION: Mediterranean Sea NO UPDATES Other GERMANY FGS Rhon (Supply) (Jul 18) @ Wilhelmshaven; FGS Rhone returns home from EU-Operation ATALANTA patrol in Indian Ocean (Marine.DE)

AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA NO UPDATES NO UPDATES FRANCE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (Jul 11) France transfers command of SGTRS at Camp M’poko at Bangui (MOD.FR)   MALI (Jul 18) France signs agreements with 5-African nations (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger) to reorganize and maintain 3,000-troops with AF fighters on anti-terror deployment in region, Mali deployment has been phased (Defense News) (Jul 16) Command transferred from SGAM (Airmobile sub-group) to SGAM at Gao, currently 1,600-Troops are in Mali (MOD.FR)   RUSSIA UKRAINE   (Jul 20) @ Hrabove; International monitors report rebels are taking bodies from MH17 and placing them on refrigerated trains at Torez, may deliver to Donetsk, EU is outraged by their handling (Fox) (Jul 17) @ Donetsk; Malaysian Airlines 777 shot down, Russia claims Ukrainian Army air defense battalion with Buk missile system was deployed there a day before; Ukraine claims the rebels shot it down (RIA)   UNITED KINGDOM NO UPDATES NO UPDATES UNITED STATES CENTCOM – ISRAEL (Jul 20) @ Gaza; IDF expands offensive, destroys 34-tunnels (Fox) (Jul 17) @ Gaza; IDF ground operation begins, Hamas commando team raids S. Israel (Debka) (Jul 15) @ Gaza; Unilateral cease-fire collapses, IDF resumes airstrikes (Debka)