Oct 5-11 Weekly News & Log Update

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE Oct 05 – 11

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) LOCATION: Gulf of Aden (Anti-Piracy Patrols / Commercial Shipping Escorts) ·         (Oct 4) @ Gulf of Aden; Task Force continues escort missions (People's Daily)   Other NO UPDATES

FRANCE Task Forces CATAMARAN 2014 ---Carrier Group--- FS Charles de Gaulle (Carrier) ·         Air Wing FS Chevalier Paul (Destroyer) FS Meuse (Support) FS Montvale (Destroyer) FS Surcouf (Frigate) FS Var (Support) UI attack submarine Atlantic 2 maritime patrol ---Amphibious Group--- FS Mistral (Assault Ship) FS Sirocco (Landing Ship) FS Tonnerre (Assault Ship) ---Mine Warfare Group--- FS Thesis (Exp. MCM) (3)-MCM (2)-Clearance diver ships ·         (Oct 13-26) @ W. Mediterranean; French Navy conducts major Amphibious exercise CATAMARAN 2014, includes carrier group, Amphibious group and mine warfare group, 9th Marine Infantry Brigade, and elements of 1st Logistic Brigade and included Italian and Slovenian divers (GOV.FR)   Atlantic Patrols <Forward-Deployed> FS Dumont d’Urville (LST) FS Germinal (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ Martinique Island; Caribbean Sea ·         NO UPDATES   <CORYMBE Patrol> FS Ventose (Frigate) LOCATION: Gulf of Guinea ·         (Sept 29) @ Gabon; FS Ventose rendezvous with MV Bourbon Liberty 110 following port visit at Port Gentil, conduct anti-piracy training with Bourbon crew (GOV.FR)   Med Patrol <Med Air Defense> FS Cassard (Destroyer) LOCATION: East Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES 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 ·         NO UPDATES                                                                                                    <Op. CHAMMAL> FS Jean Bart (Destroyer) LOCATION: Arabian Gulf; Indian Ocean ·         (Oct 6) @ Toulon; FS Jean Bart deploys to Arabian Gulf to support operations in Iraq (GOV.FR)   <CMF-CTF-151> 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 Aquitaine (Destroyer) ·         (Oct 6) @ UK; French destroyer visits Portsmouth , UK First Sea Lord tours ship (GOV.FR)

RUSSIA Task Forces MED. TASK FORCE RFS Vice Adm. Kulakov (DDG) (3-5) U/I LSTs LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES   Other RFS Vladivostok (LHD) ·         (Oct 10) France postpones delivery of assault ship, the contract specifies a delivery date of Oct 30-31 (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 Ruler (Supply) <see CTF-150> HMS Northumberland (FFG) <see CTF-151> FS Courbet (Frigate) LOCATION: Red Sea, Heading to Arabian Sea ·         NO UPDATES   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 ---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 8) Exercise JOINT WARRIOR begins off Scotland, includes HMS Duncan and minehunters, NATO-SNMCMG-1, Spanish frigate SPS C. Colon, US cruiser USS Vicksburg and destroyer USS Jason Dunham (MOD.UK)   Atlantic Patrol HMS Argyll (Frigate) HMS Clyde (Patrol Ship) HMS Iron Duke (Frigate) HMS Protector (Ice Patrol) RFA Argus (Hospital)   LOCATION: Atlantic and Caribbean Sea ·         (Oct 9) RFA Argus is tasked by MOD to join the fight against Ebola in west Africa, will deploy to Sierra Leone with elements of 820 NAS (MOD.UK) ·         (Oct 8) @ S. Georgia Island; HMS Iron Duke and Protector rendezvous at Grytviken, S. Georgia Island (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) RFA Fort Austin (Supply) SEE UN-CMF TASK FORCES   Other HMS Ambush (Attack Sub) ·         (Oct 10) @ HMNB Clyde; New UK attack sub returns from maiden Atlantic deployment (MOD.UK) HMS Artful (Attack Sub) ·         (Oct 8) @ Barrow; New UK attack sub is conducting sea trials, performs maiden dive at Ramadan Dock (MOD.UK) HMS Astute (Attack Sub) ·         (Oct 9) @ HMNB Clyde; UK attack sub returns home following 8-month maiden deployment (MOD.UK) HMS Echo (Survey Ship) ·         (Oct 9) @ Monaco; UK survey ship visits Monaco, participates in 5th annual International Hydrographic Conference, representing UK Hydrographic Office (MOD.UK) HMS Sutherland (Frigate) ·         (Oct 7) @ HMNB Devonport; UK frigate completes first phase of upgrade refit (MOD.UK) HMS St. Albans (Frigate) ·         (Oct 6) @ English Channel; UK frigate responds to SOS from capsized yacht during transit to Plymouth (MOD.UK) HMAS Stuart (Frigate) ·         (Oct 11) @ Singapore; Australian frigate participates in bilateral exercise SINGAROO for 4-days with Singaporean frigate RSS Tenacious (GOV.AU) HMNZS Te Kaha (Frigate) ·         (Oct 13-16) @ Wellington; New Zealand frigate returns to fleet after upgrade, visiting Wellington, will visit Albany, Australia next as part of WWI commemorations (MIL.NZ)

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: 7th Fleet, WESTPAC, En-Route to Arabian Gulf ·          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: <IRAQ OPERATIONS> 5th Fleet, CENTCOM, Arabian Gulf ·          (Oct 6) @ Bahrain; Bush CSG visits Manama for maintenance and rest (STRIPES.COM)   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 ·         (Oct 8) @ Philippine Sea; USS G. Washington conducted Fuel-at-sea with its cruiser escort USS Antietam (USN) ·         (Oct 5) @ Guam; USS G. Washington welcomes the new CSG commander during change of command ceremony at Apra Harbor (USN) ·         (Sept 22-29) @ Pacific; SEALs from Naval Special Warfare Unit 1 and Marines from MARSOC conduct maritime Interoperability training onboard USS G. Washington (USN)   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) ·         (Oct 8) @ Atlantic; USS T. Roosevelt completes 3-week TSTA and FEP (USN) ·         (Oct 4) @ Atlantic; TRCSG-12 conducts group sail (USN) ·         (Sept 16 – Oct 9) @ Atlantic; USS T. Roosevelt and CVW-1 conduct integration training (USN)   Amphibious Ready Groups   &   Command Ships USS Mt. Whitney 6th Fleet Command Ship USS Mt. Whitney (LCC-20) LOCATION: 6th Fleet; EUCOM; Black Sea ·         (Oct 11) @ Aegean Sea; US Command Ship transits into Black Sea (USN) ·         (Oct 8) @ Italy; US 6th Fleet command ship begins underway deployment, departs forward deployed home port at Gaeta, will include routine training, security operations, and cooperation events (USN)   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; EUCOM; Mediterranean Sea ·         (Oct 9) @ Croatia; USS Mesa Verde departs Split after scheduled port visit (USN) ·         (Oct 7) @ Turkey; USS Bataan departs Kusadasi after scheduled port visit (USN) ·         (Oct 7) @ Cyprus; USS Gunston Hall participates in bilateral SAREX with Cyprus (USN) ·         (Oct 7) @ Croatia; USS Mesa Verde participated in VBSS training with Croatian and Slovenian navies at Split, Croatia (USN) ·         (Oct 6) @ Croatia; USS Mesa Verde visits Split, Croatia (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; CENTCOM, Arabian Gulf ·         (Oct 5) @ Bahrain; USS Comstock departs Mina Salman Pier following 4-day visit (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, WESTPAC, Philippine Sea ·         (Oct 10) @ Philippines; PEL-ESG completes PHIBLEX with Philippine Navy and Marines at Subic Bay (CPF)   EXERCISES   CARAT 2014   Commander, Task Force 73 Commander, DESRON-7 USS Safeguard (T-ARS-50) LOCATION: 7th Fleet, WESTPAC ·         NO UPDATES TGEX (Oct 20-31) ---US Navy--- U/I Ships ---Royal Canadian Navy--- HMCS Brandon HMCS Calgary HMCS Yellowknife ---Japanese Navy--- U/I Ships LOCATION: Pacific near San Francisco ·         (Oct 9) @ Esquimalt; Canadian warships depart for San Francisco, preparing to participate in TGEX 2014 with US Navy and Japan (GC.CA) Other  USS America (LHA-6) ·         (Oct 11) @ San Francisco; US Navy’s newest assault ship is commissioned (USN) ·         (Oct 6) @ San Francisco; USS America arrives at San Francisco for commissioning ceremony (USN) USS Cole (Destroyer) ·         (Oct 10) @ Black Sea; US Navy destroyer enters Black Sea for routine exercises and operations (USN) USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) ·         (Oct 6) @ Norfolk; US Fleet Forces announces schedule change, USS Eisenhower and Truman will swap training and deployment schedules, CSG-8 and CSG-10 staff will swap ships (USN) USS Wasp (LHD-1) ·         (Sept 30) @ Norfolk; US assault ship departs drydock and returns to homeport following a yearlong DPIA maintenance phase, begins sea trials and training on newly modernized equipment, plans to deploy in 2016 (USN)

OTHER REGIONAL POWERS / ORGANIZATIONS EU Naval Task Forces EUROMARFOR INDIAN OCEAN “OPERATION ATALANTA” (CTF-465) FGS Berlin (Supply) FGS Lubeck (Frigate) –FUTURE- HNLMS Van Speijk (Frigate) HS Psara (Frigate) ITS Andrea Doria (Destroyer)[FLAG] SPS Navarra (Frigate) TCG Gelibolu (Frigate) LOCATION: Arabian Sea ·         (Oct 8) @ Djibouti; FGS Lubeck relieves FGS Berlin, begins anti-piracy patrol (Bundeswehr.de) ·         (Oct 6) @ Oman; Commanders of CTF-151, EU-Atalanta and Ocean Shield meet at Muscat onboard the HDMS Esbern Snare (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: Arabian Sea ·         (Oct 6) @ Oman; Commanders of CTF-151, EU-Atalanta and Ocean Shield meet at Muscat onboard the HDMS Esbern Snare (CMF)   NATO – SNMG-1 HDMS Esbern Snare (Frigate) LOCATION: (see CTF-508) ·         See OPERATION ATALANTA 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 ·          NO UPDATES   NATO – SNMG-2 (Unit-2) ---DISBANDED--- LOCATION: Black Sea & Mediterranean Patrol ·         NO UPDATES NATO – SNMCMG-1 LNS Jotvingis (MCM) <FLAG> (6-8) NATO Minehunters LOCATION: North Sea ·          NO UPDATES   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 ·         (Oct 1) @ UAE; HMAS Toowoomba visits Dubai, Aussie cricket team tours ship (GOV.AU)   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 6) @ Oman; Commanders of CTF-151, EU-Atalanta and Ocean Shield meet at Muscat onboard the HDMS Esbern Snare (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 Asagiri (Destroyer) JS Kashima (Training Ship) JS Setoyuki (Training Ship) ·         (Oct 13-16) @ Philippines; Japanese training task force visits Manila for 4-days (Global Nation)

AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA   ·         NO UPDATES     FRANCE   Op. Sangaris: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC ·         (Oct 9) Weekly update (GOV.FR) o    1st Infantry Regiment assumes command of GTIA @ capital o    GTIA Steel is relieved by IAPWG Pickard after 4-month deployment o    African MINUSCA forces assume security responsibility for Boda o    French forces will soon withdraw from Bossangoa, local forces have achieved an acceptable level governance and security Op. Chammal: IRAQ ·         (Oct 6) @ Toulon; FS Jean Bart deploys to Arabian Gulf to support operations in Iraq (GOV.FR)   Op. BAL: MALI-NIGER-CHAD ·         (Oct 10) @ Niger; French forces intercept armed convoy of Islamists en-route from Libya to Mali, destroy convoy and take prisoners (GOV.FR) ·         (Oct 9) GTIA-LIZA weekly update for Sahara operations (GOV.FR) o    Desert airmobile group held change of command o    516th RT assumes command of Logistics Battalion o    French Op support and liaison (DLAO-5) based in Tessalit joins Aguelhok to carry out 20 patrols in support of Mali and UN / Chad troops o    New units arrive at GAO, carry out training to acclimate to combat operations and situation, and gain familiarity with locals RUSSIA RUSSIA   ·         (Oct 10)  Russia plans to finish construction of several ABM radars (Voronezh-DM) within 5-years, with the intent of covering all of Russia (RIA)   UNITED KINGDOM IRAQ ·         (Oct 9) Australian RAAF fighters begin airstrikes vs. ISIS in Iraq (RIA) ·         (Oct 8) Canadian Parliament approves military action against ISIS in Iraq, will send CF-18 fighters (RIA)   SIERRA LEONE ·         (Oct 8) UK pledges to send 750-troops to help build Ebola treatment center and training facility, RFA Argus (Hospital Ship) to be sent to assist (RIA)       UNITED STATES   AFRICOM - LIBERIA   ·         (Oct 9) 100-Marines from USMC-MAGTF arrive in Liberia to prepare for arrival of 4,000-US Troops to support Ebola control efforts (RIA)   CENTCOM – IRAQ / SYRIA   ·         (Oct 12) In spite of US airstrikes, ISIS forces close in on Baghdad, preparing for siege of capital (FOX)   EUCOM - ROMANIA ·         (Oct 11) US Navy establishes Aegis Ashore BMD base at Deveselu, will be operational next year, uses AEGIS SPY-1 and SM-3 interceptors (RIA)