Oct 30 - Nov 5 Weekly News Log Updates

WEEKLY NEWS & LOG UPDATE Oct 30 – Nov 05

NAVAL & MARINE OPERATIONS

CHINA Peoples Liberation Army – Navy Task Forces 23rd ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN Xiangtan (FFG) PLAN Zhoushan (FFG) PLAN Chaohu (Supply)   STATUS: Pacific (Anti-Piracy & Shipping Escort Patrols) ·         (Nov 2) @ China; ETF returns home 24th ESCORT TASK FORCE PLAN ? STATUS: Indian Ocean (Anti-Piracy & Shipping Escort Patrols) ·         NO UPDATES Other ·         NO UPDATES

FRANCE TASK FORCES <CORYMBE Patrol> FS Cpt Ducuing (FFG) FS Dixmude (LHD)DLHD)   STATUS: Atlantic (West Africa Patrol) ·         (Oct 31) @ Ivory Coast; RFA Gold Rover joins FS Dixmude and CORYMBE to train and assist West African nations, will return to S. Atlantic when HMS Portland (FFG) completes maintenance period at S. Africa (royalnavy.mod.uk) de GAULLE CSG CVN – FS Charles de Gaulle   STATUS: Med (OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE) <SYRIA STRIKE OPS> ·         NO UPDATES Other ·         NO UPDATES

RUSSIA TASK FORCES MED. TASK FORCE 2-4 LSTs 6-Warships 3-Supply Ships LOCATION: Mediterranean ·         (Oct 30) @ Med; UK papers report 3-russian subs were sent to Syria and Kuznetsov TF (flot.com) KUZNETSOV CSG RFS Kuznetsov (Carrier) ·         SU-33 Fighters ·         MIG-29K Fighters (4) ·         Ka-27 / K-29 ASW Helo ·         Ka-52K Recc Helo RFS Peter Veliky (BCGN) RFS Severomorsk (DDG) RFS Adm Kulakov (DDG) 3-Supply 2-SSN 1-SSK STATUS: Atlantic (Med Task Force) <SYRIA STRIKE OPS> ·         (Nov 3) @ Algeria; Kuznetsov TF conducting exercises between Algeria and Sardinia (flot.com) ·         (Nov 1) @ Med; US Navy P-8A from Sigonella AFB Sicily tracked Kuznetsov TF (flot.com) ·         (Oct 30) @ Med; UK papers report 3-russian subs were sent to Syria and Kuznetsov TF (flot.com) Pacific Combat Patrol TF RFS Admiral Tributs (DDG) RFS Bystryy (DDG) RFS Boris Butoma (Supply) RFS Alatau (Tug)   STATUS: S. China Sea ·         (Nov 1) @ Indonesia; TF visits Indonesia for Indodefense 2016 international exhibition, TF consists of RFS Admiral Tributs (DDG), RFS Bystryy (DDG), RFS Boris Butoma (Supply), and RFS Alatau (Tug) ·         (Nov 1) @ India; Russian naval TF will participate in naval exercises with India, INDRA-NAVY 2016, on Dec 12-21. Was originally planned to occur in Sep-Oct (ria.ru) Other RFS Marshal Ustinov (CG) ·         (Oct 31) Russian cruiser begins sea trials following years of drydock refits and modernization upgrades, is planning to arrive at permanent base by end of 4th quarter 2016 (flotprom.ru)

UNITED KINGDOM – ROYAL NAVY & COMMONWEALTH TASK FORCES JEF-16 HMS Bulwark (LPD) HMS Ocean (Assault Ship) MV Eddystone Point (Support) 45 Commando? STATUS: Red Sea (Middle East Deployment) ·         NO UPDATES AUSTRALIA HMAS Canberra (LPD) STATUS: Pacific <ACTIVE RESERVE & TRAINING> ·         (Nov 3) @ Sydney;  Canberra hosts Returned & Services League of Australia as they celebrate their Centenary Year in 2016 (navy.gov.au) Other HMS Albion (LPD) ·         (Nov 2) @ Plymouth; Amphibious ship reaches new milestone in major refit, onboard generators are now powering lighting and computer systems in the latest stage, planning to rededicate ship next year in January (royalnavy.mod.uk) HMS Diamond (DDG) ·         (Oct 28) @ UK; Uk destroyer returns following 2-month mission to central Mediterranean combatting trafficking (royalnavy.mod.uk) Type-26 Frigates ·         (Nov 4) MOD announces it will begin cutting steel for new Type-26 frigates in summer 2017

UNITED STATES NAVY Carrier Strike Groups USS Eisenhower CSG-10 CVN-69 – USS D. Eisenhower Ø  CVW – 3 CG-56 – USS San Jacinto CG-61 – USS Monterey DDG-70 – USS Hopper STATUS: Arabian Sea (CENTCOM) <IRAQ STRIKE OPS> ·         (Oct 25) @ Persian Gulf; CSG and USAF conduct ADEX joint training (navy.mil) USS Ronald Reagan  CSG CVN-76 – USS Ronald Reagan Ø  CVW-5 STATUS: Pacific Ocean, 7th Fleet, (Forward-Deployed) <WESTPAC DEPLOYMENT> ·         (Oct 30) @ Philippine Sea; CSG begins participation in joint exercise KEEN SWORD 2017 with Japan (pacom.mil)   USS John C. Stennis   CVN-74 – USS John C. Stennis STATUS: Pacific Ocean (TRAINING) ·          NO UPDATES USS George H.W. Bush   CVN-77 – USS George Bush STATUS: Atlantic Ocean (TRAINING) ·          NO UPDATES USS Carl Vinson  CSG-1 CVN-70 – USS Carl Vinson STATUS: Pacific Ocean (TRAINING) ·         (Nov 2) @ Pacific; carrier conducts live fire exercise test of its point defense systems (Phalanx & RAM) during COMPTUEX (navy.mil) ·         (Oct 31) @ Pacific; carrier departs for month-long COMPTUEX, preparing to deploy (navy.mil) Amphibious Ready Groups   &   Command Ships USS Mount Whitney Fleet Command LCC-20 – USS Mt. Whitney STATUS:  Mediterranean Sea ·          NO UPDATES USS Wasp ARG LHD-1 – USS Wasp LPD-17 - USS San Antonio LSD-41 – USS Whidbey Island 22nd MEU – Marine Expeditionary Unit STATUS:  Mediterranean Sea (EUCOM Deployment) ·         (Nov 3) @ Med; USS San Antonio and 22nd conducted strike ops on ISIS in Libya, LPD flexibility evaluated during action (navy.mil) ·         (Nov 1) @ Greece; ARG departs Souda Bay (navy.mil) USS Bonhomme Richard ARG LHD-6 – USS BH Richard LPD-20 USS Green Bay LSD-42 USS Germantown LSD-48 USS Ashland 31st MEU STATUS:  Pacific (WESTPAC Deployment) COMPLETED ·         (Nov 3) @ Japan; ARG and PHIBRON-11 complete WESTPAC patrol (navy.mil) USS Makin Island ARG LHD-8 – USS Makin Island LPD-25 – USS Somerset LSD-45 – Comstock 11th MEU (USMC-Assault Battalion) STATUS:  Pacific (WESTPAC / CENTCOM Deployment) ·         (Nov 1-11) @ Guam & Tinian; JSDF and US Navy partner for amphibious exercise KEEN SWORD aboard JS Hyuga and USS Comstock and 11th MEU, JS Osumi and USMC 3rd Marine Reg will partner for amphibious landing (navy.mil) ·         (Oct 29) @ Pacific; ARG enters 7th Fleet AOR (navy.mil) ·         (Oct 19-23) @ Hawaii; ARG conducts sustainment training on Oahu and Hawaii (navy.mil) USS Bataan ARG LHD-5 – USS Bataan LPD-19 USS Mesa Verde LSD-44 USS Gunston Hall 24th MEU STATUS: Atlantic Ocean (TRAINING) ·          NO UPDATES USS America LHA-6 – USS America   STATUS: Pacific Ocean (TRAINING) ·         (Oct 31) @ Pacific; five F-35B fighters begin testing onboard (navy.mil) TASK FORCES NO UPDATES NO UPDATES Other ·         NO UPDATES

REGIONAL NAVAL POWERS   BRAZIL NO UPDATES NO UPDATES INDIA NO UPDATES NO UPDATES ITALY NO UPDATES NO UPDATES JAPAN JS Hyuga (DDH-181) JS Osumi (LST-4001) ·         (Nov 1-11) @ Guam & Tinian; JSDF and US Navy partner for amphibious exercise KEEN SWORD aboard JS Hyuga and USS Comstock and 11th MEU, JS Osumi and USMC 3rd Marine Reg will partner for amphibious landing (navy.mil) NETHERLANDS NO UPDATES NO UPDATES SPAIN NO UPDATES NO UPDATES

NEWS and AIR-GROUND OPERATIONS   CHINA NO UPDATES ·         NO UPDATES FRANCE   Op. CHAMMAL: IRAQ-JORDAN-SYRIA ·         (Oct 13) @ Iraq; French 7th Armored Brigade replaces 6th Light Armored Brigade as lead TF Monsabert unit, training Iraqi army instructors and specialists of the 6th Iraqi Infantry Division (gouv.fr) ·         (Oct 28) Theater Update; Mosul ops continue, Iraqi units approaching city, freeing villages, ISIS retreats to defensive cores leaving booby-traps, limited attacks in rear have succeeded, AF sorties continue on same pace; TF Wagran fire support base from Q-West conducted 35 fire missions on ISIS (defense.gouv.fr) Op. BARKHANE: MALI-NIGER-CHAD ·         (Oct 28) Theater Update; French & Mali forces conduct patrols in Ansongo-Menaka area following implementation of peace and reconciliation agreement, healthcare and rehab projects begin assessment for action (defense.gouv.fr) RUSSIA RUSSIA ·          NO UPDATES SYRIA ·         NO UPDATES UKRAINE ·         NO UPDATES UNITED KINGDOM NO UPDATES ·         NO UPDATES UNITED STATES CENTCOM: AFGHANISTAN ·         (Nov 4) @ Kunduz; 2-KIA, 10th Special Forces Group, 2nd Batt, B-Co (defense.gov) CENTCOM: IRAQ / SYRIA ·         (Nov 3) US Army will deploy Army Brigade to replace 101st Airborne Div in training Iraqi forces, there are an estimated 5000 US troops in Iraq conducting training and supporting Mosul operations (ria.ru) o    82nd Airborne Div, 2nd Brigade (1700-troops) CENTCOM: KUWAIT ·         NO UPDATES NATO E. EUROPE ·         (Nov 4) US Army planning to deploy 2-BCTs in January to NATO’s Atlantic Resolve (ria.ru) o    4th Infantry Div, 3rd Brigade, heading to Poland and Baltic allies o    10th Mountain Div, 10th CAB, heading to Germany ·         (Oct 31) NATO combat drill flights continue, German AF sends 4-fighters to Estonia, replace UK-RAF (ria.ru)