Sept 21-27 Weekly News & Log Updates

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE Sept 21 - 27

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: Arabian Gulf (Returning Home) ·         (Sept 27) @ Pakistan; Task Force visits Karachi for 5-days (People's Daily) ·         (Sept 20) @ Iran; Task Force visits Bandar Abbas, Iran, for 5-day visit (People's Daily) 18th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Changbaishan (LPD) PLAN Yuncheng (Frigate) LOCATION: Gulf of Aden (Anti-Piracy Patrols / Commercial Shipping Escorts) ·          (Sept 22) @ Gulf of Aden; EU ATALANTA commander visits PLAN Changbaishan (People's Daily) Other NO UPDATES

FRANCE Task Forces SAGRE ASW EXERCISE FS Aquitaine (Destroyer) FS La Motte-Picquet (DDG) FS Latouche-Treville (DDG) FS Primauguet (Destroyer) ·         (Sept 21-26) @ Brest; French destroyers Aquitaine, La Motte-Picuet, Latouche-Treville, and Primauguet participate in week long ASW exercise SAGRE 2014 (GOV.FR)   Atlantic Patrols <Forward-Deployed> FS Dumont d’Urville (LST) FS Germinal (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ Martinique Island; Caribbean Sea ·         (Sept 9-10) @ Caribbean; FS Germinal intercepts a Go-Fast drug boat off Les Saints, 4-trafficers and 20kg of cannabis was seized (GOV.FR) <CORYMBE Patrol> FS Ventose (Frigate) LOCATION: Gulf of Guinea ·         NO UPDATES Med Patrol <Med Air Defense> FS Cassard (Destroyer) LOCATION: East Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES BLACK SEA PATROL FS Cmdt Birot (Frigate) FS Dupuy de Lome (Intel) LOCATION: Black Sea ·         (Sept 26) @ Black Sea; FS Cmdt Birot completes Black Sea patrol, is relieved by French intel ship FS Dupuy de Lome, is expected at home port in several days (GOV.FR) ·         (Sept 23) @ Aegean Sea; FS Cmdt Birot is en-route to Crete, refuels with HMS Wave Knight (GOV.FR) EUROMARFOR 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 ·         NO UPDATES

RUSSIA Task Forces MED. TASK FORCE RFS Vice Adm. Kulakov (DDG) (3-5) U/I LSTs LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES   Other RFS Vladivostok (LHD) ·         (Sept 25) Russia expects France to deliver the first of two assault ships this fall as scheduled (RIA) ·         (Sept 22) @ France; new French-built Assault ship returns to port following Sea Trials, will return to sea (Sept 23) to train it’s second crew (RIA)

UNITED KINGDOM – ROYAL NAVY TASK FORCES   COUGAR 2014 (Aug – Dec) FGS Schleswig-Holstein (FFG) HMS Bulwark (LPD) ·         Commander, 3 Commando ·         40 Commando HMS Ocean (LHA) ·         820 NAS RFA Lyme Bay (LSD) RFA Wave Knight (Supply) LOCATION: Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea off Albania ·          NO UPDATES   JOINT WARRIOR 14-2 (October) USS Jason Dunham (Destroyer) USS Vicksburg (Cruiser) USNS Kanawha (Supply) CPRW-11 (Patrol & Rec Wing) HMSS-46 (Naval Strike Sqdrn) HMSS-48 (Naval Strike Sqdrn) LOCATION: Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea off Albania ·         (Sept 26) @ Scotland; UK bases in Scotland prepares to host NATO naval, AF and ground units during JOINT WARRIOR 14.2 (MOD.UK) Atlantic Patrol HMS Argyll (Frigate) HMS Clyde (Patrol Ship) HMS Iron Duke (Frigate) HMS Protector (Ice Patrol) LOCATION: Atlantic and Caribbean Sea ·         (Sept 22) @ Atlantic; HMS Argyll joins USS Roosevelt CSG (Including USS Normandy and Farragut, and USNS Kanawha) during training off US eastern coast (MOD.UK) ·         (Sept 22) @ South Africa; HMS Iron Duke returns to sea following 2-week maintenance downtime at Cape Town (MOD.UK) Med Patrol HMS Enterprise (Survey) ·         NO UPDATES   <SNMG-2> HMCS Toronto (Frigate) SEE NATO TASK FORCES   Indian Ocean Patrol RFA Cardigan Bay (LSD) ·         NO UPDATES   <EU-ATALANTA> HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156) SEE UN-CMF TASK FORCE <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 Westminster (Frigate) ·         (Sept 24) @ London; UK frigate arrives in London, will be open for public tours (MOD.UK)

UNITED STATES NAVY Carrier Strike Groups USS Carl Vinson (CSG-1) USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) ·         Carrier Air Wing – 17 ·         DESRON – 1 USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) USS Gridley (DDG-101) USS Sterett (DDG-104) USS Dewey (DDG-105) LOCATION: 7th Fleet, Pacific (Heading west) ·          NO UPDATES   USS George HW Bush (CSG-2) USS GHW Bush (CVN) ·         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> ·         (Sept 23) US forces bomb ISIS (@ Raqqa) and Khorasam Group (@ Aleppo) facilities in Syria, Bush CSG ships USS Arleigh Burke launched cruise missiles from the Red Sea, USS Philippine Sea launched missiles from the Arabian Gulf, USS George Bush F/A-18s dropped bombs on targets; B-1 Bombers and drones were used as well USS George Washington <Forward-Deployed: Japan> USS George Washington (CVN-73) ·         Carrier Air Wing – 5   LOCATION: 7th Fleet, WESTPAC, Philippine Sea ·          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) ·         (Sept 22) @ Atlantic; HMS Argyll joins USS Roosevelt CSG (Including USS Normandy and Farragut, and USNS Kanawha) during training off US eastern coast (MOD.UK)   Amphibious Ready Groups   &   Command Ships USS Bataan ARG USS Bataan (LHD-5) USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19); USS Gunston Hall (LSD); 22nd MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: 5th Fleet; CENTCOM; Arabian Sea ·         (Aug 27) @ UAE; Bataan ARG visits Bradenton Prep Academy during port visit at Dubai (USN)   USS Essex ARG USS Essex (LHD-2) USS Anchorage (LPD-23) USS Rushmore (LSD-47) 15TH MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: Pacific (Training for 2015 Deployment) ·         (Sept 26) @ San Diego; ESXARG and 15th MEU are joined in combining ceremony, preparing for 2015 deployment (USN)   USS Iwo Jima ARG USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) USS New York (LPD-21) USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) 24th MEU LOCATION: Atlantic Ocean (TRAINING for future deployment) ·         (Sept  25) @ Mayport; Iwo Jima ARG arrives at their new homeport following 23-day ARG/MEU-EX certification in Atlantic (USN)   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 ·         NO UPDATES   USS Peleliu ARG USS Peleliu (LHA-5) ·         ESG-7 ·         PHIBRON-11 USS Germantown (LSD-42) 31st MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: 7th Fleet, WESTPAC, Philippine Sea ·         (Sept 27) @ Philippines; USS Peleliu ARG arrives at Subic Bay, preparing for PHIBLEX with Philippine marines (USN) ·         (Sept 23) @ Okinawa; USS Peleliu embarks ESG-7 commander and staff, recently completed AIT, and is preparing for CERTEX (USN)   EXERCISES CARAT 2014 (BANGLADESH) Task Force 73 DESRON-7 USS Safeguard (T-ARS-50) BNS Somudro Joy (Frigate) BNS Banga Bandu (Frigate) LOCATION: 7th Fleet, WESTPAC, Bay of Bengal ·         (Sept 25) @ Bangladesh; USS Safegaurd and 7th fleet command staff are at Chittagong, begin CARAT-BANGLADESH, will continue through (Sept 30) (USN) Other USS McClusky (FFG-41) ·         (Sept 26) @ San Diego; US frigate returns to homeport following 5-month deployment to 4th Fleet and Operation Martillo anti-drug patrol in Pacific and Caribbean (USN) USS Mitscher (DDG-57) ·         (Sept 22) @ Norfolk; US destroyer USS Mitscher deploys to US 5th Fleet AOR (USN)

OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS EU Naval Task Forces EUROMARFOR INDIAN OCEAN “OPERATION ATALANTA” (CTF-465) FGS Berlin (Supply) FGS Lubeck (Frigate) HNLMS Van Speijk (Frigate) HS Psara (Frigate) ITS Andrea Doria (Destroyer) SPS Navarra (Frigate) TCG Gelibolu (Frigate) LOCATION: Indian Ocean ·         (Sept 23) @ Djibouti; ITS  Andrea Doria hosts EU Naval Force Operations commander, and Chief Diplomatic Delegation of EU for tours and situation briefing (DIFESA) ·         (Sept 22) @ Germany; German frigate FGS Lubeck deploys to EU OPERATION ATALANTA from homeport Wilhelmshaven, will replace FGS Berlin (Marine.DE) ·         (Sept 18) @ Indian Ocean; ITS Andrea Doria hosts command staff from CTF-151 from Korean destroyer ROKS Munmu the Great (CMF) EUROMEDFOR MEDITERRANEAN SEA FS Montcalm (Destroyer) PS Vasco de Gama (Frigate) SPS Santa Maria (Frigate) LOCATION: E. Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES   NATO Naval Task Forces OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD (CTF-508) HDMS Esbern Snare (Frigate)   LOCATION: Gulf of Aden ·         (Sept 26) @ Gulf of Aden; NATO and Japan conducted first ever joint exercises; HDMS Esbern Snare, flagship of NATO-TF-508 and JS Takanami, of CMF-TF-151, met at sea for discussions, coordination and anti-piracy training (NATO) NATO – SNMG-1 HDMS Esbern Snare (Frigate) LOCATION: (see CTF-508) ·         NO UPDATES NATO – SNMG-2 FGS Niedersachsen (Frigate) TCG Kemalreis (Frigate) USS Leyte Gulf (CG) <GBCSG> LOCATION: Atlantic Ocean; North American Patrol ·          NO UPDATES   NATO – SNMG-2 (Unit-2) HMCS Toronto (Frigate) ROS Regele Ferdinand (Frigate) SPS Alm. Juan de Borbon (Frigate) LOCATION: Black Sea & Mediterranean Patrol ·         (Sept 26) @ Mediterranean; HMCS Toronto completes Black Sea patrol, continues patrol in eastern Mediterranean (GC.CA)   NATO – SNMCMG-1 LNS Jotvingis (MCM) <FLAG> (6-8) NATO Minehunters LOCATION: Baltic Sea ·         NO UPDATES   NATO – SNMCMG-2 ITS Aviere (Frigate) <FLAG> (6) NATO Minehunters   LOCATION: Mediterranean “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR” Patrol ·         NO UPDATES     MINEX  (8) NATO Minehunters LOCATION: Mediterranean Sea ·         (Sept 11-22) @ Spain; NATO MINEX 2014 anti-mine warfare exercise is hosted by Spain off Cartagena; 8-Minehunters participate in exercise, including 4 from France; exercise includes refueling, live fire, securing maritime approaches and evacuations; FS Var provided FRMARFOR helicopters and fuel (GOV.FR) UN CMF Task Force (CTF-150) (UNSC-1368, 1373) U/I Pakistani Warship <FLAG> FS Courbet (Frigate) HMS Northumberland (Frigate) HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156) RFA Fort Austin (Supply) LOCATION: Indian Ocean ·         (Sept 22) @ Indian Ocean; HMAS Toowoomba intercepts a dhow off Somalia after a 4-day chase, and seized $280 million of hashish (CMF)   CMF Task Force (CTF-151) HMS Defender (Destroyer) JS Samadare (Destroyer) JS Takanami (Destroyer) ROKS Munmu The Great (Destroyer) LOCATION: Gulf of Aden & Arabian Gulf ·         (Sept 18) @ Indian Ocean; ITS Andrea Doria hosts command staff from CTF-151 from Korean destroyer ROKS Munmu the Great (CMF)   SYRIAN WMD (UNSC-2118) FGS Hamburg (Frigate) FGS Schleswig-Holstein (Frigate) USNS Cape Ray U/I Denmark Ship LOCATION: Mediterranean Sea ·         NO UPDATES   Other JAPAN JS Hatakaze (Destroyer) BRP Ramon Alcaraz (Frigate) ·         (Sept 25) @ S. China Sea; Japanese destroyer JS Hatakaze conducts PASSEX with Philippine frigate BRP Ramon Alcsrez off Palawan Province; Hatakaze recently departed Singapore following participation in KAKADU 2014 with  Australia (People's Daily) SPAIN SPS Canarias (Frigate) ·         (Sept 15-22) @ Atlantic; Spanish frigate SPS Canarias participates in naval training exercise MAES-14 with Morocco, concluding at Casablanca (Armada)

AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA   ·         NO UPDATES   FRANCE   ·         NO UPDATES   RUSSIA VOSTOK 2014 (Sept 19-25) ·         (Sept 26) @ VOSTOK 2014; Russian troops complete major war-game in Far East, begin returning to bases (RIA) ·         (Sept 23) @ VOSTOK 2014; Russian troops conduct Arctic training using Iskander (SRBM) and Pantsir-S AAA systems (RIA) ·         (Sept 23) @ VOSTOK 2014; Russian S-300PS anti-aircraft missile division conduct live-fire drills (RIA) ·         (Sept 23) @ VOSTOK 2014; Russian armor unis conduct maneuvering exercises on Kamchatka during major Far East exercises (RIA) ·         @ VOSTOK 2014; Russian AF fighters practice landing on highways during major Far East exercises (RIA) UKRAINE     ·         (Sept 24) Ukrainian and Rebel forces withdraw heavy weapons from front lines, OSCE monitors withdrawal (RIA) UNITED KINGDOM IRAQ ·         (Sept 27) @ Cyprus; UK-RAF (6-Tornado GR4) fighters stationed in Cyprus begin recon and bombing missions against ISIS positions in Iraq, 1-day after approving action in London (RIA) ·         (Sept 24) @ UAE; Australian RAAF fighters and support staff arrive at UAE, prepping for anti-ISIS operations (RIA)   UNITED STATES   CENTCOM – IRAQ / SYRIA ·         (Sept 24) Netherlands contributes (6) F-16 fighters to US-led campaign against ISIS for 1-year, the first phase of the operation (RIA) ·         (Sept 23) US forces bomb ISIS (@ Raqqa) and Khorasam Group (@ Aleppo) facilities in Syria, Bush CSG ships USS Arleigh Burke launched cruise missiles from the Red Sea, USS Philippine Sea launched missiles from the Arabian Gulf, USS George Bush F/A-18s dropped bombs on targets; B-1 Bombers and drones were used as well ·         (Sept 22) Iraqi Army Camp Saqlawiyah is siege for a week, hit with suicide bomb vehicles and collapses under ISIS attack, hundreds missing, killed or captured (Washington Post)