August 17-23 Weekly News & Log Updates

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE August 17 - 23

NAVAL & MARINE OPERATIONS

CHINA Peoples Liberation Army – Navy Task Forces 17th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Changchun (Destroyer) U/I-Frigates U/I-Supply Ship LOCATION: Gulf of Aden ·         (Aug 19) @ Gulf of Aden; the 17th and 18th ETF conducted joint escort operations for 3-vessels (People's Daily)   18th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Changbaishan (LPD) PLAN Yuncheng (Frigate) LOCATION: Indian Ocean (en-route to Gulf of Aden) ·         (Aug 19) see ETF-17   RIMPAC TASK FORCE PLAN Haikou (Destroyer) PLAN Peace Ark (Hospital Ship) PLAN Yueyang (Frigate) PLAN Qiandaohu (Supply) LOCATION: East Pacific ·         (Aug 22) @ Fiji; Chinese hospital ship arrives in Fiji for 1-week (People's Daily)   Other NO UPDATES

FRANCE Task Forces NO UPDATES   Atlantic Patrols <Forward-Deployed> FS Germinal (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ Martinique Island; Caribbean Sea NO UPDATES   <CORYMBE Patrol> FS Cdt Blaison (Frigate) FS Ventose (Frigate) LOCATION: Gulf of Guinea ·         (Aug 18) @ Atlantic; FS Ventose begins OPERATION CORYMBE patrol near Dakar, Senegal; relieves FS Cdt. Blaison (MOD.FR)   Med Patrol <Med Air Defense> FS Cassard (Destroyer) LOCATION: East Mediterranean NO UPDATES <EUROMEDFOR> FS Montcalm (Destroyer) SEE EU-TASK FORCES Indian Ocean <Forward-Deployed> FS Floreal (Frigate) FS Nivose (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ Reunion Island; Indian Ocean NO UPDATES                                                                                                             <CMF-CTF-150> FS Courbet (Frigate) SEE CMF TASK FORCES   Pacific Patrols <Forward-Deployed> FS Prairial (Frigate) FS Vendemiaire (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ New Caledonia & Tahiti Island; Pacific Ocean NO UPDATES   Other FS Chevalier Paul (Destroyer) ·         (Aug 14) @ Bay of St. Tropez; French destroyer anchors off St. Tropez, welcomes delegation from mayor’s office aboard for tour and exchanges, destroyer was in area preparing for Operation Dragoon commemoration (MOD.FR); Provides assistance to stranded sailboat near Cape St. Tropez (MOD.FR)

RUSSIA Task Forces MED. TASK FORCE RFS Vice Adm. Kulakov (DDG) (3-5) U/I LSTs LOCATION: Mediterranean NO UPDATES   Other RFS Sevestopol & Vladivostok (Assault Ship) ·         (Aug 20) Russia confirms French presidents statements that nothing will prevent delivery of the Mistral Class assault ships to the Russian navy in 2014 and 2015 (RIA)

UNITED KINGDOM – ROYAL NAVY Atlantic Patrol HMS Argyll (Frigate) HMS Clyde (Patrol Ship) HMS Iron Duke (Frigate) HMS Protector (Ice Patrol) LOCATION: Atlantic and Caribbean Sea (Aug 20) @ Namibia; HMS Iron Duke visited Walvis Bay for 4-days (MOD.UK)   Med Patrol HMS Enterprise (Survey) ·         NO UPDATES   <SNMG-2> HMCS Toronto (Frigate) SEE NATO TASK FORCES   Indian Ocean Patrol HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156) RFA Cardigan Bay (LSD) ·         NO UPDATES   <CMF-CTF-150> HMS Northumberland (FFG) RFA Fort Austin (Supply) SEE UN-CMF TASK FORCES   <CMF-CTF-151> HMS Defender (Destroyer) SEE UN-CMF TASK FORCES   Far East Patrol HMAS Sydney (Frigate) NO UPDATES Other HMS Prince of Wales (Carrier) ·         (Aug 20) @ Portsmouth; giant segment Lower Block 02 is loaded on a barge, will be transported to Scotland for assembly (MOD.UK)

UNITED STATES NAVY Carrier Strike Groups USS Carl Vinson (CSG-1) USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) ·         Carrier Air Wing - 17 USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) USS Gridley (DDG-101) USS Sterett (DDG-104) USS Dewey (DDG-105) LOCATION: 3rd Fleet, Pacific (Heading west) ·         (Aug 22) @ San Diego; CSG deploys to 5th and 7th Fleet AOR (USN)   USS George HW Bush (CSG-2) USS GHW Bush (CVN-7) ·         Carrier Air Wing – 8 USS Philippine Sea (CG) USS A. Burke (DDG-51)(ABM) USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) USS Truxun (DDG) <SNMG-2> USS Leyte Gulf (CG) LOCATION: 5th Fleet, CENTCOM, Arabian Gulf <IRAQ CRISIS> ·         NO UPDATES   USS Theodore Roosevelt (CSG-12) USS T. Roosevelt (CVN-71) ·         Carrier Air Wing – 1 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) ·         (Aug 17) @ Atlantic; US carrier conducted joint flight tests and operations with X-47B, practicing mixed flight deck operations, demonstrating the ability to launch, fly and land with manned aircraft (USN)   Amphibious Ready Groups   &   Command Ships USS America (SOUTHCOM Underway) USS America (LHA-6) ·         Commander, ESG-3 ·         300-Marines (SP-MAGTF) ·         VMX-22 “Argonauts” LOCATION: 4th Fleet, SOUTHCOM, South America ·         (Aug 19-20) @ Strais of Magellan; new US assault ship completes transit of the Straits of Magellan, enters Pacific Ocean with the assistance of Chilean pilots, is en-route to new homeport San Diego for commissioning (USN) ·         (Aug 19) @ Straits of Magellan; US SECNAV Mabus visits the new assault ship as it transits the straits (USN)   USS Blue Ridge <Forward-Deployed: Japan> USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) ·         Commander, US 7th Fleet ·         Helicopter Squadron (HSC-12) ·         USMC Fleet Anti-Terrorism Team LOCATION: 7th Fleet, WESTPAC, Coral Sea ·         (Aug 20) @ Korea; members of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission meet with the US 7th Fleet commander aboard the US Command Ship (USN) ·         (Jul 28 – Aug 14) @ Korea; US Command Ship hosts two junior officers from the Royal Australian Navy (USN)   USS Bataan ARG USS Bataan (LHD-5) USS Mesa Verde (LPD); USS Gunston Hall (LSD); 22nd MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: 5th Fleet; CENTCOM; Arabian Gulf ·         NO UPDATES   USS Makin Island ARG USS Makin Island (LHD-8) USS San Diego (LPD-22) USS Comstock (LSD-45) 11th MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: 7th Fleet; WESTPAC, S. China Sea ·         (Aug 20) @ Hong Kong; ARG visits Hong Kong (People's Daily)   USS Mount Whitney <Forward-Deployed: Italy> USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) ·         Commander, US 6th Fleet LOCATION: 6th Fleet, EUCOM, Mediterranean ·         (Aug 17) @ France; US Command Ship concludes participation in commemoration of WWII Operation Dragoon at Theoule-Sur –Mer (USN)   USS Peleliu ARG USS Peleliu (LHA-5) USS Green Bay (LPD); USS Rushmore (LSD); 15th MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: 7th Fleet, WESTPAC, Philippine Sea ·         (Aug 22) @ Japan; ARG arrives at Sasebo for scheduled visit during WESTPAC deployment; this is USS Peleliu’s final deployment before being decommissioned next year (USN) ·         (Aug 16) @ Guam; ARG sailors participate in events at Nieves M. Flores Memorial Public Library in Hagatna (USN)   Exercises NO UPDATES   3rd / 4th Fleet (see USS America ARG) (see USS Carl Vinson CSG) 5th Fleet (see USS Bataan ARG) (see USS GHW Bush CSG) 6th Fleet (see USS Mount Whitney LCC) USS Cole (DDG-67) ·         (Aug 22) @ Norfolk; US destroyer deploys to 6th Fleet AOR (USN) USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) ·         (Aug 20) @ Georgia; US cruiser completed 2-day visit to Batumi, provided tours, hosted reception, and participated in flagging exercise with Georgian Coast Guard (USN) ·         (Aug 18) @ Georgia; US Cruiser arrives at Batumi (USN)   7th Fleet (see USS Blue Ridge LCC) (see USS Makin Island ARG) (see USS Peleliu ARG) USS Columbus (SSN-762, Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine) ·         (Aug 21) @ Pearl Harbor; US attack sub returns home from a 6-month WESTPAC deployment (USN) USS Hawaii (SSN-776, Virginia Class Attack Submarine) ·         (Aug 20) @ Japan; US attack sub visits Yokosuka during WESTPAC deployment (USN) USS Kidd (DDG-100) ·         (Aug 21) @ San Diego; US destroyer returns from Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment (USN) USS Pinkney (DDG-91) ·         (Aug 21) @ San Diego; US destroyer returns from Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment (USN)   Other NO UPDATES

OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS EU Naval Task Forces EUROMARFOR INDIAN OCEAN “OPERATION ATALANTA” (CTF-465) FGS Berlin (Supply) HS Psara (Frigate) ITS Andrea Doria (Destroyer) SPS Navarra (Frigate) TCG Gelibolu (Frigate) LOCATION: Indian Ocean ·         (Aug 17) @ Indian Ocean; SPS Navarra provides assistance to French sailboat “VILMY02” adrift in Indian Ocean after running out of fuel (Armada) ·          (Aug 16) @ Gulf of Aden; CTF-465 commander visits SPS Navarra while on patrol in Transit Corridor (Armada)   EUROMEDFOR MEDITERRANEAN SEA FS Montcalm (Destroyer); PS Vasco de Gama (Frigate) SPS Santa Maria (Frigate) LOCATION: E. Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES   NATO Naval Task Forces NATO OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD (CTF-508) HDMS Esbern Snare (Frigate) LOCATION: Indian Ocean ·         NO UPDATES   NATO – SNMG-1 HNOMS Thor Heyerdahl (Frigate) LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES   NATO – SNMG-2 FGS Niedersachsen (Frigate) HMCS Toronto (Frigate) TCG Kemalreis (Frigate) USS Leyte Gulf (CG) <GBCSG> LOCATION: Atlantic Ocean; North American Patrol ·         NO UPDATES   NATO – SNMCMG-1 LNS Jotvingis (MCM) <FLAG> (6-8) NATO Minehunters LOCATION: Baltic Sea ·         NO UPDATES NATO – SNMCMG-2 ITS Aviere (Frigate) <FLAG> (3) NATO Minehunters LOCATION: Mediterranean “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR” Patrol ·         NO UPDATES UN CMF Task Force (CTF-150) (UNSC-1368, 1373) U/I Pakistani Warship <FLAG> FS Courbet (Frigate) HMS Northumberland (Frigate) RFA Fort Austin (Supply) LOCATION: Indian Ocean ·         NO UPDATES CMF Task Force (CTF-151) HMS Defender (Destroyer) JS Samadare (Destroyer) JS U/I Destroyer ROKS Munmu The Great (Destroyer) LOCATION: Gulf of Aden & Arabian Gulf ·         NO UPDATES SYRIAN WMD (UNSC-2118) FGS Hamburg (Frigate) FGS Schleswig-Holstein (Frigate) USNS Cape Ray U/I Denmark Ship LOCATION: Mediterranean Sea ·         (Aug 19) @ Mediterranean; Syrian chemical weapons have been neutralized onboard the USNS Cape Ray, Task Force will soon be heading to Baltic to deliver chemicals to Germany and Finland for elimination; FGS Hamburg is en-route to relieve FGS Schleswig-Holstein (Bundeswehr.DE)   Other   GERMANY FGS Brandenburg (Frigate) ·         (Aug 22) @ Wilhelmshaven; German frigate FGS Brandenburg return s home from EU OPERATION ATALANTA deployment to the Indian Ocean (Marine.DE)   ITALY ITS Durand de La Penne (Destroyer) ITS Mimbelli (Destroyer) ·         (Aug 22) @ Spain: Italian destroyer ITS Durand de La Penne visits Malaga during training cruise for naval cadets (DIFESA) ·         (Aug 20) @ Italy; Italian destroyer ITS Mimbelli returns home to Taranto following 7-month NATO OCEAN SHIELD Anti-Piracy patrol in Indian Ocean (DIFESA)

AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA PEACE MISSION 2014 (Aug 24-29) LOCATION: Zhurihe Training Base, Inner Mongolia ·         (Aug 20) PLA-AF prepare for participation in PEACE MISSION 2014, include F-10, F-11, FB-7, KJ-200, and paratrooper vehicles (People's Daily) ·         (Aug 17) SCO member nations army units arrive to participate in PEACE MISSION 2014 (Aug 24-29), about 7,000 troops will conduct anti-terror training and boost intel sharing (People's Daily)   FRANCE NO UPDATES   RUSSIA   UKRAINE   ·         (Aug 23) Ukraine discloses that they've destroyed 40-armored, 3-Strella-10 anti-air systems and 500-rebel fighters in operations at Luhansk (RIA) ·         (Aug 22) Russia defies Ukraine, sends aid convoy across border to Donetsk, escorted by rebels (BBC) ·         (Aug 21) Ukraine confirms SU-25 attack fighter was shot down over Luhansk while on mission (RIA)   UNITED KINGDOM NO UPDATES   UNITED STATES   CENTCOM – IRAQ   ·         (Aug 19) ISIS beheads captured American journalist, US considers ramping up involvement (Gawker)   CENTCOM – ISRAEL ·         (Aug 21) IDF calls up 10,000-reservists for extended Gaza operations after releasing 80,000 after finishing the demolition of Hamas tunnels (RIA)