Oct 12-18 Weekly News & Log Updates

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE Oct 12 – 18

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: Indian Ocean (Returning Home) ·         NO UPDATES 18th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Changbaishan (LPD) PLAN Yuncheng (Frigate) PLAN Chaohu (Supply) LOCATION: Gulf of Aden (Anti-Piracy Patrols / Commercial Shipping Escorts) ·         (Oct 17) @ Indian Ocean; PLAN Changbaishan and Yunchen conduct air defense exercise off Somalia (People's Daily) ·         (Oct 14) @ Gulf of Aden; PLAN Changbaishan and Chaohu conduct replenishment at sea operation during anti-piracy patrols (People's Daily) ·         (Oct 13) @ Gulf of Aden; Task Force conducts Helicopter training for anti-piracy emergency situations (pic)( People's Daily) Other PLAN Quanzhou (Frigate) ·         (Oct 15) @ E. China Sea; newly commissioned Chinese frigate conducts training and sea trials, assigned to the E. China Sea Fleet (People's Daily)

FRANCE Task Forces     Atlantic Patrols <Forward-Deployed> FS Dumont d’Urville (LST) FS Germinal (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ Martinique Island; Caribbean Sea ·         (Oct 10-11) @ Caribbean; FS Germinal intercepts Go-Fast off peninsula of La Gajra, assisted by Colombian frigate Caldas, captures 595kg of cocaine (GOV.FR)   <CORYMBE Patrol> FS Ventose (Frigate) LOCATION: Gulf of Guinea ·          NO UPDATES Med Patrol <Med Air Defense> FS Cassard (Destroyer) FS Courbet (Frigate) LOCATION: East Mediterranean ·         (Oct 12) @ Suez Canal; FS Courbet transits canal, exits CTF-151 after 2-month patrol, resume E. Mediterranean patrol (GOV.FR) BLACK SEA PATROL FS Dupuy de Lome (Intel) LOCATION: Black Sea ·         NO UPDATES EUROMARFOR FS Montcalm (Destroyer) SEE EU TASK FORCES   Indian Ocean <Forward-Deployed> FS Floreal (Frigate) FS Nivose (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ Reunion Island; Indian Ocean ·         (Oct 6) @ Mozambique Channel; FS Floreal intercepts South Africa catamaran in territorial waters of Bassas de India fishing illegally (GOV.FR) <Op. CHAMMAL> FS Jean Bart (Destroyer)   LOCATION: <IRAQ-ISIS OPERATIONS> Arabian Gulf; Indian Ocean ·          NO UPDATES Pacific Patrols <Forward-Deployed> FS Prairial (Frigate) FS Vendemiaire (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ New Caledonia & Tahiti Island; Pacific Ocean ·         NO UPDATES   Other FS Dixmude (LHD) ·         (Oct 10) @ Belgium; French assault ship visits Zeebrugge to commemorate the WWI battle of Dixmude (GOV.FR)

RUSSIA Task Forces MED. TASK FORCE RFS Vice Adm. Kulakov (DDG) (3-5) U/I LSTs LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES   Other ·         NO UPDATES

UNITED KINGDOM – ROYAL NAVY TASK FORCES   COUGAR 2014 (Aug – Dec) HMS Bulwark (LPD) ·         Commander, 3 Commando ·         40 Commando HMS Ocean (LHA) ·         820 NAS RFA Lyme Bay (LSD) RFA Wave Ruler (Supply) FGS Schleswig-Holstein (FFG) <see CTF-150> HMS Northumberland (FFG) LOCATION: Arabian Sea ·         (Oct 17) @ Oman; HMS Northumberland visits Muscat (MOD.UK)   JOINT WARRIOR 14-2 (October) ---UK-Royal Navy--- HMS Blyth (MCM) HMS Brocklesby (MCM) HMS Duncan (Destroyer) HMS Middleton (MCM) HMS Pembroke (MCM) Hawk Fighters (FAA) 3 Commando, Royal Marines ---FRANCE--- FS Latouche-Treville (Destroyer) ---NATO--- SNMCMG-1 SPS Cristobal Colon (Frigate) ---US Navy--- 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: North Sea, off Scotland ·         (Oct 17) @ Ireland; SNMCMG-1 arrives at Belfast for scheduled visit following participation in JOINT WARRIOR (NATO) ·         (Oct 14) @ Outer Hebrides; HMS Duncan conducts first missile test (MOD.UK) ·         (Oct 14) @ North Sea; FS Latouche-Treville participates in JOINT WARRIOR 2014, conducts artillery exercises against ground targets in Scotland (GOV.FR) Atlantic Patrol HMS Argyll (Frigate) HMS Iron Duke (Frigate) HMS Protector (Ice Patrol) RFA Argus (Hospital) LOCATION: Atlantic and Caribbean Sea ·         (Oct 17) @ Falmouth; RFA Argus deploys to Serra Leone with Merlin Mk.2 helicopters from 820 NAS, will transport medical teams and assist experts in fighting the Ebola crisis for 6-months (GOV.UK) ·         (Oct 15) @ Fallon, UK; UK DEFSEC visits RFA Argus, preparing to set sail for Sierra Leone In response to the Ebola crisis (MOD.UK) Med Patrol HMS Enterprise (Survey) ·         NO UPDATES <SNMG-2> HMCS Toronto (Frigate) SEE NATO TASK FORCES   Indian Ocean Patrol HMS Defender (Destroyer) RFA Cardigan Bay (LSD) ·         NO UPDATES   <EU-ATALANTA>   SEE UN-CMF TASK FORCE <CMF-CTF-150> HMS Northumberland (FFG) HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156) SEE UN-CMF TASK FORCES SEE COUGAR 2014   Other HMS St. Albans (Frigate) ·         (Oct 14) @ English Channel; UK frigate joined by Merlin Mk.2 from 829 NAS for 3-days of training (MOD.UK)

UNITED STATES NAVY Carrier Strike Groups USS Carl Vinson (CSG-1) Commander, DESRON – 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: <IRAQ OPERATIONS> 5th Fleet, CENTCOM, Arabian Gulf ·         (Oct 17) @ Arabian Gulf; CSG transits Straits of Hormuz, begin operations vs. ISIS (Times of San Diego) ·         (Oct 15) @ Indian Ocean; Vinson CSG arrives in 5th Fleet AOR, preparing to relieve Bush CSG (USN)     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: <RETURNING> 5th Fleet, CENTCOM, Arabian Gulf ·          (Oct 17) @ Norfolk; USS Arleigh Burke returns to home port following 8-month deployment to 5th & 6th Fleet (USN) ·         (Oct 9) @ Bahrain; USS GHW Bush departs Manama (USN) USS George Washington (CSG-5) <Forward-Deployed: Japan> Commander, CSG-5 USS George Washington (CVN-73) ·         Carrier Air Wing – 5 USS Antietam (CG-54) LOCATION: 7th Fleet, WESTPAC, Philippine Sea ·         NO UPDATES USS Theodore Roosevelt (CSG-12) Commander, CSG-12 Commander, DESRON-2 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: <TRAINING> Atlantic @ Norfolk (2015 Deployment) ·          NO UPDATES Amphibious Ready Groups   &   Command Ships USS Mt. Whitney 6th Fleet Command Ship USS Mt. Whitney (LCC-20) LOCATION: 6th Fleet; Black Sea ·         (Oct 18) @ Georgia; US command ship departs Batumi following 4-day visit; included social visits and joint training with Georgian Coast Guard (Marine link) USS Bataan ARG USS Bataan (LHD-5) USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19); USS Gunston Hall (LSD); 22nd MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: <RETURNING> 6th Fleet; Mediterranean Sea ·         (Oct 14) @ Italy; USS Bataan departs Naples following scheduled port visit (USN)   USS Essex ARG USS Essex (LHD-2) USS Anchorage (LPD-23) USS Rushmore (LSD-47) 15TH MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: <TRAINING> Pacific @ San Diego (2015 Deployment) ·         NO UPDATES   USS Iwo Jima ARG USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) USS New York (LPD-21) USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) 24th MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: <TRAINING> Atlantic @ Mayport (Future Deployment) ·         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: <IRAQ OPERATIONS> 5th Fleet; Arabian Gulf ·         (Oct 14) @ Arabian Gulf; USS Makin Island celebrates Hispanic Heritage month, ARG is currently deployed to CENTCOM in support of operations vs. ISIS (USN) USS Peleliu ARG (PEL-ESG) Commander, ESG-7 Commander, PHIBRON-11 USS Peleliu (LHA-5) USS Germantown (LSD-42) 31st MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) LOCATION: 7th Fleet,  S. China Sea ·         (Oct 15) ARG is cleared to leave port, but USS Peleliu is ordered to stay, a Marine onboard is suspected of killing a transgender Filipino (MSN)   EXERCISES   TGEX (Oct 20-31) ---US Navy--- Commander, US 3rd Fleet Commander, CSG-11 Commander, DESRON-23 Commander, CVW-11 USS Chosin (Cruiser) USS Fort Worth (Littoral) USS Freedom (Littoral) USS Kidd (Destroyer) USS Lake Champlain (Cruiser) USS Milius (Destroyer) USS Nimitz (Carrier) USS Paul Hamilton (Destroyer) USS Pinkney (Destroyer) USS William P Lawrence (Destroyer) U/I US Sub ---Royal Canadian Navy--- HMCS Brandon (Coastal) HMCS Calgary (Frigate) HMCS Yellowknife (Coastal) HMCS Winnipeg (Frigate) ---Japanese Navy--- JS Teruzuki (Destroyer) LOCATION: Pacific near San Francisco ·         (Oct 18) @ Pacific; US, Canadian and Japanese naval forces prepare to participate in TGEX-2014 (Oct 20-31) (Ottawacitizen) Other  USS America (LHA-6) ·         (Oct 13) @ San Francisco; Fleet Week 2014 concludes, included USS America, Chosin and Kidd (USN) USS Barry, Benfold & Milius (Destroyers) ·         (Oct 16) @ Pearl Harbor; US Navy announces BMD capable destroyers Benfold and Milius will forward deploy to Yokosuka, Japan; USS Barry will haul-swap with Lassen (USN)

OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS EU Naval Task Forces EUROMARFOR INDIAN OCEAN “OPERATION ATALANTA” (CTF-465) FGS Lubeck (Frigate) HNLMS Van Speijk (Frigate) HS Psara (Frigate) ITS Andrea Doria (Destroyer)[FLAG] SPS Navarra (Frigate) TCG Gelibolu (Frigate) LOCATION: Arabian Sea ·         (Oct 8) @ Gulf of Aden; ATALANTA commander onboard ITS Andrea Doria visits FGS Lubeck, discuss current situation of anti-piracy patrol (bundeswehr.de) 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: Arabian Sea ·         (Oct 12-13) @ Somali Basin; HDMS Esbern Snare conducts training of Somali Coast Guardsmen in counter-piracy operations (NATO) NATO – SNMG-1 HDMS Esbern Snare (Frigate) LOCATION: (see CTF-508) ·         See OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD NATO – SNMG-2 FGS Niedersachsen (Frigate) HMCS Toronto (Frigate) SPS Alm. Juan de Borbon (Frigate) TCG Kemalreis (Frigate) USS Leyte Gulf (CG) <GBCSG> LOCATION: Mediterranean ·          (Oct 13-26) @ Atlantic; SNMG-2 ships participate in exercise NOBLE JUSTIFICATION in E. Atlantic and Mediterranean as part of Operation Reassurance in response to Russian aggression (GC.CA) NATO – SNMG-2 (Unit-2) SPS Reina Sophia (Frigate) LOCATION: Black Sea & Mediterranean Patrol ·         (Oct 15) @ Spain; SPS Reina Sophia deploys to E. Mediterranean, planning to visit Aksaz, Anatalya and Alexandria, and participate in NOBLE MARINER and MABI-VALINA (Armada) NATO – SNMCMG-1 LNS Jotvingis (MCM) <FLAG> (6-8) NATO Minehunters LOCATION: Irish Sea ·          (Oct 17) @ Ireland; Task Force arrives at Belfast for scheduled visit following participation in JOINT WARRIOR (NATO) NATO – SNMCMG-2 ITS Aviere (Frigate) <FLAG> (6) NATO Minehunters LOCATION: Mediterranean “ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR” Patrol ·         NO UPDATES   UN CMF Task Force (CTF-150) (UNSC-1368, 1373) U/I Pakistani Warship <FLAG> HMS Northumberland (Frigate) HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156) RFA Fort Austin (Supply) LOCATION: Indian Ocean ·          NO UPDATES CMF Task Force (CTF-151) FS Courbet (Frigate) JS Samadare (Destroyer) JS Takanami (Destroyer) ROKS Munmu The Great (Destroyer)   LOCATION: Gulf of Aden & Arabian Sea ·         (Oct 12) @ Suez Canal; FS Courbet transits canal, exits CTF-151 after 2-month patrol, resume E. Mediterranean patrol (GOV.FR) ·         (Oct 9) @ Gulf of Aden; JS Takanami assists drifting dhow, towing it to safety in Yemen (CMF) Other   ITALY ITS G. Garibaldi (Carrier) ·         (Oct 15) @ Taranto; Italy; ITS Garibaldi transited the Revolving Bridge into the great sea, begin next phase of modernization and maintenance until (Mar, 2015) (DIFESA)

AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA CHINA ·         (Oct 13) @ Shenyang Military District; Mechanized Infantry Regiment and aviation unit conduct airborne combat exercises (Picks)( People's Daily) ·         (Oct 13) @ Guangzhou Military Region; PLA Army Aviation Brigade conducts combat drills with new Z-10 attack helicopters (People's Daily)     FRANCE   Op. Sangaris: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC ·         (Oct 17) Weekly Update (GOV.FR) o    (10) @ Dekoa French forces killed several rebels firing in city o    (9) @ Bossangoa, French forces transfer security authority for the western region of the country to MINUSCA, French army is now focusing its efforts around Bangui, the central corridor and the Sobut-Dekoa-Bambari triangle o    (7-11) rebels launched large number of attacks against UN and security forces in capital, several rebels were killed and order was restored Op. Chammal: IRAQ ·         NO UPDATES Op. BAL: MALI-NIGER-CHAD ·         (Oct 16) Weekly Update (GOV.FR) o    (12) @ N’Djamena; 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment succeeded 4th Hunter Regiment in GTD-E (Battlegroup Desert-East) o    (9-10) French force ambush AQIM convoy in north Mali, seize 2-tons of weapons, including anti-armor missiles o    (4-11) @ Aquelhok French DLAO-5 conduct 4-patrols with Chadian MINUSMA forces RUSSIA   ·         NO UPDATES UNITED KINGDOM IRAQ ·         (Oct 16) MOD says RAF will deploy Reaper drones to Iraq, will provide intel support to allies and Iraqi forces, wil operate from Cyprus  (GOV.FR)     UNITED STATES   AFRICOM - LIBERIA   ·         (Oct 15) @ Liberia; US AFRICOM commander visits Monrovia, briefs troops and pentagon contractors on mission; new hospital for infected workers has been completed; first of 17 treatment centers is almost completed; currently 540-troops / civilians are in Liberia (Defense News) CENTCOM – IRAQ / SYRIA   ·         (Oct 16) US launches 14 airstrikes vs. ISIS in Syria around Kobani; ISIS offensive vs. Kurds stalls; ISIS forces occupy 50% of Konami (RIA)