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I hope that your Week has been going well
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July 23
Today in Naval History
July 24
1843 David Henshaw takes office as the 14th Secretary of the Navy, serving until Feb. 18, 1844. USS Henshaw (DD 278) was named in his honor.
1844 USS Henshaw (DD 278) was named in his honor.
1863 During the Civil War, the steam sloop of war USS Iroquois captures the Confederate blockade-runner, Merrimac, off North Carolina. Purchased by the Navy in March 1864, she is converted into a gunboat and commissioned USS Merrimac.
1894 A party of 50 Marines and Sailors under Marine Corps Capt. George Fielding Elliott, is sent from the cruiser, USS Baltimore (C 3), to guard the American delegation at Seoul, Korea, during the Sino-Japanese War.
1942 USS Narwhal (SS 167) sinks Japanese guardboat No.83 Shinsei Maru, at Utsutsu Bay, Hokkaido. USS Narwhal also sinks freighters Nissho Maru off Etorofu Maru, Kuril Island, and Kofuji Maru off Oito.
1944 Task Force 52, commanded by Rear Adm. Harry W. Hill, lands the Fourth Marine Division, commanded Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Harry Schmidt, on Tinian, following a month of naval gunfire and air bombardment. During the invasion, USS Colorado (BB 45) and USS Norman Scott (DD 690) are damaged by Japanese shore batteries. On Aug. 1, the island is declared secure.
1945 Task Force 38, commanded by Vice Adm. John S. McCain, launches strikes against the Inland Sea area, Japan, bombing Kure Naval Base and airfields at Nagoya, Osaka, and Miho, while sinking five Japanese vessels.
1945 While escorting a troop convoy from Okinawa to Leyte, USS Underhill (DE 682) is hit and sunk by a Japanese kaiten manned torpedo. Of the 238 men on board only 125 survive.
1993 USS Columbus (SSN 762) is commissioned onboard Submarine Base New London, Groton, Conn. The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine is the fifth ship to be named Columbus for the Navy.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
•Trade press reported on the certification of USS Gerald R. Ford's Lower Stage Weapons Elevator 1.
•Numerous outlets covered the U.S.-China diplomatic escalation as China shut down the U.S. consulate in Chengdu.
Today in History July 24
1505 | On their way to India, a group of Portuguese explorers sack the city-state of Kilwa. | |
1567 | Mary, Queen of Scots, is imprisoned and forced to abdicate her throne to her 1-year-old son James VI. | |
1701 | Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac establishes Fort Pontchartrain for France at present-day Detroit, Michigan. | |
1704 | Admiral George Rooke takes Gibraltar from the Spanish. | |
1766 | At Fort Ontario, Canada, Ottawa chief Pontiac and William Johnson sign a peace agreement. | |
1791 | Robespierre expels all Jacobins opposed to the principles of the French Revolution. | |
1847 | The first members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) arrive in Utah, settling in present-day Salt Lake City. | |
1862 | The eighth president of the United States, Martin Van Buren, dies at the age of 79. | |
1897 | African-American soldiers of the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps arrive in St. Louis, Mo., after completing a 40-day bike ride from Missoula, Montana. | |
1941 | The U.S. government denounces Japanese actions in Indochina. | |
1942 | The Soviet city of Rostov is captured by German troops. | |
1950 | The U.S. Fifth Air Force relocates from Japan to Korea. | |
1974 | The Supreme Court rules that President Richard Nixon must surrender the Watergate tapes. |
1911 |
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From the archives is another fantastic H-Gram (33) from Admiral Cox and the Naval History and Heritage Command. In the below overall description of each part you can open up the more in-depth description by clicking the bottom of each one as in this one-------(please see attachment H-033-1.)
Great reads!!!
H-Gram 033: Yanagi Missions, "Red" Ramage, Port Chicago, Tinian, Apollo 11
This H-gram covers:
The Apollo II moon landing on 20 July 1969 and Neil Armstrong's U.S. Navy service
Back issues of H-grams may be found here. As always, you are welcome and encouraged to share H-grams so that our Navy personnel can better understand the legacy of honor, sacrifice, and valor that they are charged to uphold.
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Worth repeating
Thanks to Dr. Rich
For all the Bubbas and the rest of you. ..
Between 65 and over!! Live and enjoy life....
A bit of good advice from John.,,
You may have seen this one before....worth a second look!!
Many of us are between 65 and over. My friend sent me this excellent list for aging . . . and I have to agree it's good advice to follow. The guy who sent this hi-lighted #19
1. It's time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don't just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.
2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don't feel bad spending your money on yourself. You've taken care of them for many years, and you've taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.
3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It's easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you're feeling well. Stay informed.
4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.
5. Don't stress over the little things. You've already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don't let the past drag you down and don't let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.
6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: "A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection."
7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don't stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.
8. Don't lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There's nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You've developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It's part of who you are.
9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You'll be surprised what old friends you'll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age
10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday's wisdom still applies today.
11. Never use the phrase: "In my time." Your time is now. As long as you're alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.
12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it'll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.
13. Don't abandon your hobbies. If you don't have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.
14 Even if you don't feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven't seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don't get upset when you're not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.
15. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That's a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don't go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.
16. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we're all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.
17. If you've been offended by someone – forgive them. If you've offended someone - apologize. Don't drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn't matter who was right. Someone once said: "Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die." Don't take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.
18. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don't waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.
19. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what's not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.
20. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They'll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you've achieved. Let them talk and don't worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you've lived so far. There's still much to be written, so get busy writing and don't waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!
REMEMBER: "Life is too short to drink bad wine or warm beer"
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for July 24, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
24 July 1917: An appropriation of $640,000,000 enabled the Aviation Section to expand to 9,989 officers and 87,083 enlisted men. (11) (24)
1919: Through 9 November, Lt Col Rutherford S. Hartz and Army aircrew flew a Martin Bomber-2 with Liberty 400 HP engines on a 9,823-mile flight around the US coasts and borders. The flight took 114 hours 25 minutes flying time in 108 days. (21)
1943: Eighth Air Force sent 167 heavy bombers on a raid against the nitrate works at Heraya, Norway. This was the Eighth's first mission to Norway and its longest (1,900 miles roundtrip) to date. (4)
1950: First missile launched from the Joint Long Range Proving Grounds at Cape Canaveral down the Atlantic Missile Range. It had a German V-2 as its first stage and a WAC Corporal as a second stage booster. (6) (12)
1951: KOREAN WAR. The 116 FBW, the second Air National Guard wing deployed to the Far East, arrived with its F-84 ThunderJets at Misawa and Chitose Air Bases in Japan. (28)
1959: A Thor nose cone made the first known stabilized non-tumbling flight for a reentry vehicle. (24)
1960: At Minneapolis, Donald L. Piccard flew his Piccard S-10 Holiday Balloon to 3,740 feet. He thus set an FAI altitude record for subclass A-1 balloons (less than 250 cubic meters). (9)
1961: The first Atlas F to be deployed in the field arrived at Schilling AFB for the 550 SMS. (6)
1964: President Johnson disclosed the SR-71's development. (1)
1965: The 45 TFS lost an aircraft in SEA due to a surface-to-air missile attack. It was the first aircraft lost to a surface-to-air missile in the Vietnam conflict. (11)
1970: The C-5A Galaxy flew its first flight from the US to Europe, from Charleston AFB to Dover AFB to Rhein Main AB, Lakenheath RAF Station, England, and Torrejon AB, Spain. PACAF inactivated the 509 FIS at Clark AB and its detachments in Tainan, Taiwan, and Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. The 509th's F-102 fighters were flown to Itazuke to be scrapped, because it cost less to salvage the planes than it did to ship them back to the states. (17)
1973: At Eglin AFB, the Hound Dog missile completed its last operational test flight. (6)
1974: Mather AFB received the 19th and last Boeing T-43A aircraft delivered for undergraduate navigator training. (12)
1983: Through 6 August, two USAF UH-1 helicopters moved medical personnel and 10 tons of food and medical supplies to aid victims of a flood in western Ecuador. (16)
1990: With the termination of the Cold War, the landing of SAC's Boeing EC-135 Looking Glass Airborne Command Post at Offutt AFB ended 29 years of continuous operation with over 250 million miles of accident-free flying. (20) (26)
1994: Operation SUPPORT HOPE. USAF airlift aircraft started flying relief supplies to Rwandan refugees in Zaire after President Bill Clinton directed "an immediate and massive increase" in US relief efforts to assist Rwandan refugees. Through 11 September, AMC flew 700 airlift missions to transport over 11,000 passengers and 23,000 short tons. Nearly 400 KC-135 missions refueled the C-5s and C-141s, while KC-10s flew several dozen missions to ferry fuel from Harare, Zimbabwe, to Entebbe. (16) (18)
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This Day in US Military History
24 July
1832 – Benjamin Bonneville, an inept fur trader who some speculate may have actually been a spy, leads the first wagon train to cross the Rocky Mountains at Wyoming's South Pass. The motivations for Bonneville's western expeditions have always remained somewhat mysterious. A native of France, Bonneville came to the United States in 1803 at the age of seven. He later graduated from West Point, and he served at frontier posts in Arkansas, Texas, and Indian Territory. According to one view, Bonneville simply observed the rapid growth of the western fur trade at these posts and conceived a bold plan to mount his own fur trading expedition. However, others suggest Bonneville's true goal for the expedition may have been to serve as a Far Western spy for the U.S. government. The circumstances of Bonneville's entry into the fur business were indeed somewhat odd. Despite his complete lack of experience as a mountain man, a group of Manhattan businessmen agreed to back his expedition with ample funds. It was also strange that a career military man should ask for, and quickly receive, a two-year leave of absence from the army to pursue a strictly commercial adventure. Bonneville began his expedition in May 1832, and that summer he and his men built an imposing trading post along Wyoming's Green River. Bonneville proved to be an incompetent fur trader, yet he seemed unconcerned about making a profit. By contrast, he seemed very interested in exploring the vast territory. Shortly after arriving in Wyoming, he mounted an expedition to the Columbia River country of Oregon, although he was well aware that the powerful British-owned Hudson's Bay Company dominated the region. On this day in 1832, Bonneville led 110 men and 20 wagons across South Pass, the first-ever wagon crossing of that critical route connecting the existing United States to the northwest region of the continent. During the next two decades, thousands of American settlers would take their wagons across South Pass as they followed the Oregon Trail. In 1835, Bonneville returned to Washington, where President Andrew Jackson personally oversaw his reinstatement as a captain in the army. Some historians speculate that Bonneville might have actually been a spy for a U.S. government, which was eager to collect information on the British strength in the Northwest. No historical records have ever been found to substantiate this speculation, though, and it is possible that Bonneville was simply an inept fur trader whose dreams exceeded his grasp.
1862 – Rear Admiral Farragut's fleet departed its station below Vicksburg, as the falling water level of the river and sickness among his ships' crews necessitated withdrawal to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Farragut's return to the lower Mississippi made abundantly clear the strategic significance of Vicksburg for, although the Navy held the vast majority of the river, Confederate control of Vicksburg enabled the South to continue to get some supplies for her armies in the East from Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. To prevent as much of this as possible, Rear Admiral Davis and Major General Samuel R. Curtis provided for combined Army-Navy expeditions along the banks of the Mississippi from Helena, Arkansas, to Vicksburg. Though supplies continued to move across the river, this action prevented the Confederates from maintaining and reinforcing batteries at strategic points, an important factor in the following year's operations.
1943 – British bombers raid Hamburg, Germany, by night in Operation Gomorrah, while Americans bomb it by day in its own "Blitz Week." Britain had suffered the deaths of 167 civilians as a result of German bombing raids in July. Now the tables were going to turn. The evening of July 24 saw British aircraft drop 2,300 tons of incendiary bombs on Hamburg in just a few hours. The explosive power was the equivalent of what German bombers had dropped on London in their five most destructive raids. More than 1,500 German civilians were killed in that first British raid. Britain lost only 12 aircraft in this raid (791 flew), thanks to a new radar-jamming device called "Window," which consisted of strips of aluminum foil dropped by the bombers en route to their target. These Window strips confused German radar, which mistook the strips for dozens and dozens of aircraft, diverting them from the trajectory of the actual bombers. To make matters worse for Germany, the U.S. Eighth Air Force began a more comprehensive bombing run of northern Germany, which included two raids on Hamburg during daylight hours. British attacks on Hamburg continued until November of that year. Although the percentage of British bombers lost increased with each raid as the Germans became more adept at distinguishing between Window diversions and actual bombers, Operation Gomorrah proved devastating to Hamburg-not to mention German morale. When it was over, 17,000 bomber sorties dropped more than 9,000 tons of explosives, killing more than 30,000 people and destroying 280,000 buildings, including industrial and munitions plants. The effect on Hitler, too, was significant. He refused to visit the burned-out cities, as the ruins bespoke nothing but the end of the war for him. Diary entries of high German officials from this period describe a similar despair, as they sought to come to terms with defeat.
.Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
PITTMAN, RICHARD A.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then L/Cpl.), U.S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF. Place and date: near the Demilitarized Zone, Republic of Vietnam, 24 July 1966. Entered service at: Stockton, Calif. Born: 26 May 1945, French Camp, San Joaquin, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While Company 1 was conducting an operation along the axis of a narrow jungle trail, the leading company elements suffered numerous casualties when they suddenly came under heavy fire from a well concealed and numerically superior enemy force. Hearing the engaged marines' calls for more firepower, Sgt. Pittman quickly exchanged his rifle for a machinegun and several belts of ammunition, left the relative safety of his platoon, and unhesitatingly rushed forward to aid his comrades. Taken under intense enemy small-arms fire at point blank range during his advance, he returned the fire, silencing the enemy position. As Sgt. Pittman continued to forge forward to aid members of the leading platoon, he again came under heavy fire from 2 automatic weapons which he promptly destroyed. Learning that there were additional wounded marines 50 yards further along the trail, he braved a withering hail of enemy mortar and small-arms fire to continue onward. As he reached the position where the leading marines had fallen, he was suddenly confronted with a bold frontal attack by 30 to 40 enemy. Totally disregarding his safety, he calmly established a position in the middle of the trail and raked the advancing enemy with devastating machinegun fire. His weapon rendered ineffective, he picked up an enemy submachinegun and, together with a pistol seized from a fallen comrade, continued his lethal fire until the enemy force had withdrawn. Having exhausted his ammunition except for a grenade which he hurled at the enemy, he then rejoined his platoon. Sgt. Pittman's daring initiative, bold fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty inflicted many enemy casualties, disrupted the enemy attack and saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades. His personal valor at grave risk to himself reflects the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service
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USA—SPACECOM Accuses Russia Of Conducting Anti-Satellite Test C4ISRNet | 07/24/2020 U.S. Space Command says that Russia recently tested an anti-satellite weapon in orbit, report C4ISRNet. On July 15, Russian inspector satellite Cosmos 2543 released an object into space towards another Russian satellite, SPACECOM said on Thursday. The action is inconsistent with the satellite's stated purpose, said the command. "This event highlights Russia's hypocritical advocacy of outer space arms control, with which Moscow aims to restrict the capabilities of the U.S.," said Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Chris Ford. The Cosmos 2543 satellite is the same one that maneuvered near a U.S. satellite in April, said Gen. John Raymond, SPACECOM commander and chief of space operations. Russia is dedicated to the complete demilitarization of outer space, a Kremlin spokesman told the Tass news agency (Moscow). The Russian Defense Ministry said that the incident was a routine test and denied that it was an anti-satellite operation, reported BBC News. U.S. nuclear negotiator Marshall Billingslea said that the test would be discussed at next week's talks in Vienna over the New START treaty, reported Agence France-Presse.
USA—Chinese Researcher Suspected Of Visa Fraud Hiding Out In San Francisco Consulate Business Insider | 07/24/2020 The Federal Bureau of Investigation believes that a Chinese national who was recently indicted for hiding her connections to the Chinese military when applying for a visa to the U.S. is in hiding at China's San Francisco consulate, reports Business Insider. Tang Juan, a biology researcher working at the University of California, was charged on June 26 on a single count of visa fraud, reported CNN. Prosecutors said she concealed her connection to the People's Liberation Army in her visa application. Investigators later discovered photos of her in the uniform of the civilian cadre of the PLA and that she had been employed as a researcher at the Fourth Military Medical University. During an FBI interview on June 20, Tang denied serving in the military. A search of her residence and electronic media turned up additional evidence of her PLA affiliation, the FBI said. Following the interview, Tang allegedly fled to the consulate, where the FBI assesses that she remains. She is shielded while in the embassy, but the use of diplomatic immunity to shelter an individual charged with federal crimes is "extraordinary," said experts. Prosecutors say that Tang is part of a PLA program, conducted by the Fourth Military Medical University and associated institutions, to send military scientists to the U.S. on false pretenses or under false cover. There is evidence that at least one of these scientists has copied or stolen information from U.S. institutions at the behest of the Chinese military, said prosecutors.
USA—Chinese Hackers Indicted For Stealing Intellectual Property Dept. Of Justice | 07/24/2020 Two Chinese nationals who have worked with China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) have been indicted on charges related to cybercrimes committed against U.S. businesses, governments, non-government organizations and individuals, reports the Dept. of Justice. Earlier this month, a federal grand jury found Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi guilty of hacking into the computer systems of several hundred companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, dissidents, clergy and democratic and human-rights activists in the U.S., Hong Kong and China. Their activity was initially discovered on computers belonging to the Dept. of Energy Hanford Site in Washington state. Entities were also targeted in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, Sweden and the U.K. The hacks were carried out both on behalf of the MSS and other Chinese government agencies as well as for personal gain. Recently, Xiaoyu and Jiazhi allegedly attempted to infiltrate the computer networks of firms working on vaccines, testing technology and treatments to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
USA—AM General Acquired By Private Equity Firm Am General | 07/24/2020 AM General, the manufacturer of the iconic Humvee, has been acquired by the private equity firm KPS Capital Partners, reports the company. The deal is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of this year, said an AM General release on Thursday. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. KPS is known for acquiring financially distressed manufacturers, noted Defense News. The future of AM General had come into question in recent years. The company has stagnated since its offering failed to win the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program to replace the Humveee. Its proposal for the Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport uncrewed ground vehicle program was also not chosen. As a result, the company is reliant on the Humvee for its business. While the Humvee remains in service in the U.S. and around the world, the Marine Corps is eliminating its fleet and its future is unclear. Future opportunities for AM General could include Army plans to replace its fleet of heavy trucks. It could also develop a smaller truck to market for future UGV applications, said experts.
Germany—Defense Minister Says Ties With U.S. Can Weather Withdrawal Of U.S. Troops Deutsche Welle | 07/24/2020 Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer says that a proposed withdrawal of U.S. troops from Germany would not damage bilateral ties, reports Deutsche Welle. If the troops remain in NATO countries, then the U.S. commitment to NATO would remain intact, Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Wednesday. If they were redeployed outside of Europe, it would indicate a change in U.S. strategy, which could spark questions about the American commitment to NATO, she said. In June, President Trump approved a measure to withdraw about 9,500 troops from Germany, a quarter of the U.S. military personnel stationed in that country. Poland has lobbied to host some of the U.S. troops who would be withdrawn from Germany. A Pentagon spokesman said the withdrawal would enhance U.S. deterrence of Russia. Trump has regularly criticized low levels of defense spending in Germany.
Greece—Military Goes On Alert After Turkey Announces Survey Op In Disputed Waters Greek City Times | 07/24/2020 The Greek military has been placed on alert in response to a Turkish announcement that it was sending a survey vessel to waters near a Greek island off the southern coast of Turkey, reports the Greek City Times (Sydney, Australia). On Tuesday, the military stepped up its posture after Turkey issued a "NAVTEX" alert signaling its intention to conduct the survey operation around the island of Kastellorizo, reported BBC News. The Turkish navy allegedly deployed as many as 17 warships to the area and conducted overflights of the island using fighter aircraft. As of Wednesday, the survey ship Oruc Reis was still in port in Antalya. European Union leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass, condemned the Turkish move. The incident is the latest escalation in a long-running dispute between Athens and Ankara over maritime control in the eastern Mediterranean, which is believed to hold significant gas reserves. The issue is complicated by a significant number of islands controlled by Greece, including Kasterllorizo, that sit within site of the Turkish coast, as well as the division of Cyprus. Turkey has increased its exploration of natural gas reserves in the area in the last year and signed an agreement with the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord in Libya that extends Turkey's maritime claims to the northeastern coast of Libya. That agreement has been called illegal by several countries, including Greece and Egypt. Athens specifically objected to the failure of the accord to recognize the presence of the Greek island of Crete, which sits in the middle of the claimed exclusive economic zone. Ankara says its claims are in line with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and argues that islands close to Turkey and far from the Greek mainland cannot have a continental shelf.
Albania—Lawmakers Approve Implementation Of Military Agreement With Turkey Anadolu News Agency | 07/24/2020 The Albanian Parliament has approved a new military agreement with Turkey, reports Turkey's Anadolu Agency. On Thursday, Albanian lawmakers passed the implementation protocol, with 105 votes in favor, four opposed and four abstentions. The agreement determines financial assistance for the acquisition of Turkish-made military equipment and related services, according to the Albanian Council of Ministers. Since 1998, Albania has approved 26 military agreements with Turkey, noted lawmakers.
Kyrgyzstan—Border Guard Whistleblower Dies Mysteriously Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 07/24/2020 A Kyrgyz Border Guard Service officer who made public concerns about corruption has died under suspicious circumstances, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Col. Talgat Alanov died suddenly on Tuesday from what officials called a heart attack while visiting family in the southern Osh region. Family members said that Alanov, 38, had no pre-existing health problems. His brother said that Alanov felt unwell suddenly and died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. He was buried the next day, in accordance with Islamic tradition. It was unclear if an autopsy was performed. Alanov gained attention in November when he revealed that members of the service paid brides in order to receive promotions. The border service rejected the allegations and accused him of violating its charter. Five people he accused sued him. In January, President Sooronbay Jeenbekov ordered an investigation into the allegations. The results have not been made public.
China—Government Orders Closure Of U.S. Consulate In Chengdu CNBC | 07/24/2020 The Chinese Foreign Ministry has ordered the U.S. to close its consulate in Chengdu in the southwestern Sichuan province, reports CNBC. The ministry's statement on Friday blamed the U.S. for recent "wrong decisions," a reference to the U.S. decision to close the Chinese consulate in Houston. The Chengdu consular district covers Tibet, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou. Analysts said that the two facilities were of roughly equal stature, indicating that Beijing's decision represented a reciprocal step. U.S. officials said that the decision to close the consulate in Houston was made in order to protect U.S. intellectual property. David Stilwell, the assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told the New York Times that the Houston consulate had a history of intellectual property theft.
Iran—U.S. Fighter Jet Intercepts Passenger Plane Over Syria Fars News Agency | 07/24/2020 Iranian officials have accused the U.S. of conducting an unsafe intercept of a civilian flight over Syrian airspace, reports the semi-official Fars news agency (Tehran). On Thursday, a U.S. military aircraft approached a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Beirut, forcing the pilot to make a sudden change in altitude. Three passengers were injured, according to a reporter for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), who was onboard at the time. The reporter called the move "intentional." The incident occurred in airspace over Al Tanf in eastern Syria, reported the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency. A spokesman for U.S. Central Command confirmed the intercept to Reuters, saying that the F-15 fighter jet had conducted a visual inspection of the Iranian aircraft as it approached the coalition base in the area. The fighter approached within 1,090 yards (1,000 m) and made a visual identification of the aircraft in accordance with international standards, the spokesman said. Once the Iranian aircraft had been identified, the F-15 increased its distance. The privately-owned Mahan Air has been accused of smuggling weapons on behalf of the Iranian government. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that it had filed a protest with the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which represents U.S. interests in Iran.
Israel—Reinforcements Sent North After Hezbollah Threatens Retaliation Times of Israel | 07/24/2020 The Israel Defense Force is sending additional troops to Israel's northern border in response to a Hezbollah threat, reports the Times of Israel. The 13th Battalion, Golani Brigade, and a small number of additional troops will be sent to strengthen the Galilee Division under the Northern Command, the IDF said on Thursday. The move comes after Hezbollah threatened to retaliate after one of its fighters was killed in a suspected Israeli airstrike near Damascus on Monday night. The militant was allegedly killed in a series of airstrikes against weapons depots and military positions in the town of Kiswah in Syria. On Thursday, sources close to Hezbollah told the Asharq Al-Awsat (London) that the militant group would likely respond to the death of its fighter. Hezbollah has a history of retaliating for the killing of its members by the IDF in Syria by launching attacks on the border between Israel and Lebanon.
Syria—American Paratrooper Dies In Vehicle Accident The Hill | 07/24/2020 A U.S. Army soldier has died in a vehicle accident in Syria, reports the Hill (Washington, D.C.). On Tuesday, Sgt. Bryan Mount was killed when his mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle rolled over during reconnaissance operations in eastern Syria, reported the Stars & Stripes. Preliminary reports indicated that the accident was not due to enemy activity, the military said. Mount was deployed to Syria as part of the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. The unit is part of Operation Inherent Resolve, which is supporting Kurdish-led forces fighting Islamic State militants in eastern Syria. This was Mount's second deployment to the Middle East since he joined the Army in January 2016. He deployed to Iraq in 2017.
Saudi Arabia—Al Jubail Corvette Launched In Spain Navantia | 07/24/2020 The first of five corvettes ordered for the Saudi navy has been launched, reports Navantia, the Spanish shipbuilder. On Wednesday, the Al Jubail was put into the water at Navantia's San Fernando shipyard. The ship was launched on time despite the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the company said. Riyadh ordered five Avante 2200-type corvettes from Navantia in November 2018. First steel was cut for the lead ship in January 2019. The second warship is scheduled for launch in November. All five corvettes are to be delivered by 2024. The class features several Navantia combat and command-and-control systems and is armed with a 76-mm Super Rapido main gun and Rheinmetall 35-mm Millennium close-in-weapon systems. The class has a maximum speed of 27 knots (50 kph) and an endurance of 21 days.
Nigeria—Boko Haram Executes 5 Hostages Premium Times | 07/24/2020 Suspected Boko Haram militants have executed five aid workers abducted last month in northeastern Nigeria, reports the Premium Times (Abuja). The aid workers belonged to the State Emergency Management Agency, Action Against Hunger, Rich International and the International Rescue Committee. The fifth victim was a security officer working with the team, said a spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, as quoted by CNN. The U.N. said it had been trying to secure the release of the hostages since they were abducted while traveling on the main road connecting the town of Monguno with Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. On Wednesday, the militant group released a video showing the five being executed, reported the Washington Post.
Central African Republic—3 Militants Die In Assault On Peacekeepers New Times | 07/24/2020 Three militants have been killed in an attack on peacekeepers in western Central African Republic, reports the New Times (Kigali) On July 17, members of the Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation (3R) militant group attacked a peacekeeping convoy in Gedze in the Nana-Mambere prefecture, said a spokesman for the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission on July 22, as quoted by Agence France-Presse. The Rwandan peacekeepers repelled the assault, killing at least three militants. Ammunition and weapons were recovered, including an AK-47 assault rifle and five rocket-propelled grenades. MINUSCA peacekeepers have reclaimed portions of the prefecture from the militant group, which has avoided direct confrontation, said the spokesman. In June, 3R announced that it was suspending its participation in a peace agreement with the government.
Chile—Air Force Eyes Modernization For F-16 Fighters U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency | 07/24/2020 The U.S. State Dept. has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Chile of upgrades for its F-16 fighter jets, reports the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The proposed US$634.7 million deal covers 19 Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS); six inert Mk 82 general-purpose bomb bodies; two MXU-650KB airfoil groups; 44 LN-260 embedded GPS/inertial navigation system (EGI); and 49 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radios (MIDS JTRS). Also included in the possible sale are avionics and Mode 5 equipment and software upgrades, integration and testing; software and software support; ARC-238 radios; combined altitude radar altimeters (CARA); Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) support; AN/APX-126 identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) combined interrogator transponders; and other communications equipment. The upgrades would improve the ability the Chilean air force to perform sovereignty and homeland defense missions, increase interoperability with the U.S. and partner forces and deter potential adversaries, said an agency release.
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