Oct 4-10 Weekly News & Log Updates

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE Oct 04 – Oct 10

NAVAL & MARINE OPERATIONS

CHINA Peoples Liberation Army – Navy Task Forces PLAN Liaoning CSG PLAN Liaoning (Carrier) PLAN U/I Destroyer J-15 Fighters Z-18F Anti-Sub Helicopters Z-18J AEW Helicopters   STATUS: Mediterranean Sea <SYRIA OPERATIONS> ·         (Oct 10) Chinese carrier conducted flight deck certifications recently with J-15 fighters (pics) (http://en.people.cn/n/2015/1010/c98649-8960296.html) 20th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Jinan (Destroyer) PLAN Yiyang (Frigate) PLAN Qiandaohu (Supply) STATUS: Baltic Sea (European Tour) ·          (Oct 7) @ Poland; ETF visits Gdynia, first visit of Poland by Chinese PLAN, conducts tours and media vistis (http://navaltoday.com/2015/10/09/chinese-warships-in-first-ever-visit-to-poland/) 21st ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Liuzhou (Frigate) PLAN Sanya (Frigate) PLAN Qianghaihu (Supply) STATUS: Indian Ocean (Anti-Piracy & Shipping Escort Patrols) ·          NO UPDATES PEACE & FREEDOM 2015 Task Force PLAN Peace Ark (Hospital) PLAN U/I (Destroyer) PLAN U/I (Frigate) STATUS: Pacific Ocean ·         (Oct 8) @ Australia; PLAN Peace Ark visits Brisbane (http://www.ecns.cn/visual/hd/2015/10-08/77942.shtml) Zhenghe Training Cruise PLAN Zhenghe (Training Frigate) STATUS: Pacific Ocean (PLAN Officer Training Cruise) ·         NO UPDATES Other ·         NO UPDATES

FRANCE Atlantic <CARIBBEAN Patrol> FS Ventose (Frigate) <CORYMBE Patrol> FS Germinal (Frigate) <BALTIC Patrol> FS Cmdt Blaison (Frigate) ·         (Sep 30) @ Caribbean; FS Ventose tracks and intercepts a go-fast boat carrying drugs (http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/a-la-une/antilles-la-fs-ventose-saisit-1-6-tonnes-de-drogue-en-deux-interceptions) ·         (Sep 18-24) @ Angola; FS Germinal visits Luanda following visit by French President Hollande, hosted Angolan Naval cadets (http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actu-marine/corymbe-relache-operationnelle-du-germinal-en-angola) Med <Med Refugee Patrol> FS Cmdt Bouan (Frigate) ·         NO UPDATES Indian Ocean FS Cassard (Destroyer) FS Floreal (Frigate) FS Var (Tanker) ·         NO UPDATES Pacific <PACIFIC PATROL> FS Vendemiaire (Frigate)   ·         NO UPDATES Other Russian Mistrals (LHD-Assault Ship) ·         (Oct 10) France and Egypt sign agreement to sell Mistral assault ships (http://sputniknews.com/politics/20151010/1028317412/egypt-buys-french-mistrals-built-for-russia.html)

RUSSIA Task Forces MED. TASK FORCE RFS Epron (Rescue) RFS Moskva (Cruiser) RFS Saratov (LST) RFS Smetlivy (Destroyer) RFS SSV-201 (Intel) 2-4 LSTs 5-Warships 3-Supply Ships LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         (Oct 2) Moscow confirms deployment of RFS Moskva (heavy cruiser) to Syria, acts to create air defense zone over western Syria, imposing de-facto no-fly zone for Israel and Allies fighting ISIS (http://www.debka.com/article/24929/With-Russia’s-Dep-Army-Chief-due-in-Israel-Moscow-posts-64-S-300-ship-to-air-missiles-off-Syria-N-Israel) Other ·         NO UPDATES

UNITED KINGDOM – ROYAL NAVY TASK FORCES JOINT WARRIOR NATO 30-warships, 12-nations SPS Alm. Juan de Borbon NATO-SNMG-1   STATUS: North Sea (NATO Joint Exercise) ·         (Oct 6) @ UK; NATO naval group SNMG-1 participates in NATO Ex JOINT WARRIOR north of Scotland during sea-phase (http://www.mc.nato.int/PressReleases/Pages/Standing-NATO-Maritime-Group-1-Participates-in-JOINT-WARRIOR-15-2.aspx) COUGAR 15 HMS Bulwark (LPD) HMS Ocean (Assault Ship) 45 Commando ·           STATUS: Atlantic Ocean ·         (Oct 7) @ France; HMS Ocean arrives at Toulon, preparing for Exercise CORICAN LION (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/07/151007-ocean-arrives-in-toulon) ·         (Oct 5) @ Mediterranean; USMC MV-22 Ospreys land on HMS Ocean preparing for Ex TRIDENT JUNCTURE (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/05/151005-osprey-on-ocean) Atlantic Patrol HMS Iron Duke (Frigate) HMS Lancaster (Frigate) RFA Gold Rover (Tanker) RFA Lyme Bay (LSD) ·         (Oct 7) @ Bahamas; RFA Lyme Bay helps evacuate inhabitants of Crooked Island and provide humanitarian relief to Nassau due to Hurricane Joaquin (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/07/151007-lyme-bay-helps-evacuate-bahamas-island) Med Patrol HMS Enterprise (Survey) ·         NO UPDATES Indian Ocean Patrol HMS Duncan (Destroyer) HMS Richmond (Frigate) RFA Fort Victoria (Fleet Tanker) ·         (Oct 7) @ India; HMS Richmond visits Goa, conducts joint training with INS Betwa (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/07/151007-hms-richmond-trains-with-indian-navy) Other HMS Queen Elizabeth (Carrier) ·         (Oct 6) @ Portsmouth; 3D Artisan radar array placed aboard UK’s newest carrier (vid)( http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/october/06/151006-queen-elizabeth-radar)

UNITED STATES NAVY Carrier Strike Groups USS Theodore Roosevelt   (TRCSG-12) CVN-71 – USS T. Roosevelt CG-60 – USS Normandy DDG-81 – USS W. Churchill DDG-98 – USS Forrest Sherman DDG-99 – USS Farragut STATUS: Arabian Gulf (CENTCOM DEPLOYMENT) ·         (Oct 9) Arabian Sea; CSG exits Gulf, ceases air operations in Iraq & Syria (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-bombs-syria-u-s-pulls-aircraft-carrier-out-persian-n440731) ·         (Oct 8) USA, India and Japan preparing for trilateral exercise MALBAR in Bay of Bengal (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/uss-theodore-roosevelt-to-participate-in-india-japan-us-exercise-10-facts-about-the-aircraft-carrier/articleshow/49272138.cms) USS George Washington CSG-9 Commander, CSG – 9 Commander, DESRON-23 CVN-73 – USS G. Washington DDG-74 – USS McFaul DDG-90 – USS Chafee T-AO-198 – USNS Big Horn T-AO-200 – USNS Guadalupe Ø  CVW – 2 STATUS: Pacific Ocean, 4th Fleet <HOMEPORT TRANSFER CRUISE> <SOUTHERN SEAS 2015 / UNITAS> ·         (Oct 3) @ Peru; US carrier arrives at Lima, conducts COMREL projects and hosts guests (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91414) ·         (Sep 30 – Oct 3) @ Pacific; US carrier CSG and Peruvian Navy / AF conduct bilateral exercises (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91411) USS Harry S. Truman CSG-4 Commander, CSG – 4 Commander, DESRON – 28 CVN-75 – USS Harry S Truman CG-68 – USS Anzio  DDG-61 – USS Ramage DDG-66 – USS Gonzalez DDG-84 – USS Bulkney DDG-107 – USS Gravely Ø  CVW – 7 STATUS: Atlantic Ocean, 2nd Fleet (Training) <PREPARING TO DEPLOY> ·         NO UPDATES USS Eisenhower CSG-10 Commander, CSG – 10 CVN-69 – USS D. Eisenhower Ø  CVW – 3 STATUS: Atlantic Ocean, 2nd Fleet (Training) <CERTIFICATIONS> ·         (Oct 5) @ Atlantic; F-35C conducts development tests onboard (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91359) USS Ronald Reagan   CVN-76 – USS Ronald Reagan Ø  CVW-5 STATUS: Pacific Ocean, 7th Fleet, (Forward-Deployed) <HOMEPORT TRANSFER CRUISE> ·         NO UPDATES Amphibious Ready Groups   &   Command Ships USS Essex ARG LHD-2 – USS Essex LPD-23 – USS Anchorage LSD-47 – USS Rushmore Ø  15th MEU STATUS:  Arabian Gulf (CENTCOM Deployment) <OIR STRIKE OPERATIONS> ·         NO UPDATES USS Kearsarge ARG Commander, PHIBRON – 4 LHD-3 – USS Kearsarge LPD-24 – USS Arlington LSD-51 – USS Oak Hill Ø  26th MEU STATUS:  Atlantic (EUCOM / CENTCOM Deployment) ·         (Oct 8) @ Norfolk; USS Arlington deploys (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91419) ·         (Oct 6) @ Norfolk; Kearsarge ARG deploys to US 5th and 6th Fleet (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91389) USS Wasp ARG LHD-1 – USS Wasp STATUS:  Atlantic (Training) ·         NO UPDATES TASK FORCES   CARAT-BANGLADESH Commander, DESRON-7 LCS-3 – USS Fort Worth T-ARS-50 – USNS Safeguard  STATUS:  Indian Ocean (Multinational Training Outreach) ·         (Sep 30) @ Bay of Bengal; USS Fort Worth completes first CARAT-Bangladesh exercise (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91385) SOUTHERN PARTNERSHIP 2015 JHSV-1 – USNS Spearhead     STATUS:  Caribbean (Multinational Training Outreach) ·         (Oct 9) @ Mayport; USNS Spearhead returns to US, concluding participation in SOUTHERN PARTNERSHIP 2015 (http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91442) Other ·         NO UPDATES

MAJOR REGIONAL NAVAL ACTIVITIES EU OPERATION ATALANTA Commander, Spain Flagship: SPS Victoria STATUS: INDIAN OCEAN <ACTIVE> ·         (Oct 5) @ Gulf of Aden; Spanish frigate SPS Victoria rendezvous with SPS Galicia, will assume FLAG for Operation Atalanta (http://www.armada.mde.es) NATO   SNMG-1 Commander, Portugal Flagship: NRP D.F. De Almeida STATUS: North Sea <ACTIVE> ·         (Oct 6) @ UK; NATO naval group SNMG-1 participates in NATO Ex JOINT WARRIOR north of Scotland during sea-phase (http://www.mc.nato.int/PressReleases/Pages/Standing-NATO-Maritime-Group-1-Participates-in-JOINT-WARRIOR-15-2.aspx) SNMG-2 Commander, Germany Flagship: FGS Hamburg STATUS: ATLANTIC <ACTIVE> ·         (Oct 7) @ Spain; NATO naval group arrives at Barcelona, preparing for next phase in patrol and participation in Ex TRIDENT JUNCTURE (http://www.mc.nato.int/PressReleases/Pages/Standing-NATO-Maritime-Group-TWO-arrives-in-Spain-following-support-to-NATO’s-counter-terrorism-Operation-ACTIVE-ENDEAVOUR.aspx) SNMCMG-1 Commander, Netherlands Flagship: BNS Godetia STATUS: North Sea <ACTIVE> ·         NO UPDATES SNMCMG-2 Commander, Turkey Flagship: TCG S. M. Pasa STATUS: MEDITERRANEAN <ACTIVE> ·         (Oct 7) @ Italy; NATO MCM group visited Sicily, then led SNMG-2 through mine cleared channel following maneuvering exercise (http://www.mc.nato.int/PressReleases/Pages/Standing-NATO-Maritime-Group-TWO-arrives-in-Spain-following-support-to-NATO’s-counter-terrorism-Operation-ACTIVE-ENDEAVOUR.aspx) OCEAN SHIELD Commander, Denmark Flagship: HDMS Absalon STATUS: Red Sea <ACTIVE> ·         (Oct 9) @ Gulf of Aden; HDMS Absalon conducts naval training with Colombian navy vessel Arc 7 De Agosto, including assault training with Columbian Special Forces (http://www.mc.nato.int/PressReleases/Pages/Danish-and-Colombian-Navy-vessels-exercise-at-sea-during-NATO’s-counter-piracy-Operation-OCEAN-SHIELD.aspx) UN CTF-150 Commander, Pakistan   STATUS: INDIAN OCEAN <ACTIVE> ·         (Oct 1) @ Indian Ocean; HMAS Melbourne intercepts dhow smuggling 427 kg of heroin (http://combinedmaritimeforces.com/2015/10/07/combined-maritime-forces-intercept-drug-haul/#more-5235) CTF-151 Commander, Turkey Flagship: TCG Gemlik (Frigate) STATUS: ARABIAN SEA <ACTIVE> ·         (Sep 27) @ Oman; Commander of CTF-151 visits Omani Coast Guard HQ to discuss mutual cooperation in Arabian Sea (http://combinedmaritimeforces.com/2015/10/05/commander-ctf-151-visits-oman/) CTF-152 Commander, Kuwait   STATUS: ARABIAN GULF <ACTIVE> ·         NO UPDATES TASK FORCES INDIAN WEST FLEET TASK FORCE INS Deepak (Supply) INS Delhi (Destroyer) INS Tabar (Frigate) INS Trishul (Frigate) STATUS: Arabian Gulf <1-Month Gulf Tour> ·         NO UPDATES OTHER ·         NO UPDATES

AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA NO UPDATES ·         NO UPDATES FRANCE   Op. Chammal: IRAQ-JORDAN-SYRIA ·         NO UPDATES Op. LIZA: MALI-NIGER-CHAD ·         NO UPDATES RUSSIA RUSSIA ·          NO UPDATES SYRIA ·         (Oct 7) Russian warships in Caspian Sea fire 26-cruise missiles at ISIS positions in Syria (http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-russian-airstrikes-20151007-story.html) ·         (Oct 6) Russia deploys Spetznaz units and 7th Air Assault Mountain Division to Syria (http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/russia-spetsnaz-special-forces/2015/10/05/id/694822/) ·         (Oct 4) Two airspace by Russian AF fighters into Turkey is intercepted by Turkish AF F-16’s and protested by NATO (http://www.wmur.com/politics/nato-slams-russian-violation-of-turk-airspace/35677496) UKRAINE ·         NO UPDATES UNITED KINGDOM NO UPDATES ·         NO UPDATES UNITED STATES CENTCOM: AFGHANISTAN ·         NO UPDATES CENTCOM: IRAQ / SYRIA ·         NO UPDATES CENTCOM: KUWAIT ·         NO UPDATES NATO E. EUROPE ·         (Oct 10) E. European allies plan to expand their armored vehicle fleets in light of Russia’s aggressive stance (http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense-news/2015/10/10/eyeing-russia-e-european-allies-expand-armored-vehicle-fleets/73410112/) ·         (Oct 9) Latvia mulls return to Conscription, hikes defense spending (http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense-news/2015/10/09/latvia-mulls-return-conscription-hikes-defense-spending/73634452/)