Nov 2-15 Weekly News & Log Updates

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE Nov 2– Nov 15

NAVAL & MARINE OPERATIONS

CHINA Peoples Liberation Army – Navy Task Forces 18th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Changbaishan (LPD) PLAN Yuncheng (Frigate) PLAN Chaohu (Supply) LOCATION: Gulf of Aden (Anti-Piracy Patrols / Commercial Shipping Escorts) ·         NO UPDATES Other NO UPDATES

FRANCE Atlantic Patrols <Forward-Deployed> FS Dumont d’Urville (LST) FS Germinal (Frigate) FS Ventose (Frigate) LOCATION: Based @ Martinique Island; Caribbean Sea ·         NO UPDATES <CORYMBE Patrol> FS EV Jacoubet (Frigate) LOCATION: Gulf of Guinea ·         NO UPDATES Med Patrol FS Cassard (Destroyer) FS Courbet (Frigate) FS Guepratte (Frigate) LOCATION: East Mediterranean ·         (Nov 7) @ Toulon; FS Courbet arrive at home port following deployment to Indian Ocean and E. Mediterranean, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom missions (GOV.FR) ·         (Nov 1-5) @ Crete; FS Guepratte participates in training with Greece, including air defense and anti-missile, at NATO training Center; ship is preparing to deploy (GOV.FR) BLACK SEA PATROL FS Dupuy de Lome (Intel) LOCATION: Black Sea ·         NO UPDATES 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: <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 Forbin (Destroyer) ·         (Nov 3) @ Mediterranean; FS Forbin conducts 1-week combat training, and joint train with sister-ship FS Chevalier Paul; conducted tactical communications exercise with FS Normandy (FREMM-Destroyer) during its sea trials (GOV.FR) FS Chevalier Paul (Destroyer) ·         (Nov 4-7) @ Mediterranean; French destroyer participates in air defense exercise ZOHAN off Toulon (GOV.FR)

RUSSIA Task Forces MED. TASK FORCE RFS Vice Adm. Kulakov (DDG) (3-5) U/I LSTs LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES   G20 Summit Task Force RFS Boris Butoma (Supply) RFS Fotly Krylov (Tug) RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov (DDG) RFS Varyag (Cruiser) ---FLAG--- LOCATION: Coral Sea, Pacific ·         (Nov 13) Russian task force led by RFS Varyag nears Australia, G20 summit being held in Sydney (Sputnik) ·         (Nov 13) Australian DOD confirms it’s watching Russian task force in Coral Sea (Sputnik) Other RFS Vladivostok (Assault Ship) ·         (Nov 14) Russia gives France until end of November to deliver assault ship or face legal actions (Sputnik) ·         (Nov 7) Russian Parliament suggests terminating Mistral contract for full refund (RIA) ·         (Nov 6) France says conditions for delivery of Mistral Class ships haven’t been met (RIA)

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 ·         (Nov 7) @ Gulf of Oman; HMS Bulwark less 10-ship UK task force in IMCMEX off Oman, including US destroyer USS Sterett and MCM USS Devastator and Dexterous (MOD.UK)     Atlantic Patrol HMS Argyll (Frigate) HMS Dragon (Destroyer) HMS Iron Duke (Frigate) HMS Protector (Ice Patrol) HMCS Athabaskan (Destroyer) RFA Argus (Hospital) LOCATION: Atlantic and Caribbean Sea ·         (Nov 11) @ Curacao; HMS Argyll visits Willemstad, conducts integration meetings with Dutch regional counter-narcotics headquarters (MOD.UK) Med Patrol HMS Enterprise (Survey) ·         NO UPDATES <SNMG-2> HMCS Toronto (Frigate) ·         (Nov 13) @ Mediterranean; HMCS Toronto completes NATO exercise MAVI BALINA and Turkey (GC.CA) Indian Ocean Patrol HMS Defender (Destroyer) HMS Kent (Frigate) RFA Cardigan Bay (LSD) ·         (Nov 12) @ Suez Canal; HMS Kent transits Suez Canal into Red Sea, commemorates Remembrance Day during Sunday service (MOD.UK) <CMF-CTF-150> HMS Northumberland (FFG) HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156) ·         NO UPDATES Other  NO UPDATES

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, Arabian Gulf ·         NO UPDATES, CONTINUES ISIS OPERATIONS   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> ·         (Nov 15) @ Norfolk; Bush CSG returns to homeport, ending a 9-month deployment to CNETCOM and Mediterranean, and supporting combat operations vs ISIS in Iraq and Syria (USN) ·         (Nov 4) @ Marseille; Bush CSG departs France, hosted 200 local dignitaries and the US ambassador to France (USN) USS George Washington (CSG-5) <Forward-Deployed: Japan> Commander, CSG-5 USS George Washington (CVN-73) ·         Carrier Air Wing – 5 USS Antietam (Cruiser) USS Halsey (Destroyer) LOCATION: 7th Fleet, Philippine Sea ·         (Nov 11) @ Pacific; GWCSG participates in large bi-lateral exercise KEEN SWORD-15 with Japanese forces (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) ·          NO UPDATES   Amphibious Ready Groups   &   Command Ships USS Ponce 5th Fleet Command Ship / Sea Base USS Ponce (AFSB(I))-15)   LOCATION: 5th Fleet; Arabian Gulf ·         (Nov 14) @ Arabian Gulf; US installs 30-kw prototype Laser CIWS, and has been patrolling onboard since August, if testing is successful, the Laser could be deployed fleet-wide by 2017 (Bloomberg) USS Mt. Whitney 6th Fleet Command Ship USS Mt. Whitney (LCC-20)   LOCATION: 6th Fleet; Black Sea ·          NO UPDATES 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) ·         (Oct 29 – Nov 10) @ Atlantic; IJ-ARG participates in BOLD ALIGATOR 2014, a multi-national amphibious exercise; also completing COMPTUEX in preparation for upcoming deployment (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: <IRAQ OPERATIONS> 5th Fleet; Arabian Gulf ·         NO UPDATES 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 ·         (Nov 14) @ Japan; USS Germantown completes WESTPAC patrol, returns to home port at Sasebo (USN) ·         (Nov 3) @ Singapore; USS Peleliu pulls into Singapore for the last time following participation in PHIBLEX 2015 in Philippines (USN)   EXERCISES   BOLD ALIGATOR (Oct 29 – Nov 10) USS Iwo Jima (Assault Ship) USS Kearsarge (Assault Ship) 19-Nations 8,500-Marines 17-Ships LOCATION: Atlantic near Norfolk, VA ·         (Nov 10) @ Norfolk; USS Kearsarge completes participation in BOLD ALIGATOR (USN) CARAT-Brunei Commander, DESRON-7 USS Rodney M. Davis (Frigate) KDB Darulaman   LOCATION: 7th Fleet, South China Sea ·         (Nov 10) @ Brunei; 20th CARAT-Brunei begins at Maura Naval Base (USN) ·         (Nov 9) @ Brunei; US frigate USS RM Davis arrives for CARAT-Brunei (USN) IMCMEX 2014 (Oct 27 – Nov 13) UK COUGAR 2014 Task Force RFA Cardigan Bay (Landing Ship) USS Ponce (Sea Base) 44-Nations LOCATION: Arabian Gulf near Bahrain ·         (Nov 7) @ Gulf of Oman; HMS Bulwark less 10-ship UK task force in IMCMEX off Oman, including US destroyer USS Sterett and MCM USS Devastator and Dexterous (MOD.UK) Other USS Lincoln (Carrier) ·         (Nov 3) @ Newport News; US carrier returns to water following 2-years in drydock as part of RCOH refueling and maintenance (USN) USS Michael Monsoor (Destroyer) ·         (Nov 14) @ Bath, Maine; deckhouse of new Zumwalt Class destroyer (DDG-1001) is lifted and integrated; Ship is currently 79% complete, will be delivered in 2017 (USN) USS Nimitz (Carrier) ·         (Nov 13) @ San Diego; new F-35C completes first night flight operations onboard USS Nimitz off San Diego (USN) ·         (Nov 6) @ San Diego; US carrier conducts flight deck trials with new F-35C, which is planned to be operational in 2018 (USN) USS Simpson (Frigate) ·         (Nov 14) @ Mayport; US frigate departs home port for final deployment to 6th Fleet AOR (USN) USS Stennis (Carrier) ·         (Nov 5) @ Bremerton; US carrier completes yard period, completes 6-day sea trials, is ready to return to sea (USN) ·         USS Truman (Carrier) ·         (Nov 5) @ Norfolk; US carrier enters Norfolk Naval Shipyard to begin Carrier Incremental Availability maintenance period (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 ·         (Nov 5) @ Indian Ocean; FGS Lubeck welcomes commander of Japanese 6th Escort Division and captain from JS Takanami; conducted cross-deck with SPS Navarra day before (bundeswehr.de)   NATO Naval Task Forces OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD (CTF-508) HDMS Esbern Snare (Frigate)   LOCATION: Arabian Sea ·         NO UPDATES NATO – SNMG-2 FGS Niedersachsen (Frigate) HMCS Toronto (Frigate) TCG Kemalreis (Frigate) USS Leyte Gulf (CG) <GBCSG> LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         NO UPDATES NATO – SNMG-2 (Unit-2) SPS Alm. Juan de Borbon (Frigate) SPS Reina Sophia (Frigate) LOCATION: Black Sea & Mediterranean Patrol ·         NO UPDATES   NATO – SNMCMG-1 LNS Jotvingis (MCM) <FLAG> (6-8) NATO Minehunters LOCATION: English Channel ·          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 ·          NO UPDATES CMF Task Force (CTF-151) JS Samadare (Destroyer) JS Takanami (Destroyer) ROKS Munmu The Great (Destroyer) TCG Gemlik LOCATION: Gulf of Aden & Arabian Sea ·         ( (Nov 5) @ Indian Ocean; FGS Lubeck welcomes commander of Japanese 6th Escort Division and captain from JS Takanami (bundeswehr.de)   Other ITALY ITS Cavour (Carrier) ·         (Nov 12-14) @ Italy; ITS Cavour docks at Ortona for 3-days, is open for tours (DIFESA)

AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA CHINA ·         NO UPDATES FRANCE Op. Sangaris: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC ·         NO UPDATES Op. Chammal: IRAQ ·         NO UPDATES Op. BAL: MALI-NIGER-CHAD ·         NO UPDATES RUSSIA ARMENIA (Nov 12) @ Karabahk; An Armenian-Karabahk Mi-24 attack helicopter on a training mission along the demarcation line is shot down by Azerbaijan forces (SPUTNIK) UKRAINE (Nov 7) Russia says NATO allegations of Russian units towards Ukrainian border are false (RIA) UNITED KINGDOM IRAQ ·         NO UPDATES UNITED STATES AFRICOM - LIBERIA   ·         NO UPDATES CENTCOM – IRAQ / SYRIA   ·         NO UPDATES PACOM - JAPAN ·         NO UPDATES