The List 5258 TGB
Good Thursday Morning April 2 to all. ..I hope that your week has been going well
Regards
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This Day In Naval History – April 2
1781
During the American Revolution, the Continental frigate Alliance, commanded by John Barry, captures the British privateers Mars and Minerva off the coast of France.
1916
Lt. R.C. Saufley sets an altitude record for a Navy aircraft, 16,072 feet in a Curtiss pusher type hydroplane at Pensacola, Fla., bettering the record he set on March 29 that was set with a record of 16,010 feet.
1943
USS Tunny (SS 282) sinks the Japanese transport No.2 Toyo Maru west of Truk.
1951
Two F9F-2B Panthers of VF-191, each loaded with four 250- and two 100-pound general-purpose bombs, are catapulted from USS Princeton (CV 37) for an attack on a railroad bridge near Songjin, North Korea. This mission is the first US Navy use of a jet fighter as a bomber.
1960
After floods cause destruction at Paramaribo, Suriname, USS Glacier (AGB 4) begins 12 days of relief operations, providing helicopter and boat transportation and emergency supplies to the residents.
1991
USS Chicago (SSN 721) arrives at San Diego, Calif., homeport following Operation Desert Storm. During the six-month deployment, the attack submarine works with US and coalition forces deployed to the Southwest Asia area of operations, conducting surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• Multiple outlets covered Secretary Modly and, Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gilday's press conference about testing and quarantining USS Theodore Roosevelt Sailors off the ship.
• Multiple outlets covered Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Berger's comments about the new Force Design.
• In a statement to Navy leadership, VCNO Adm. Robert Burke stated that the Navy will not halt deployed operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Navy Times.
•
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This day in World history April 2,
1792
The United States authorizes the minting of the $10 Eagle, $5 half-Eagle & 2.50 quarter-Eagle gold coins as well as the silver dollar, dollar, quarter, dime & half-dime.
1796
Haitian revolt leader Toussaint L'Ouverture takes command of French forces at Santo Domingo.
1801
The British navy defeats the Danish at the Battle of Copenhagen.
1865
Confederate President Jefferson Davis flees Richmond, Virginia as Grant breaks Lee's line at Petersburg.
1910
Karl Harris perfects the process for the artificial synthesis of rubber.
1914
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board announces plans to divide the country into 12 districts.
1917
President Woodrow Wilson presents a declaration of war against Germany to Congress.
1917
Jeannette Pickering Rankin is sworn in as the first woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
1931
Virne "Jackie" Mitchell becomes the first woman to play for an all-male pro baseball team. In an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, she strikes out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
1932
Charles Lindbergh pays over $50,000 ransom for his kidnapped son.
1944
Soviet forces enter Romania, one of Germany's allied countries.
1958
The National Advisory Council on Aeronautics is renamed NASA.
1963
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King begins the first non-violent campaign in Birmingham, Alabama.
1982
Argentina invades the British-owned Falkland Islands.
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The battle for Okinawa started yesterday 1 April 1945 and lasted 92 days. You can read the intro below and/or click on the two below to learn a whole lot more about the largest landing in US History.
1945
»
Battle for Okinawa
»
Battle for Okinawa Medal of Honor Recipients
Overview
On the very day that the Marines declared organized resistance over on Iwo Jima (16 March 1945), Admiral Raymond Spruance, Fifth Fleet commander, was on board his flagship Indianapolis (CA-35), enroute to the Ryukyus in company with Admiral Marc Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force 58 (TF 58). In the coming weeks, more than 1,600 ships and 350,000 naval personnel from other task forces under Spruance's overall command would assemble to form the largest amphibious assault force of World War II. Their objective would be to secure the island of Okinawa, thus removing the last barrier standing between the U.S. forces and Imperial Japan. With both this and Iwo Jima firmly in hand, the U.S. military could finally bring its full might to bear upon the Japanese, conducting unchecked strategic air strikes against the Japanese mainland, blockading its logistical lifeline, and establishing forward bases for the final invasion of Japan (Operation Olympic) in the fall of 1945. Before then, however, they would have to endure one of the most brutal battles of the war. A preview of the carnage that awaited came on 19 March while TF 58 conducted strikes against targets on mainland Japan to prepare for the invasion. During the launch of strikes against Honshū and Kobe Harbor, Franklin (CV-13) was hit by two bombs from a Japanese dive bomber. Her crew heroically saved their ship, but more than 800 Sailors died in the attack.
The Japanese military was greatly diminished by this point, but U.S. Navy planners fully anticipated that the ferocity of their resistance would increase the closer they got to the mainland. With the action now mainly concentrated around the Central Philippines and the Ryukus, the Japanese were now close enough to bring their land-based aircraft at Taiwan and Kyushu to bear. They would not, however, be using them to conduct conventional air campaign, but rather, to act as human-guided missiles against U.S. forces. Such tactics had previously been deployed at Leyte Gulf, Luzon and Lingayen, and Iwo Jima, but not on a particularly alarming scale. Now, with Fifth Fleet so close to the Japanese mainland, Navy planners feared that as many as 3,000–4,000 planes could be expected. Regrettably, these estimates proved to be quite on the mark, with the prolonged land battle enabling the Japanese to launch numerous air attacks that proved even more effective than anticipated. Spruance received an early taste of what was to come on 31 March when a diving kamikaze clipped his flagship Indianapolis, severely damaging her with a bomb as it splashed into the sea. This forced Indianapolis to San Francisco for repairs and placed her on a fateful trajectory.
Despite this threat from above, the initial stages of Okinawa proceeded as planned. Minesweeping, pre-invasion bombardments from warships, and tactical strikes from carrier-based aircraft paved the way for an uncontested amphibious landing of Lt. General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.'s U.S. Tenth Army (made up of U.S. Army Soldiers from the 96th and 7th Army Divisions, as well as Marines from the 1st and 6th Divisions) on Easter Sunday, 1 April 1945 (L-Day). The force landed on the western side of the island close to the primary objective, two airstrips. Incredibly, these too were taken without contest. Immediately after, the ground force split. Marines moved northeast to secure the northern portion of the island, while the Army moved south towards Shuri. By mid-April, the Marines secured their less defended portion. Army forces, on the other hand, faced more formidable defenses, which led to a slower, more methodical advance. Later joined by the Marines, Army forces slogged it out with the Japanese, suffering high casualties against the well-defended Shuri Line. The fierce nature of the fighting and appalling numbers of casualties taken by U.S. forces continued into June, with the total number of American casualties reaching 49,151, of which 12,520 were killed or missing
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More humor from Rabbit. If you have not seen it before you missed a good one
This is an oldie, but should have the List recipients laughing out loud. I present….The Juggler
https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6mbW-jMtrY?rel=0
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Thanks to Dr. Rich
When you click on it the download shows up at the bottom left of your screen.. Then click on that one I hope it works. It does have some funny stuff skip
Download full resolution images
Available until May 1, 2020
Thanks to Rob …
Click to Download
IMG-1094.mov
24.6 MB
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I was thinking that for the home front the end of 1944 and the first 6 months of 1945 with the Batttle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima and then Okinawa it must have been pretty rough with all the casualties.
Thanks to Carl
The freezing hell of the Battle of the Bulge: Colorized images show resilience of US troops in snow camouflage advancing on Ardennes and tank crews huddling together in front of camp fires ahead of one of the most brutal encounters of WWII
Germany launched the offensive against the Allies on December 16, 1944 - Hitler's last offensive of the war
US troops fought back and held off the Siege of Bastogne but thousands of people including civilians died
These colorized photographs show the freezing conditions soldiers fighting in the battle had to content with
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8176637/The-freezing-hell-Battle-Bulge-Colorized-images-resilience-troops.html
More From Wikipedia
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, was the last major German offensivecampaign on the Western Front during World War II, and took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in eastern Belgium, northeast France, and Luxembourg, towards the end of the war in Europe. The offensive was intended to stop Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy four Allied armies and force the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers' favor.
The Germans achieved a total surprise attack on the morning of 16 December 1944, due to a combination of Allied overconfidence, preoccupation with Allied offensive plans, and poor aerial reconnaissance due to bad weather. American forces bore the brunt of the attack and incurred their highest casualties of any operation during the war. The battle also severely depleted Germany's armored forces, and they were largely unable to replace them. German personnel and, later, Luftwaffe aircraft (in the concluding stages of the engagement) also sustained heavy losses. The Germans had attacked a weakly defended section of the Allied line, taking advantage of heavily overcast weather conditions that grounded the Allies' overwhelmingly superior air forces. Fierce resistance on the northern shoulder of the offensive, around Elsenborn Ridge, and in the south, around Bastogne, blocked German access to key roads to the northwest and west that they counted on for success. Columns of armor and infantry that were supposed to advance along parallel routes found themselves on the same roads. This, and terrain that favored the defenders, threw the German advance behind schedule and allowed the Allies to reinforce the thinly placed troops. The farthest west the offensive reached was the village of Foy-Nôtre-Dame, south east of Dinant, being stopped by the U.S. 2nd Armored Division on 24 December 1944.[15][16][17] Improved weather conditions from around 24 December permitted air attacks on German forces and supply lines, which sealed the failure of the offensive. On 26 December the lead element of Patton's U.S. Third Army reached Bastogne from the south, ending the siege. Although the offensive was effectively broken by 27 December, when the trapped units of 2nd Panzer Division made two break-out attempts with only partial success, the battle continued for another month before the front line was effectively restored to its position prior to the attack. In the wake of the defeat, many experienced German units were left severely depleted of men and equipment, as survivors retreated to the defenses of the Siegfried Line.
The Germans' initial attack involved 410,000 men; just over 1,400 tanks, tank destroyers, and assault guns; 2,600 artillery pieces; 1,600 anti-tank guns; and over 1,000 combat aircraft, as well as large numbers of other armored fighting vehicles (AFVs).[4] These were reinforced a couple of weeks later, bringing the offensive's total strength to around 450,000 troops, and 1,500 tanks and assault guns. Between 63,222 and 98,000 of these men were killed, missing, wounded in action, or captured. For the Americans, out of a peak of 610,000 troops,[18] 89,000[5] became casualties out of which some 19,000 were killed.[5][19] The "Bulge" was the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the United States in World War II[20][21][22] and the third-deadliest campaign in American history.
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Daily world News from Military Periscope for 2 April
USA—SOUTHCOM Gets More Assets To Battle Drug-Smuggling British Broadcasting Corp. | 04/02/2020 President Donald Trump says the U.S. is increasing its naval presence in the Caribbean to prevent drug-smuggling there, reports BBC News. On Wednesday, Trump announced "enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere" that would include Navy destroyers, combat ships, aircraft and helicopters, Coast Guard cutters and Air Force surveillance aircraft. The assets will be provided to U.S. Southern Command on a rotational basis, said Adm. Craig Faller, the SOUTHCOM chief, as quoted by Military.com. The admiral gave no timeframe for when the additional assets might start arriving. The mission will double American assets in the theater as part of an increased push against what the administration calls Venezuelan-led efforts to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the administration of using the mission to distract from the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Last week, the administration indicted Maduro and more than a dozen current and former aides for allegedly conspiring with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to smuggle large amounts of cocaine into the U.S.
USA—540 More Troops Headed To Mexican Border For COVID-19 Duties Stars And Stripes | 04/02/2020 The U.S. is deploying 540 additional military personnel to the border with Mexico to help the Border Patrol deal with potential migrants infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), reports the Military Times. The move comes after the Dept. of Homeland Security on March 21 granted the Border Patrol new authorities to apprehend and immediately return migrants who illegally cross the border if they are suspected of carrying COVID-19. Defense Secretary Mark Esper approved the deployment on Monday, a Pentagon spokesman told the Stars and Stripes. There are currently around 2,500 National Guard and 2,700 active-duty troops supporting security efforts on the Mexican border.
USA—Air Force Identifies Units To Be Transferred To Space Force Air Force News Service | 04/02/2020 The U.S. Air Force has identified 23 space-related organizations that will be transferred to the newly established Space Force, reports the Air Force News Service. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett in cooperation with U.S. Space Force chief Gen. John Raymond and Air Force chief Gen. David Goldfein directed the transfer, the service reported on March 31. Space Force currently consists primarily of units that made up the former Air Force Space Command. The transfer includes 1,840 Air Force billets. Personnel will remain in the Air Force until a separate process is established for moving personnel into the new force. Airmen who do not wish to transfer will remain in their billets until their current tour is complete before moving on to a new position within the Air Force. Civilians will continue as employees of the Dept. of the Air Force. The transfer does not involve physically moving any units or billets, the service said. Units identified for transfer include: 17th Test Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.; 18th Intel Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; 25th Space Range Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 328th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.; 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 705th Combat Training Squadron OL-A, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 7th Intel Squadron, Ft. Meade, Md.; 16th AF/Advanced Programs, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 32nd Intel Squadron, Ft. Meade, Md.; 566th Intel Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.; 544th ISR Group Staff & Detachment 5, Peterson AFB, Colo.; Detachment 1, USAF Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; National Security Space Institute, Peterson AFB, Colo.; AFRL Research Lab Mission Execution, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.; AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division, Edwards AFB, Calif.; AFRL Space Electro-Optics Division, Maui, Hawaii & Kirtland AFB, N.M.; AFRL Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Counter-Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 4, Peterson AFB, Colo.; and Air Force Safety Center - Space Safety Division, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
USA—Air Force Orders SATCOM Modems From L3 Harris, Raytheon Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center | 04/02/2020 The Air Force Space and Missile Center (SMC) has awarded a pair of contracts to Raytheon and L3 Harris to develop and produce jam-resistant satellite communication modems. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity deals, awarded on March 27, each have a maximum value of $500 million over up to 10 years, SMC said in a March 30 release. The contracts, part of the Air Force and Army Anti-Jam Modem (A3M) program, were awarded 120 days ahead of schedule. Raytheon and L3 beat out Viasat for the A3M work, noted Air Force magazine. Raytheon and L3 Harris will produce specially designed modems that work with the Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW), an anti-jamming technology designed for satellite communications. The modems will support the Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS), Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) and commercial systems. Hardware development for the initial Block 1 modems is scheduled to run through mid-2022. The military will then begin to buy 1,500 Block 1 and 2,500 Block 2 modems for the Air Force and Army. The services have not yet decided on the final number of modems to be procured.
USA—Air Force Orders More JASSM-ER Cruise Missiles Dept. Of Defense | 04/02/2020 The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for additional AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile- Extended Range (JASSM-ER) cruise missiles, reports the Dept. of Defense. The $818 million contract covers a total of 790 missiles, including 360 Lot 17 missiles for the U.S. and 40 for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program customers. The deal also includes 390 Lot 18 JASSM-ER missiles for the Air Force. The award brings the total number of JASSM missiles under contract to more than 3,000, reported Jane's Missiles & Rockets. Work under the contract will take place in Orlando, Fla., and conclude by Oct. 31, 2024.
China—U.S. Intelligence Assessment Says China Hiding Extent Of COVID-19 Outbreak Bloomberg News | 04/02/2020 U.S. intelligence analysts assess that the Chinese government has purposefully concealed the extent of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak there, reports Bloomberg News. The White House received the classified report last week, which concluded that China had underreported the number of cases and deaths in its public statements, three officials familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Two officials said that the assessment found that Beijing faked the numbers. China has been criticized domestically and internationally for its inconsistent metrics in counting cases. The COVID-19 epidemic started in the central Hubei province in late 2019, but China has reported only 82,000 cases and 3,300 deaths, compared to more than 189,000 cases and 4,000 deaths in the U.S. Beijing reportedly revised its methodology for counting cases several times, including excluding those that did not exhibit symptoms. Only this week did it add about 1,500 asymptomatic cases to its total. On Tuesday, an immunologist advising the State Dept. said that the inaccurate information had influenced how other countries had responded to their own outbreaks. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman denied that Beijing had hid information, suggesting that the U.S. was looking to distract from its own epidemic.
China—Air Force Details Endurance, Surveillance Drills South China Morning Post | 04/02/2020 The Chinese air force says it conducted a long-endurance surveillance exercise around Taiwan last month, reports the South China Morning Post. The exercise in early March involved an unspecified aerobatic maneuver shortly after takeoff to simulate a defensive engagement with enemy aircraft, reported the PLA Daily. The 36-hour drill also included reconnaissance, early warning and surveillance operations and simulated air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. It was a test of pilot training and equipment, said an officer in charge of training in the Eastern Theater Command. China and the U.S. have stepped up sea and air patrols around Taiwan this year.
Japan—ATLA Establishes Team To Lead Development Of New Fighter Jet Jiji Press | 04/02/2020 The Japanese Defense Ministry's Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency has formed a team to develop a new indigenous fighter aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, reports the Jiji Press. The team, which was officially established on Wednesday, will be led by an ASDF major general with a staff of around 30, including ASDF officers, engineers and other personnel. The next-generation indigenous fighter, designated the F-3, is scheduled to be deployed by 2035. It will replace Japan's aging F-2 jets. The new jet is expected to be equipped with a land-sea-air networking capability; an advanced stealth sensor; electronic warfare systems; and the ability to carry as many or more missiles than the F-35. The fighter will also be interoperable with U.S. aircraft. Tokyo has budgeted around US$103 million this year for the development program. As part of the project, Japan expects to create a joint development and technical cooperation framework with the U.K. and U.S. by the end of 2020.
Australia—Navy Concludes Another CTF-150 Rotation Australian Dept. Of Defense | 04/02/2020 The Australian navy has completed its eighth stint commanding Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) in the North Arabian Sea, reports the Australian Dept. of Defense. On March 19, Commodore Ray Leggatt turned over command of the multinational task force to a joint British/French team led by French navy Capt. Jacques Riviere during a ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. CTF 150, one of the three task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), is assigned to disrupt terrorist and pirate activity in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. The Australian contingent took over the command in December and was supported by staff from the Canadian and New Zealand navies. Since December, ships assigned to the command conducted 20 boardings resulting in six seizures of a combined 11.76 metric tons of drugs with a value of US$6.2 million.
Philippines—Army Clashes With NPA Despite Cease-Fire Philippine Daily Inquirer | 04/02/2020 Fighting between the Philippine army and communist rebels has continued despite a month-long truce to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer. On Wednesday, soldiers from the 85th Infantry Battalion were conducting work related to the outbreak in Mulanay in Quezon province in southern Luzon when they received information about a local New People's Army (NPA) cell extorting from locals, said a spokesman for the battalion. A gun battle broke out when soldiers arrived at the site of the suspected NPA cell, the spokesman said. One NPA fighter was killed and one soldier wounded in the clash. This was the third violent confrontation with the rebels in southern Luzon since Saturday, the military said. Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) head Jose Maria Sison announced separate cease-fires to address the COVID-19 outbreak. The CPP is the political arm of the NPA. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has risen above 2,600, with more than 100 dead, reported the Rappler (Manila).
Burma—Military Seeks Expulsion Of Arakan Army Rebels From Towns In Kachin State Irrawaddy | 04/02/2020 The Burmese military has demanded that the rebel Kachin Independence Army (KIA) expel Arakan Army (AA) forces from two towns in the northern Kachin province, reported the Irrawaddy (Burma). Maj. Gen. Teza Kyaw, head of the Burmese Northern Command, warned members of the Kachin Peace-Talk Creation Group that the military had been authorized to attack KIA headquarters in the towns of Laiza and Mai Ja Yang unless the AA was removed. The demands came a week after the Burmese government designated the AA as a terrorist organization. In response, the Northern Alliance of rebel groups, including the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and AA, said that its members remain committed to the peace process and that the removal of the AA from the towns would not halt fighting. The AA has been headquartered in Laiza since its founding in 2009, although most of its activity takes place in the western Rakhine state. Fighting between the AA and Burmese army has intensified since 2018.
Afghanistan—Government Approves Release Of 100 Taliban In Exchange For 20 Afghan Personnel TOLONews | 04/02/2020 The Afghan government has begun the process of releasing Taliban prisoners, reports the Tolo News (Kabul). On Thursday, President Ashraf Ghani approved the release about 100 Taliban prisoners, sources from both sides confirmed. The names of those to be released have been sent to the relevant prison authorities. The militants would be exchanged for 20 members of the Afghan security forces. Taliban officials said that they anticipate the exchange of Taliban prisoners to occur on Friday or Saturday at Bagram air base. The location of the exchange of Afghan personnel has yet to be decided. Both parties are still negotiating the mechanisms of the transfer due to the challenges of presented by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Taliban has announced a temporary reduction in violence in areas affected by the virus but has warned that this should not be construed as a peace gesture, reported the Khaama Press (Kabul).
Syria—Israel Targeting Syrian Chemical Stockpiles Breaking Defense | 04/02/2020 Current and former Israeli officials say Israel is attacking chemical stockpiles and chemical weapons development sites in Syria, reports Breaking Defense. Syria destroyed a large portion of its chemical weapons stockpile under an international agreement, but still maintains quantities of agents, including VX, Amos Gilead, the former director of policy and political-military affairs at the Israeli Ministry of Defense, told the website. The Russian government is aware of Syria's remaining chemical weapons but refuses to acknowledge their existence to avoid being implicated if the Assad regime decides to employ them in the future, said one unnamed official. Israel will not tolerate Syrian efforts to continue to develop chemical weapons and maintain its chemical stockpile, said another source. Israel has reportedly hit several Syrian chemical weapons targets in the past month, including a March strike that destroyed a chemical weapons production facility, reported the Israeli Yedioth Aahronoth daily.
Morocco—New Laws On Maritime Border Limits Formalized Morocco World News | 04/02/2020 Morocco has formalized a pair of amendments to an existing law that delineates its maritime territory, reports Morocco World News. On March 30, laws 37-17 and 38-17 were published in the government's Official Bulletin. The measures were approved by the Parliament in December. Law 37-17 defines Morocco's territorial waters extending 12 miles (22 km) from the coast in accordance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Law 38-18 delimits Morocco's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), covering 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coast, as well as its continental shelf limits, which extend for 350 nautical miles (650 km) from the coast. Spanish media have accused Morocco of taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to pass laws that infringe on Madrid's rights in the Atlantic Ocean. The waters facing the Spanish Canary Islands and the Moroccan coast between the southern cities of Laayoune and Dakhla have been a source of friction between the countries since the 1970s. Morocco and Spain have held talks on their maritime boundaries and have agreed to resolve any disputes through negotiation and in accordance with international law, said Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya.
Ivory Coast—Secondhand Mi-8 Choppers To Support COVID-19 Response Defence Web | 04/02/2020 Two newly delivered helicopters will be used by the Ivorian air force to support medical evacuation missions as part of coronavirus (COVID-19) mitigation efforts in Ivory Coast, reports Defence Web (South Africa). The used Mi-8P helicopters were delivered in mid-March. On March 14, the helicopters were observed stopping at the Palma de Mallorca Airport in Spain en route to Ivory Coast, reported Jane's Defence Weekly. The Mi-8s are in a VIP transport configuration. They will be flown by the Air Transport and Liaison Group at Abidjan-Port Bouet Airport. The air force is also making available An-26 and C-295W cargo aircraft for medical evacuation duties as part of the Ivorian government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Peru—Reservists Called Up To Support COVID-19 Curfew Andina news agency | 04/02/2020 The Peruvian government has activated 10,500 army reservists to help enforce a lockdown due to the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, reports the state-run Andina news agency (Lima). Gen. Jorge Celis, the army chief, announced the call-up on Wednesday. The announcement came hours after President Martin Vizcarra called on the military to enforce social distancing and curfews to slow the spread of the virus, reported Reuters. The service obligation for reservists from the class of 2020 was previously extended to provide security during parliamentary elections in January, said Celis. By Tuesday, at least 36,000 people had been arrested for violating curfew and distancing orders. The government recently extended the state of emergency until April 12. There are 1,323 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Peru. More than 30 people have died from the virus.
Good Thursday Morning April 2 to all. ..I hope that your week has been going well
Regards
Skip
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This Day In Naval History – April 2
1781
During the American Revolution, the Continental frigate Alliance, commanded by John Barry, captures the British privateers Mars and Minerva off the coast of France.
1916
Lt. R.C. Saufley sets an altitude record for a Navy aircraft, 16,072 feet in a Curtiss pusher type hydroplane at Pensacola, Fla., bettering the record he set on March 29 that was set with a record of 16,010 feet.
1943
USS Tunny (SS 282) sinks the Japanese transport No.2 Toyo Maru west of Truk.
1951
Two F9F-2B Panthers of VF-191, each loaded with four 250- and two 100-pound general-purpose bombs, are catapulted from USS Princeton (CV 37) for an attack on a railroad bridge near Songjin, North Korea. This mission is the first US Navy use of a jet fighter as a bomber.
1960
After floods cause destruction at Paramaribo, Suriname, USS Glacier (AGB 4) begins 12 days of relief operations, providing helicopter and boat transportation and emergency supplies to the residents.
1991
USS Chicago (SSN 721) arrives at San Diego, Calif., homeport following Operation Desert Storm. During the six-month deployment, the attack submarine works with US and coalition forces deployed to the Southwest Asia area of operations, conducting surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
• Multiple outlets covered Secretary Modly and, Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gilday's press conference about testing and quarantining USS Theodore Roosevelt Sailors off the ship.
• Multiple outlets covered Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Berger's comments about the new Force Design.
• In a statement to Navy leadership, VCNO Adm. Robert Burke stated that the Navy will not halt deployed operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Navy Times.
•
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This day in World history April 2,
1792
The United States authorizes the minting of the $10 Eagle, $5 half-Eagle & 2.50 quarter-Eagle gold coins as well as the silver dollar, dollar, quarter, dime & half-dime.
1796
Haitian revolt leader Toussaint L'Ouverture takes command of French forces at Santo Domingo.
1801
The British navy defeats the Danish at the Battle of Copenhagen.
1865
Confederate President Jefferson Davis flees Richmond, Virginia as Grant breaks Lee's line at Petersburg.
1910
Karl Harris perfects the process for the artificial synthesis of rubber.
1914
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board announces plans to divide the country into 12 districts.
1917
President Woodrow Wilson presents a declaration of war against Germany to Congress.
1917
Jeannette Pickering Rankin is sworn in as the first woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
1931
Virne "Jackie" Mitchell becomes the first woman to play for an all-male pro baseball team. In an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, she strikes out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
1932
Charles Lindbergh pays over $50,000 ransom for his kidnapped son.
1944
Soviet forces enter Romania, one of Germany's allied countries.
1958
The National Advisory Council on Aeronautics is renamed NASA.
1963
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King begins the first non-violent campaign in Birmingham, Alabama.
1982
Argentina invades the British-owned Falkland Islands.
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The battle for Okinawa started yesterday 1 April 1945 and lasted 92 days. You can read the intro below and/or click on the two below to learn a whole lot more about the largest landing in US History.
1945
»
Battle for Okinawa
»
Battle for Okinawa Medal of Honor Recipients
Overview
On the very day that the Marines declared organized resistance over on Iwo Jima (16 March 1945), Admiral Raymond Spruance, Fifth Fleet commander, was on board his flagship Indianapolis (CA-35), enroute to the Ryukyus in company with Admiral Marc Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force 58 (TF 58). In the coming weeks, more than 1,600 ships and 350,000 naval personnel from other task forces under Spruance's overall command would assemble to form the largest amphibious assault force of World War II. Their objective would be to secure the island of Okinawa, thus removing the last barrier standing between the U.S. forces and Imperial Japan. With both this and Iwo Jima firmly in hand, the U.S. military could finally bring its full might to bear upon the Japanese, conducting unchecked strategic air strikes against the Japanese mainland, blockading its logistical lifeline, and establishing forward bases for the final invasion of Japan (Operation Olympic) in the fall of 1945. Before then, however, they would have to endure one of the most brutal battles of the war. A preview of the carnage that awaited came on 19 March while TF 58 conducted strikes against targets on mainland Japan to prepare for the invasion. During the launch of strikes against Honshū and Kobe Harbor, Franklin (CV-13) was hit by two bombs from a Japanese dive bomber. Her crew heroically saved their ship, but more than 800 Sailors died in the attack.
The Japanese military was greatly diminished by this point, but U.S. Navy planners fully anticipated that the ferocity of their resistance would increase the closer they got to the mainland. With the action now mainly concentrated around the Central Philippines and the Ryukus, the Japanese were now close enough to bring their land-based aircraft at Taiwan and Kyushu to bear. They would not, however, be using them to conduct conventional air campaign, but rather, to act as human-guided missiles against U.S. forces. Such tactics had previously been deployed at Leyte Gulf, Luzon and Lingayen, and Iwo Jima, but not on a particularly alarming scale. Now, with Fifth Fleet so close to the Japanese mainland, Navy planners feared that as many as 3,000–4,000 planes could be expected. Regrettably, these estimates proved to be quite on the mark, with the prolonged land battle enabling the Japanese to launch numerous air attacks that proved even more effective than anticipated. Spruance received an early taste of what was to come on 31 March when a diving kamikaze clipped his flagship Indianapolis, severely damaging her with a bomb as it splashed into the sea. This forced Indianapolis to San Francisco for repairs and placed her on a fateful trajectory.
Despite this threat from above, the initial stages of Okinawa proceeded as planned. Minesweeping, pre-invasion bombardments from warships, and tactical strikes from carrier-based aircraft paved the way for an uncontested amphibious landing of Lt. General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.'s U.S. Tenth Army (made up of U.S. Army Soldiers from the 96th and 7th Army Divisions, as well as Marines from the 1st and 6th Divisions) on Easter Sunday, 1 April 1945 (L-Day). The force landed on the western side of the island close to the primary objective, two airstrips. Incredibly, these too were taken without contest. Immediately after, the ground force split. Marines moved northeast to secure the northern portion of the island, while the Army moved south towards Shuri. By mid-April, the Marines secured their less defended portion. Army forces, on the other hand, faced more formidable defenses, which led to a slower, more methodical advance. Later joined by the Marines, Army forces slogged it out with the Japanese, suffering high casualties against the well-defended Shuri Line. The fierce nature of the fighting and appalling numbers of casualties taken by U.S. forces continued into June, with the total number of American casualties reaching 49,151, of which 12,520 were killed or missing
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More humor from Rabbit. If you have not seen it before you missed a good one
This is an oldie, but should have the List recipients laughing out loud. I present….The Juggler
https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6mbW-jMtrY?rel=0
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Thanks to Dr. Rich
When you click on it the download shows up at the bottom left of your screen.. Then click on that one I hope it works. It does have some funny stuff skip
Download full resolution images
Available until May 1, 2020
Thanks to Rob …
Click to Download
IMG-1094.mov
24.6 MB
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I was thinking that for the home front the end of 1944 and the first 6 months of 1945 with the Batttle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima and then Okinawa it must have been pretty rough with all the casualties.
Thanks to Carl
The freezing hell of the Battle of the Bulge: Colorized images show resilience of US troops in snow camouflage advancing on Ardennes and tank crews huddling together in front of camp fires ahead of one of the most brutal encounters of WWII
Germany launched the offensive against the Allies on December 16, 1944 - Hitler's last offensive of the war
US troops fought back and held off the Siege of Bastogne but thousands of people including civilians died
These colorized photographs show the freezing conditions soldiers fighting in the battle had to content with
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8176637/The-freezing-hell-Battle-Bulge-Colorized-images-resilience-troops.html
More From Wikipedia
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, was the last major German offensivecampaign on the Western Front during World War II, and took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in eastern Belgium, northeast France, and Luxembourg, towards the end of the war in Europe. The offensive was intended to stop Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy four Allied armies and force the Western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers' favor.
The Germans achieved a total surprise attack on the morning of 16 December 1944, due to a combination of Allied overconfidence, preoccupation with Allied offensive plans, and poor aerial reconnaissance due to bad weather. American forces bore the brunt of the attack and incurred their highest casualties of any operation during the war. The battle also severely depleted Germany's armored forces, and they were largely unable to replace them. German personnel and, later, Luftwaffe aircraft (in the concluding stages of the engagement) also sustained heavy losses. The Germans had attacked a weakly defended section of the Allied line, taking advantage of heavily overcast weather conditions that grounded the Allies' overwhelmingly superior air forces. Fierce resistance on the northern shoulder of the offensive, around Elsenborn Ridge, and in the south, around Bastogne, blocked German access to key roads to the northwest and west that they counted on for success. Columns of armor and infantry that were supposed to advance along parallel routes found themselves on the same roads. This, and terrain that favored the defenders, threw the German advance behind schedule and allowed the Allies to reinforce the thinly placed troops. The farthest west the offensive reached was the village of Foy-Nôtre-Dame, south east of Dinant, being stopped by the U.S. 2nd Armored Division on 24 December 1944.[15][16][17] Improved weather conditions from around 24 December permitted air attacks on German forces and supply lines, which sealed the failure of the offensive. On 26 December the lead element of Patton's U.S. Third Army reached Bastogne from the south, ending the siege. Although the offensive was effectively broken by 27 December, when the trapped units of 2nd Panzer Division made two break-out attempts with only partial success, the battle continued for another month before the front line was effectively restored to its position prior to the attack. In the wake of the defeat, many experienced German units were left severely depleted of men and equipment, as survivors retreated to the defenses of the Siegfried Line.
The Germans' initial attack involved 410,000 men; just over 1,400 tanks, tank destroyers, and assault guns; 2,600 artillery pieces; 1,600 anti-tank guns; and over 1,000 combat aircraft, as well as large numbers of other armored fighting vehicles (AFVs).[4] These were reinforced a couple of weeks later, bringing the offensive's total strength to around 450,000 troops, and 1,500 tanks and assault guns. Between 63,222 and 98,000 of these men were killed, missing, wounded in action, or captured. For the Americans, out of a peak of 610,000 troops,[18] 89,000[5] became casualties out of which some 19,000 were killed.[5][19] The "Bulge" was the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the United States in World War II[20][21][22] and the third-deadliest campaign in American history.
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Daily world News from Military Periscope for 2 April
USA—SOUTHCOM Gets More Assets To Battle Drug-Smuggling British Broadcasting Corp. | 04/02/2020 President Donald Trump says the U.S. is increasing its naval presence in the Caribbean to prevent drug-smuggling there, reports BBC News. On Wednesday, Trump announced "enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere" that would include Navy destroyers, combat ships, aircraft and helicopters, Coast Guard cutters and Air Force surveillance aircraft. The assets will be provided to U.S. Southern Command on a rotational basis, said Adm. Craig Faller, the SOUTHCOM chief, as quoted by Military.com. The admiral gave no timeframe for when the additional assets might start arriving. The mission will double American assets in the theater as part of an increased push against what the administration calls Venezuelan-led efforts to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the administration of using the mission to distract from the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Last week, the administration indicted Maduro and more than a dozen current and former aides for allegedly conspiring with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to smuggle large amounts of cocaine into the U.S.
USA—540 More Troops Headed To Mexican Border For COVID-19 Duties Stars And Stripes | 04/02/2020 The U.S. is deploying 540 additional military personnel to the border with Mexico to help the Border Patrol deal with potential migrants infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), reports the Military Times. The move comes after the Dept. of Homeland Security on March 21 granted the Border Patrol new authorities to apprehend and immediately return migrants who illegally cross the border if they are suspected of carrying COVID-19. Defense Secretary Mark Esper approved the deployment on Monday, a Pentagon spokesman told the Stars and Stripes. There are currently around 2,500 National Guard and 2,700 active-duty troops supporting security efforts on the Mexican border.
USA—Air Force Identifies Units To Be Transferred To Space Force Air Force News Service | 04/02/2020 The U.S. Air Force has identified 23 space-related organizations that will be transferred to the newly established Space Force, reports the Air Force News Service. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett in cooperation with U.S. Space Force chief Gen. John Raymond and Air Force chief Gen. David Goldfein directed the transfer, the service reported on March 31. Space Force currently consists primarily of units that made up the former Air Force Space Command. The transfer includes 1,840 Air Force billets. Personnel will remain in the Air Force until a separate process is established for moving personnel into the new force. Airmen who do not wish to transfer will remain in their billets until their current tour is complete before moving on to a new position within the Air Force. Civilians will continue as employees of the Dept. of the Air Force. The transfer does not involve physically moving any units or billets, the service said. Units identified for transfer include: 17th Test Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.; 18th Intel Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; 25th Space Range Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 328th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.; 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 705th Combat Training Squadron OL-A, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 7th Intel Squadron, Ft. Meade, Md.; 16th AF/Advanced Programs, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 32nd Intel Squadron, Ft. Meade, Md.; 566th Intel Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.; 544th ISR Group Staff & Detachment 5, Peterson AFB, Colo.; Detachment 1, USAF Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, Colo.; 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; National Security Space Institute, Peterson AFB, Colo.; AFRL Research Lab Mission Execution, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.; AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division, Edwards AFB, Calif.; AFRL Space Electro-Optics Division, Maui, Hawaii & Kirtland AFB, N.M.; AFRL Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Counter-Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Space Analysis Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 4, Peterson AFB, Colo.; and Air Force Safety Center - Space Safety Division, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
USA—Air Force Orders SATCOM Modems From L3 Harris, Raytheon Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center | 04/02/2020 The Air Force Space and Missile Center (SMC) has awarded a pair of contracts to Raytheon and L3 Harris to develop and produce jam-resistant satellite communication modems. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity deals, awarded on March 27, each have a maximum value of $500 million over up to 10 years, SMC said in a March 30 release. The contracts, part of the Air Force and Army Anti-Jam Modem (A3M) program, were awarded 120 days ahead of schedule. Raytheon and L3 beat out Viasat for the A3M work, noted Air Force magazine. Raytheon and L3 Harris will produce specially designed modems that work with the Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW), an anti-jamming technology designed for satellite communications. The modems will support the Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS), Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) and commercial systems. Hardware development for the initial Block 1 modems is scheduled to run through mid-2022. The military will then begin to buy 1,500 Block 1 and 2,500 Block 2 modems for the Air Force and Army. The services have not yet decided on the final number of modems to be procured.
USA—Air Force Orders More JASSM-ER Cruise Missiles Dept. Of Defense | 04/02/2020 The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for additional AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile- Extended Range (JASSM-ER) cruise missiles, reports the Dept. of Defense. The $818 million contract covers a total of 790 missiles, including 360 Lot 17 missiles for the U.S. and 40 for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program customers. The deal also includes 390 Lot 18 JASSM-ER missiles for the Air Force. The award brings the total number of JASSM missiles under contract to more than 3,000, reported Jane's Missiles & Rockets. Work under the contract will take place in Orlando, Fla., and conclude by Oct. 31, 2024.
China—U.S. Intelligence Assessment Says China Hiding Extent Of COVID-19 Outbreak Bloomberg News | 04/02/2020 U.S. intelligence analysts assess that the Chinese government has purposefully concealed the extent of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak there, reports Bloomberg News. The White House received the classified report last week, which concluded that China had underreported the number of cases and deaths in its public statements, three officials familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Two officials said that the assessment found that Beijing faked the numbers. China has been criticized domestically and internationally for its inconsistent metrics in counting cases. The COVID-19 epidemic started in the central Hubei province in late 2019, but China has reported only 82,000 cases and 3,300 deaths, compared to more than 189,000 cases and 4,000 deaths in the U.S. Beijing reportedly revised its methodology for counting cases several times, including excluding those that did not exhibit symptoms. Only this week did it add about 1,500 asymptomatic cases to its total. On Tuesday, an immunologist advising the State Dept. said that the inaccurate information had influenced how other countries had responded to their own outbreaks. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman denied that Beijing had hid information, suggesting that the U.S. was looking to distract from its own epidemic.
China—Air Force Details Endurance, Surveillance Drills South China Morning Post | 04/02/2020 The Chinese air force says it conducted a long-endurance surveillance exercise around Taiwan last month, reports the South China Morning Post. The exercise in early March involved an unspecified aerobatic maneuver shortly after takeoff to simulate a defensive engagement with enemy aircraft, reported the PLA Daily. The 36-hour drill also included reconnaissance, early warning and surveillance operations and simulated air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. It was a test of pilot training and equipment, said an officer in charge of training in the Eastern Theater Command. China and the U.S. have stepped up sea and air patrols around Taiwan this year.
Japan—ATLA Establishes Team To Lead Development Of New Fighter Jet Jiji Press | 04/02/2020 The Japanese Defense Ministry's Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency has formed a team to develop a new indigenous fighter aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, reports the Jiji Press. The team, which was officially established on Wednesday, will be led by an ASDF major general with a staff of around 30, including ASDF officers, engineers and other personnel. The next-generation indigenous fighter, designated the F-3, is scheduled to be deployed by 2035. It will replace Japan's aging F-2 jets. The new jet is expected to be equipped with a land-sea-air networking capability; an advanced stealth sensor; electronic warfare systems; and the ability to carry as many or more missiles than the F-35. The fighter will also be interoperable with U.S. aircraft. Tokyo has budgeted around US$103 million this year for the development program. As part of the project, Japan expects to create a joint development and technical cooperation framework with the U.K. and U.S. by the end of 2020.
Australia—Navy Concludes Another CTF-150 Rotation Australian Dept. Of Defense | 04/02/2020 The Australian navy has completed its eighth stint commanding Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) in the North Arabian Sea, reports the Australian Dept. of Defense. On March 19, Commodore Ray Leggatt turned over command of the multinational task force to a joint British/French team led by French navy Capt. Jacques Riviere during a ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. CTF 150, one of the three task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), is assigned to disrupt terrorist and pirate activity in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. The Australian contingent took over the command in December and was supported by staff from the Canadian and New Zealand navies. Since December, ships assigned to the command conducted 20 boardings resulting in six seizures of a combined 11.76 metric tons of drugs with a value of US$6.2 million.
Philippines—Army Clashes With NPA Despite Cease-Fire Philippine Daily Inquirer | 04/02/2020 Fighting between the Philippine army and communist rebels has continued despite a month-long truce to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer. On Wednesday, soldiers from the 85th Infantry Battalion were conducting work related to the outbreak in Mulanay in Quezon province in southern Luzon when they received information about a local New People's Army (NPA) cell extorting from locals, said a spokesman for the battalion. A gun battle broke out when soldiers arrived at the site of the suspected NPA cell, the spokesman said. One NPA fighter was killed and one soldier wounded in the clash. This was the third violent confrontation with the rebels in southern Luzon since Saturday, the military said. Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) head Jose Maria Sison announced separate cease-fires to address the COVID-19 outbreak. The CPP is the political arm of the NPA. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has risen above 2,600, with more than 100 dead, reported the Rappler (Manila).
Burma—Military Seeks Expulsion Of Arakan Army Rebels From Towns In Kachin State Irrawaddy | 04/02/2020 The Burmese military has demanded that the rebel Kachin Independence Army (KIA) expel Arakan Army (AA) forces from two towns in the northern Kachin province, reported the Irrawaddy (Burma). Maj. Gen. Teza Kyaw, head of the Burmese Northern Command, warned members of the Kachin Peace-Talk Creation Group that the military had been authorized to attack KIA headquarters in the towns of Laiza and Mai Ja Yang unless the AA was removed. The demands came a week after the Burmese government designated the AA as a terrorist organization. In response, the Northern Alliance of rebel groups, including the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and AA, said that its members remain committed to the peace process and that the removal of the AA from the towns would not halt fighting. The AA has been headquartered in Laiza since its founding in 2009, although most of its activity takes place in the western Rakhine state. Fighting between the AA and Burmese army has intensified since 2018.
Afghanistan—Government Approves Release Of 100 Taliban In Exchange For 20 Afghan Personnel TOLONews | 04/02/2020 The Afghan government has begun the process of releasing Taliban prisoners, reports the Tolo News (Kabul). On Thursday, President Ashraf Ghani approved the release about 100 Taliban prisoners, sources from both sides confirmed. The names of those to be released have been sent to the relevant prison authorities. The militants would be exchanged for 20 members of the Afghan security forces. Taliban officials said that they anticipate the exchange of Taliban prisoners to occur on Friday or Saturday at Bagram air base. The location of the exchange of Afghan personnel has yet to be decided. Both parties are still negotiating the mechanisms of the transfer due to the challenges of presented by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Taliban has announced a temporary reduction in violence in areas affected by the virus but has warned that this should not be construed as a peace gesture, reported the Khaama Press (Kabul).
Syria—Israel Targeting Syrian Chemical Stockpiles Breaking Defense | 04/02/2020 Current and former Israeli officials say Israel is attacking chemical stockpiles and chemical weapons development sites in Syria, reports Breaking Defense. Syria destroyed a large portion of its chemical weapons stockpile under an international agreement, but still maintains quantities of agents, including VX, Amos Gilead, the former director of policy and political-military affairs at the Israeli Ministry of Defense, told the website. The Russian government is aware of Syria's remaining chemical weapons but refuses to acknowledge their existence to avoid being implicated if the Assad regime decides to employ them in the future, said one unnamed official. Israel will not tolerate Syrian efforts to continue to develop chemical weapons and maintain its chemical stockpile, said another source. Israel has reportedly hit several Syrian chemical weapons targets in the past month, including a March strike that destroyed a chemical weapons production facility, reported the Israeli Yedioth Aahronoth daily.
Morocco—New Laws On Maritime Border Limits Formalized Morocco World News | 04/02/2020 Morocco has formalized a pair of amendments to an existing law that delineates its maritime territory, reports Morocco World News. On March 30, laws 37-17 and 38-17 were published in the government's Official Bulletin. The measures were approved by the Parliament in December. Law 37-17 defines Morocco's territorial waters extending 12 miles (22 km) from the coast in accordance with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Law 38-18 delimits Morocco's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), covering 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coast, as well as its continental shelf limits, which extend for 350 nautical miles (650 km) from the coast. Spanish media have accused Morocco of taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to pass laws that infringe on Madrid's rights in the Atlantic Ocean. The waters facing the Spanish Canary Islands and the Moroccan coast between the southern cities of Laayoune and Dakhla have been a source of friction between the countries since the 1970s. Morocco and Spain have held talks on their maritime boundaries and have agreed to resolve any disputes through negotiation and in accordance with international law, said Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya.
Ivory Coast—Secondhand Mi-8 Choppers To Support COVID-19 Response Defence Web | 04/02/2020 Two newly delivered helicopters will be used by the Ivorian air force to support medical evacuation missions as part of coronavirus (COVID-19) mitigation efforts in Ivory Coast, reports Defence Web (South Africa). The used Mi-8P helicopters were delivered in mid-March. On March 14, the helicopters were observed stopping at the Palma de Mallorca Airport in Spain en route to Ivory Coast, reported Jane's Defence Weekly. The Mi-8s are in a VIP transport configuration. They will be flown by the Air Transport and Liaison Group at Abidjan-Port Bouet Airport. The air force is also making available An-26 and C-295W cargo aircraft for medical evacuation duties as part of the Ivorian government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Peru—Reservists Called Up To Support COVID-19 Curfew Andina news agency | 04/02/2020 The Peruvian government has activated 10,500 army reservists to help enforce a lockdown due to the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, reports the state-run Andina news agency (Lima). Gen. Jorge Celis, the army chief, announced the call-up on Wednesday. The announcement came hours after President Martin Vizcarra called on the military to enforce social distancing and curfews to slow the spread of the virus, reported Reuters. The service obligation for reservists from the class of 2020 was previously extended to provide security during parliamentary elections in January, said Celis. By Tuesday, at least 36,000 people had been arrested for violating curfew and distancing orders. The government recently extended the state of emergency until April 12. There are 1,323 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Peru. More than 30 people have died from the virus.
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