To All,
Good Saturday morning December 5.
Regards
Skip.
This day in Naval History
Dec. 5
1813—During the War of 1812, the frigate Congress captures the British brig Atlantic in the North Atlantic. Also on this date USS President captures schooner Comet off New York.
1862—During the Civil War, boats from the gunboat Mahaska and the converted tug General Putnam capture and destroy "several fine Confederate boats," a schooner and two sloops in branches of Severn River, MD, and bring back schooners Seven Brothers and Galena.
1941—USS Lexington (CV 2) sails with Task Force 12 to ferry Marine aircraft to Midway, leaving no carriers at Pearl Harbor. Previously, on Nov. 28, USS Enterprise (CV 6) sails from Pearl Harbor for Wake Island to ferry Marine aircraft to island.
1943—USS Narwhal (SS 167) embarks nine evacuees at Alubijid, Mascalar Bay and then sinks Japanese cargo ship Himeno Maru off Camiguin Island.
1944—USS Hake (SS 256) evacuates downed aviators and turns over all supplies that can be spared to Filippino guerilla forces ashore at Libertad, Panay, Philippines.
No CHINFO on weekend
Today in History
December 5
1484 |
| Pope Innocent VIII issues a bill deploring the spread of witchcraft and heresy in Germany. |
1776 |
| Phi Beta Kappa is organized as the first American college Greek letter-fraternity, at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va. |
1791 |
| Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart dies in Vienna. |
1861 |
| In the U.S. Congress, petitions and bills calling for the abolition of slavery are introduced. |
1862 |
| Union General Ulysses S. Grant's cavalry receives a setback in an engagement on the Mississippi Central Railroad at Coffeeville, Mississippi. |
1864 |
| Confederate General John Bell Hood sends Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry and a division of infantry toward Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
1904 |
| The Japanese destroy a Russian fleet at Port Arthur in Korea. |
1909 |
| George Taylor makes the first manned glider flight in Australia in a glider that he designed himself. |
1912 |
| Italy, Austria and Germany renew the Triple Alliance for six years. |
1916 |
| David Lloyd George replaces Herbert Asquith as the British prime minister. |
1921 |
| The British empire reaches an accord with the Irish revolutionary group the Sinn Fein; Ireland is to become a free state. |
1933 |
| The 21st Amendment ends Prohibition in the United States, which had begun 13 years earlier. |
1934 |
| Italian and Ethiopian troops clash at the Ualual on disputed the Somali-Ethiopian border. |
1936 |
| The New Constitution in the Soviet Union promises universal suffrage, but the Communist Party remains the only legal political party. |
1937 |
| The Lindberghs arrive in New York on a holiday visit after a two-year voluntary exile. |
1945 |
| Four TBM Avenger bombers disappear approximately 100 miles off the coast of Florida. |
1950 |
| Pyongyang in Korea falls to the invading Chinese army. |
1953 |
| Italy and Yugoslavia agree to pull troops out of the disputed Trieste border. |
1955 |
| A bus boycott begins under the leadership of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., in Montgomery, Alabama. |
1966 |
| Comedian and political activist Dick Gregory heads for Hanoi, North Vietnam, despite federal warnings against it. |
1978 |
| The Soviet Union signs a 20-year friendship pact with Afghanistan. |
1983 |
| Military Junta dissolves in Argentina. |
2006 |
| Commodore Frank Bainimarama overthrows the government in Fiji. |
2007 |
| A gunman armed with a semi-automatic rifle kills 8 people at Westroads Mall, Omaha, Neb., before taking his own life. |
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Thanks to John
Ensign Jesse Brown
I looked up Jesse Brown once more. I've read this WikiPedia entry several times. Still makes me sad. I wish that I could remember the book or the article that went into detail about his life. After I read it, he became one of those people that I wish that I had the opportunity to meet. The article mentions General Frank Petersen. He was C.O. of VMFA 314 when I was at Chu Lai. I saw him a couple of times at our club (MAG-12. He was in MAG-13) and heard him once over the radio when he was on a functional check flight.
He took off and stayed in afterburner. I think he must have been clean by the way it climbed. Somewhere in the climb he keyed the mic and said, "Now, that's black power!"
I may not have the details correct as it has been 50 years!
S/F
John
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_L._Brown
More from John
I personally believe that the Chosin Reservoir was the Marine Corps' finest hour. Many of my Marine friends that have read Chosin by Eric Hammell agree with me. It is documented from Unit Diary entries (Unit Diary is the daily accounting/muster of Marines by each unit).
Ray Davis, later General (I believe 4 stars), received the CMH for his guiding his troops south to hook up with the break out conducted by Chesty Puller. Reading it humbled me beyond what I thought possible. You might recommend that book and the autobiography of Ray Davis.
Ensign Jesse Brown was the first black Naval Aviator and the first African American officer killed in Korea.
If memory serves me correctly, there was an episode of Annapolis that depicted the event.
While recommending things about the Korean war, I also highly recommend The Bridges at Toko Ri.
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Thanks to Jim…see the attachment
THE ZERO-ZERO CLUB
In the waning days of straight-deck carrier operations, a dozen pilots flying from the U.S.S. Philippine Sea (CVA-47) on a June morning in 1955 experienced a Sunday to remember forever.
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I have never seen or heard anything about this since the article….skip
Thanks to Dr. Rich
DSG's supercavitating underwater bullets annihilate ballistics tests ...
Pretty amazing …
e.g. - "For starters, it lets underwater things shoot at other underwater things better than ever before. But it also lets submarines, submerged deeply enough that a helicopter above can't shoot them, fire on that helicopter with devastating force. From 5 m (16.4 ft) underwater, these things can hit a target 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) in the air."
Watch the video of ballistic gel penetration ...
DSG's supercavitating underwater bullets annihilate ballistics tests
Regular bullets decelerate so quickly in water that they only make it a few feet. But Norway's DSG has used the drag-reducing abilities of supercavitation to produce some extraordinary projectiles that'll hit submerged targets up to 200 feet away. Read more
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Three great articles from NHHC
Compiled by Brent Hunt, Naval History and Heritage Command's Communication and Outreach Division
Welcome to Navy History Matters—our weekly compilation of articles, commentaries, and blogs related to history and heritage. Every week we'll gather the top-interest items from a variety of media and social media sources and then link you to related content at NHHC's website (history.navy.mil), your authoritative source for Navy history.
Battle of Chosin Reservoir
After Gen. Douglas MacArthur successfully led the Inchon landings in August 1950, it appeared a victory for United Nations forces was imminent. MacArthur believed the Korean War would be over by Christmas and Communism in North Korea would be eradicated. However, Chinese Communists saw their regime increasingly threatened by UN Forces and felt compelled to react, quickly escalating the war. On Oct. 19, Chinese soldiers crossed the Manchurian border into North Korea, and six days later, South Korean units made first contact south of the Chosin Reservoir. On Nov. 2, the 1st Marine Division engaged a division of Chinese troops at Sudong and inflicted heavy casualties. Although it would seem the war had taken a turn, MacArthur was initially unconvinced of the threat posed by the Chinese and continued the northward advancement. By mid-November, an estimated 100,000 Chinese had infiltrated North Korea. For more, read the essay by COD's Emily J. Lambert at NHHC's website.
"This is Dad's Letter!"
On Oct. 26, 2019, an NHHC outreach team attended the commissioning of the newest USS Indianapolis (LCS-17) at Burns Harbor, IN. NHHC historian Dr. Richard Hulver was one of the members of the team. For the last few years, Hulver has conducted extensive research into the loss of WWII cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35), including the preparation and publication of the documentary history—A Grave Misfortune: The Indianapolis Tragedy. Before attending the event, Hulver decided to bring relevant documents to display at the commissioning, which included two letters written in 1945 by survivors. While at the display booth, a man looked at NHHC's materials and reached for the letters. When asked, the man indicated that his father was a survivor of Indianapolis, so Hulver asked for his father's name. He replied, "Richard McVay." The name sounded very familiar to Hulver, and he quickly connected the dots. "I'm pretty sure this is your father's letter. He wrote it to the Navy shortly after he was rescued in 1945," said Hulver. After hearing this news, the man looked at Hulver with a mix of surprise and skepticism. Skepticism quickly turned to enthusiasm when he recognized his father's handwriting, "This is Dad's letter!" For more, read the blog at The Sextant.
The History of the Navy SEAL Trident
In January 1962, in response to President John F. Kennedy's desire for the services to develop unconventional warfare, the Navy established SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) Teams ONE and TWO. Their mission is to conduct counter guerilla warfare and clandestine operations in riverine and maritime environments. To become a SEAL, Sailors must endure months of grueling training, including Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL BUD/S School; Parachute Jump School; and SEAL Qualification Training, followed by specialized training. The Navy SEAL Trident is issued to Sailors who have successfully completed all of the qualification training. It is composed of four objects—eagle, anchor, trident, and pistol—and is a symbol of honor and heritage. For more, read the article in Popular Mechanics. For more on naval special warfare, go to NHHC's website.
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Thanks to Gbox
Great archive of "memory reminders"…. "Call Sign" is a neat collection….
Worth a few minutes/hours of review on a rainy / snowy day….
REFTRA for old farts.
http://www.blueridgejournal.com/navy/lingo.htm
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December 5
This Day in U S Military History
1861 – Gatling gun was patented.
1904 – Japanese destroyed Russian fleet at Port Arthur in Korea.
1929 – Marine Captain A. N. Parker was the first person to fly over unexplored Antarctica.
1932 – German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States. In 2003 Thomas Levenson authored "Einstein in Berlin."
1933 – Prohibition was repealed–much to the delight of thirsty revelers–when Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The nationwide prohibition of the manufacture, sale or transportation of alcoholic beverages was established in January 1919 with passage of the 18th Amendment. Prohibition's supporters gradually became disenchanted with it as the illegal manufacture and sale of liquor fostered a wave of criminal activity. By 1932, the Democratic Party's platform called for the repeal of Prohibition. In February 1933, Congress adopted a resolution proposing the 21st Amendment to repeal the 18th and with Utah's vote in December, Prohibition ended. Three-quarters of the states approved the repeal of the 18th amendment and FDR proclaimed the end of Prohibition.1936 – Armenian SSR, Azerbaijan SSR, Georgian SSR, Kazakh SSR & Kirghiz SSR became constituent republics of Soviet Union.
1941 – USS Lexington, one of the two largest aircraft carriers employed by the United States during World War II, makes its way across the Pacific in order to carry a squadron of dive bombers to defend Midway Island from an anticipated Japanese attack. Negotiations between the United States and Japan had been ongoing for months. Japan wanted an end to U.S. economic sanctions. The Americans wanted Japan out of China and Southeast Asia and Japan to repudiate the Tripartite "Axis" Pact with Germany and Italy before those sanctions could be lifted. Neither side was budging. President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull were anticipating a Japanese strike as retaliation-they just didn't know where. The Philippines, Wake Island, Midway Island-all were possibilities. American intelligence reports had sighted the Japanese fleet movement out from Formosa (Taiwan), apparently headed for Indochina. The U.S. State Department demanded from Japanese envoys explanations for the fleet movement across the South China Sea. The envoys claimed ignorance. Army intelligence reassured the president that, despite fears, Japan was most likely headed for Thailand-not the United States. The Lexington never made it to Midway Island; when it learned that the Japanese fleet had, in fact, attacked Pearl Harbor, it turned back-never encountering a Japanese warship en route or employing a single aircraft in its defense. By the time it reached Hawaii, it was December 13.
1945 – At 2:10 p.m., five U.S. Navy Avenger torpedo-bombers comprising Flight 19 take off from the Ft. Lauderdale Naval Air Station in Florida on a routine three-hour training mission. Flight 19 was scheduled to take them due east for 120 miles, north for 73 miles, and then back over a final 120-mile leg that would return them to the naval base. They never returned. Two hours after the flight began, the leader of the squadron, who had been flying in the area for more than six months, reported that his compass and back-up compass had failed and that his position was unknown. The other planes experienced similar instrument malfunctions. Radio facilities on land were contacted to find the location of the lost squadron, but none were successful. After two more hours of confused messages from the fliers, a distorted radio transmission from the squadron leader was heard at 6:20 p.m., apparently calling for his men to prepare to ditch their aircraft simultaneously because of lack of fuel. By this time, several land radar stations finally determined that Flight 19 was somewhere north of the Bahamas and east of the Florida coast, and at 7:27 p.m. a search and rescue Mariner aircraft took off with a 13-man crew. Three minutes later, the Mariner aircraft radioed to its home base that its mission was underway. The Mariner was never heard from again. Later, there was a report from a tanker cruising off the coast of Florida of a visible explosion seen at 7:50 p.m. The disappearance of the 14 men of Flight 19 and the 13 men of the Mariner led to one of the largest air and seas searches to that date, and hundreds of ships and aircraft combed thousands of square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and remote locations within the interior of Florida. No trace of the bodies or aircraft were ever found. Although naval officials maintained that the remains of the six aircraft and 27 men were not found because stormy weather destroyed the evidence, the story of the "Lost Squadron" helped cement the legend of the Bermuda Triangle, an area of the Atlantic Ocean where ships and aircraft are said to disappear without a trace. The Bermuda Triangle is said to stretch from the southern U.S. coast across to Bermuda and down to the Atlantic coast of Cuba and Santo Domingo.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
MAGEE, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Drummer, Company C, 33d New Jersey Infantry. Place and date: At Murfreesboro, Tenn., 5 December 1864. Entered service at:——. Birth: Newark, N.J. Date of issue: 7 February 1866. Citation: In a charge, was among the first to reach a battery of the enemy and, with one or two others, mounted the artillery horses and took two guns into the Union lines.
WALLING, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Captain, Company C, 142d New York Infantry. Place and date: At Fort Fisher, N.C., 25 December 1864. Entered service at:——. Birth: Hartford, N.Y. Date of issue: 28 March 1892. Citation: During the bombardment of the fort by the fleet, captured and brought the flag of the fort, the flagstaff having been shot down.
WELD, SETH L.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company L, 8th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At La Paz, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 5 December 1906. Entered service at: Altamont, Tenn. Birth: Sandy Hook, Md. Date of issue: 20 October 1908. Citation: With his right arm cut open with a bolo, went to the assistance of a wounded constabulary officer and a fellow soldier who were surrounded by about 40 Pulajanes, and, using his disabled rifle as a club, beat back the assailants and rescued his party.
*McWHORTER, WILLIAM A.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company M, 126th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Leyte, Philippine Islands, 5 December 1944. Entered service at: Liberty, S.C. Birth: Liberty, S.C. G.O. No.: 82, 27 September 1945. Citation: He displayed gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in operations against the enemy. Pfc. McWhorter, a machine gunner, was emplaced in a defensive position with 1 assistant when the enemy launched a heavy attack. Manning the gun and opening fire, he killed several members of an advancing demolition squad, when 1 of the enemy succeeded in throwing a fused demolition charge in the entrenchment. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Pfc. McWhorter picked up the improvised grenade and deliberately held it close to his body, bending over and turning away from his companion. The charge exploded, killing him instantly, but leaving his assistant unharmed. Pfc. McWhorter's outstanding heroism and supreme sacrifice in shielding a comrade reflect the highest traditions of the military service.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for December 5, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
5 December
1907: Wilbur Wright offered the Army's Board of Ordnance and Fortification an airplane that could carry two people for $25,000. The board asked the Signal Corps to submit its specifications for an airplane. (12)
1911: Bell aileron patent issued to the Aerial Experiment Association (Alexander Graham Bell and others). Glenn Curtiss later bought this patent. (24)
1929: Cmdr Richard E. Byrd made a 400-mile aerial mapping flight along the coast of Antarctica. (24)
1943: Ninth Air Force pilots from the 354th Fighter Group flew P-51s into combat for the first time. They escorted Eighth Air Force bombers 490 miles to targets in northern Germany. The presence of escort fighters reduced bomber losses significantly. (21)
1944: Eighth Air Force B-17s and B-24s, escorted by P-51s, P-47s, and P-38s from Eighth and Ninth Air Force, hammered German targets in Kassel, Mainz, Giessen, Soest, and Bebra. (4)
1949: The USAF diverted $50 million from other projects to build a radar screen in Alaska and certain US areas after detecting a Soviet Atomic explosion in August 1949. (16) (24)
1950: McChord AFB, Wash., received the first two Douglas C-124 Globemaster II aircraft. The Globemaster soon became the mainstay of the strategic airlift fleet. (18) KOREAN WAR. Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command evacuated 3,925 patients from Korea in 131 flights, with most of these flying from a frozen airstrip at Hagaru-ri. This effort was the most aeromedical airlift in one day during the Korean War. Greek C-47s joined the Combat Cargo Command airlift to supply UN troops surrounded in northeastern Korea. Additionally, the USAF suspended attacks on the Yalu River bridges, because enemy forces were crossing the frozen river on the ice. (21) (26) (28)
1958: At Cape Canaveral, Fla., a Goose research missile completed the program's last test flight. (6)
1960: The Snark missile research and development effort ended when Cape Canaveral, Fla., launched the eleventh test missile. (6) A ship carrying F-102 Delta Daggers for the Hawaii Air National Guard arrived in Pearl Harbor. The delivery was part of an USAF conversion program from F-86 aircraft. (17)
1961: Cmdr George W. Ellis (US Navy) flew an F4H Phantom II at a speed of 1,400 MPH at a sustained altitude of 66,443.8 feet. (24)
1962: The USAF ended the Atlas flight test program with an "F" model launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on a 5,000-mile flight. Since 11 June 1957, 108 of 151 missiles launches were successful. (16) (24)
1963: Maj Robert A. Rushworth flew the X-15A-1 to Mach 6.06 over Edwards AFB, Calif. (3)
1970: The 954th Military Airlift Group (AF Reserves) from Hill AFB, Utah, assisted in a domestic action program to provide 40,000 pounds of food and clothing to Navajo Indians on reservations spanning the corners of four states. (16)
1974: Sikorsky Aircraft delivered the last HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant helicopter to the USAF. (18)
1978: The Defense Systems Acquisition Review Council II recommended full-scale development of the M-X (Peacekeeper) missile in vertical multiple protective shelter basing. The council also wanted an airmobile basing mode for the missile investigated. (6)
1987: Following Typhoon Nina, six C-130 Hercules aircraft belonging to the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing flew 34 tons of relief supplies to the island of Luzon, Philippines. (16)
1994: The START I Treaty went into force, bringing about reductions in nuclear-capable bombers and missiles. (16)
2001: The USAF awarded a $1.1 billion contract to Lockheed Martin to develop and demonstrate a Reliability Enhancement and Reengining Program for the C-5. The program included hydraulic upgrades, structural improvements to ensure the life of the C-5 to 2040, and environmental control system improvements related to the C-5's Avionics Modernization Program. In the program, four C-5Bs would be equipped with the higher-thrust General Electric CF6 engines used on Boeing's 747 and 767 as well as the Airbus A300. (22) Operation NOBLE EAGLE. The 125th Fighter Wing (Florida Air National Guard) sent its F-15s to patrol the skies over the Kennedy Space Center for the Space Shuttle Endeavour launch. It was the first shuttle launch since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. (32)
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World News for 4 December thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Air Force Set To Create New Organization To Support SPACECOM Air Force Magazine | 12/04/2020 The head of Space Force says that the Air Force will establish an organization dedicated to providing various types of support to the new U.S. Space Command, reports Air Force magazine. The Air Force service component will provide aircraft and other support to SPACECOM to ensure it can fully accomplish its joint missions, Gen. John Raymond said on Wednesday at the West Coast Aerospace Forum co-hosted by the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, RAND Corp., Center for Strategic and International Studies and MITRE. The Air Force is the last service to formally establish a dedicated component to work with SPACECOM. SPACECOM was activated last year with the goal of providing cohesive daily operations for assets such as GPS and intelligence satellites. With the Air Force now handing off much of its space infrastructure, it needs to provide additional personnel and assets to support SPACECOM or risk having a smaller role in joint operations, analysts said. The command is different from other combatant commands in that its satellites and radars support the other services, while relying on other organizations to defend them.
USA—Army Seeks New Payloads To Prepare Gray Eagle Drones For High-End Combat Defense News | 12/04/2020 The U.S. Army is seeking input from industry on new payloads for its medium-altitude drones, reports Defense News. On Thursday, the Army posted a solicitation seeking potential aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle. Systems being sought include synthetic aperture radars; electronic intelligence and communications intelligence systems; air-launched effects; and radar warning receivers. Such systems would enable the uncrewed aircraft to support joint operations across the spectrum of conflict and against high-end threats such as China and Russia, the service said. The new payloads must support target location and long-range precision fires without employing the line-of-sight electro-optical and full-motion video sensors and other systems used in counterinsurgency operations. The goal is for the MQ-1C to stand off at distances of up to 50 miles (80 km) from integrated air defense systems (IADS) and deploy air-launched effects into the defended area to detect, identify and locate threats and eliminate or disrupt them. Some payloads would enable the UAV to locate IADS threats and pass that information to other systems capable of recognizing the target and coordinating long-range fires. A demonstration flight with the payloads is expected in 2022 to compare the various systems and determine the best value payloads
United Kingdom—300 Soldiers Join U.N. Mission In Mali Guardian | 12/04/2020 British troops have begun to deploy with the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), reports the Guardian (U.K.). Most of the 300 troops arrived on Wednesday, according to British military sources cited by Agence France-Presse. The soldiers will be stationed in the northeastern Gao region and conduct reconnaissance operations in the surrounding area. British troops will not be directly involved in counterterrorism missions, which are usually conducted by the French-led Operation Barkhane, but will instead support the political process, said Maj. Gen. Nick Borton, the chief of staff for operations. The peacekeepers are expected to spend the first few months acclimating to the environment before gradually expanding their range of operations. MINUSMA is known as one of the most dangerous U.N. peacekeeping missions, though there have been few casualties among the well-equipped European participants in the mission, experts said.
Latvia—U.S.-Funded Special Operations Site Opened Stars And Stripes | 12/04/2020 A new site built by the U.S. in Latvia to host special operations forces is ready for action, reports the Stars & Stripes. The facility near Riga, the capital, was inaugurated last week, military officials said on Thursday. The base, built with US$3.7 million from the U.S. European Deterrence Initiative, incorporates a vehicle servicing facility, ammunition storage and two helipads for Air Force CV-22 Osprey tiltrotors. The facilities are intended to enable special operations forces to quickly move in and out of the area and conduct maintenance. The site is the second of three defense infrastructure projects in the Baltic states to be completed. A program to improve Estonia's Amari Air Base to allow it to host additional NATO fighter aircraft was completed in July. Work on a facility in Latvia that will increase the amount of gear and personnel that can be deployed to the region for exercises or in a crisis is nearing completion, officials said.
Russia—Sukhoi Completes Su-34 Attack Jet Contract Tass | 12/04/2020 Russian aerospace firm Sukhoi has completed the last of around 100 Su-34 strike aircraft ordered by the Russian air force, reports Russia's Tass news agency. On Wednesday, the United Aircraft Corp. announced that Sukhoi had completed production of the last aircraft in the batch, which had also successfully finished testing. In June, Sukhoi signed a follow-on contract with the Russian Defense Ministry for another 20 Su-34s, according to defense industry sources. The company is also developing a significantly upgraded variant, with a production contract anticipated next year.
Azerbaijan—Nearly 3,000 Killed In Nagorno-Karabakh Fighting, Defense Ministry says Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 12/04/2020 Azerbaijan has for the first time released casualty figures from the recent fighting with ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabkah, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. On Thursday, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that 2,783 of its troops had been killed in fighting between Sept. 27 and Nov. 10. Another 1,245 were wounded and 100 were still missing, the ministry said. The statement was the first acknowledgement of the extent of the casualties by the Azerbaijani government, which had sought to play down losses during the conflict. Armenian medical sources said that they were examining the bodies of 2,718 troops, some of which might belong to Azerbaijani servicemembers. On Nov. 14, Armenian officials acknowledged losses of up to 2,317 soldiers, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). Officials in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh government previously acknowledged the loss of 1,741 soldiers.
China—Beijing Researching Biotech To Enhance Soldiers, DNI Says Wall Street Journal | 12/04/2020 The top U.S. intelligence official says China is conducting experiments on humans in an effort to develop bio-engineered soldiers. Intelligence shows that Beijing has conducted human testing on members of the People's Liberation Army to develop troops with biologically advanced capabilities, John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, wrote in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday. He declined to identify the tests or source of information. Request by NBC News for comment from the CIA and Ratcliffe's office went unanswered. In October 2019, two researchers published an article with the Jamestown Foundation examining China's ambitions to use the gene editing CRISPR technology to create better soldiers. One of the authors of the paper told NBC that he was concerned with the potential consequences of changing human genes, rather than the possibility of facing super soldiers on the battlefield. Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the allegations.
Taiwan—18 F-16s Modernized This Year Central News Agency | 12/04/2020 The Taiwanese military says it has upgraded 18 of its F-16 fighter jets this year as part of a joint program with the U.S., reports the Central News Agency (Taipei). Through November, 18 of the aircraft were updated to the F-16V (Block 20) configuration, the military said on Thursday. The F-16V is a substantial upgrade of the jet and includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar; enhanced computer systems and architecture; and cockpit improvements. Taiwan is upgrading a total of 141 F-16A/Bs under a US$3.8 billion joint venture between the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) and Lockheed Martin. The military hopes to accelerate the rate of modernization and complete the remaining 123 jets by 2023. Officials have maintained a commitment to the 2023 date despite delays. Work was completed on six F-16s between January and October 2019, far behind the stated goal of six each quarter, the South China Morning Post reported at the time. Separately, the military said that it anticipates a signing letter of acceptance for MS-110 reconnaissance pods for its F-16s by 2021, with deliveries to take place between 2022 and 2024.
South Korea—Lawmakers Approves 5.4 Percent Defense Spending Increase Yonhap | 12/04/2020 The National Assembly in South Korea has approved a 5 percent defense budget increase for 2021, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). The 2021 budget will total US$47.9 billion, up from 5.4 percent from this year's US$45.5 billion budget, the South Korean Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday. The final budget approved by the legislature is lower than the ministry's initial request of US$48 billion because some programs have been delayed and their budgets dropped from the spending program. Around US$15.4 billion will be allocated for arms purchases and other projects to boost defense capabilities, representing an increase of 1.9 percent. The largest increase in spending was approved for the managing military assets and forces budget, which grew by 7.1 percent to US$32.5 billion.
Philippines—Soldiers Accused Of War Crimes After Posing With Body Of Rebel Al Jazeera | 12/04/2020 Philippine soldiers have been accused of war crimes after posing with the corpse of a suspected communist militant, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). Human Rights Watch said on Thursday that photos of soldiers with the body of a dead guerilla violated the dignity of the individual and laws of war under the Rome Statute. The photo was originally published by the state-run Philippine News Agency, which later took it down. A spokesman for the watchdog noted that the incident violated existing agreements between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, the political wing of the New People's Army (NPA). NPA member Jevilyn Campos Cullamat was killed in fighting with the 3rd Special Force Battalion in San Isidro, Marihatag, on Nov. 28, according to an army statement cited by CNN Philippines. Cullamat, 22, was the daughter of Eufemia Cullamat, a member of the Philippine House of Representatives. The elder Cullamat condemned the desecration of her daughter's corpse. An independent lawmaker also accused the military of planting weapons on the young woman's body, saying that she served as a medic with the NPA and was not a combatant. The Cullamat family is a member of the Manobo ethnic group, which has been fighting for land rights in the predominately Muslim Mindanao region.
Qatar—Foreign Minister Cites Progress In Talks To Resolve Blockade Gulf Times | 12/04/2020 Qatari officials say that there has been movement towards resolving the ongoing dispute with its Arab neighbors, reports the Gulf Times (Doha). On Friday, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that there had been recent positive developments in resolving the crisis without providing details. He made his remarks following a visit to Qatar by White House adviser Jared Kushner, who is also President Trump's son-in-law, reported Reuters. Kushner also visited Saudi Arabia. The talks focused on allowing Qatari planes to fly through Saudi and Emirati airspace, reported the Wall Street Journal. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates launched a multilateral blockade of the tiny Gulf country in 2017, saying that Qatar had grown too close to Iran and had interfered in the affairs of its neighbors through its support for political groups and the Al Jazeera media network.
Yemen—8 Civilians Killed In Hodeidah Attack Blamed On Houthis Agence France-Presse | 12/04/2020 At least eight civilians have been killed in an attack on an industrial site in Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, reports Agence France-Presse. On Thursday, shells hit the Thabit Brothers industrial compound, Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani told the arm of the state-run Saba news agency controlled by the government. He blamed the Houthi rebels for the attack. The minister said that eight workers were killed and 13 injured, while medical sources told AFP that at least 10 were killed. Fighting around the western port city has increased recently, although a December 2018 truce to avoid major confrontations in the area remains in effect. At least 74 civilians were killed in Hodeidah province in October, according to the U.N.
Syria—Turkish Troops Begin Work On New Base In Idlib The Syrian Observer | 12/04/2020 Turkey appears to be establishing a new base in Syria's northwest Idlib region, reports the Syrian Observer, citing Arabic-langugae media. Construction has begun on a new military base in the Al Masbah area of Jabal Al Zawiya, the opposition Jesr Press reported on Wednesday. At the same time, Turkish reinforcements consisting of more than 60 armored vehicles and trucks entered Syria through the Kafr Lossin border crossing. A source from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army said that the base near the town of Al Bara is the largest in Jabal Al Zawiya. Turkey appears to be fortifying its positions in some areas following withdrawals from several smaller observation outposts that were surrounded by regime forces in October. Jabal Al Zawiya is located near Ma'arrat al-Nu'man, the site of several rounds of fighting before it was taken by the regime in January.
Lebanon—8 Former Senior Security Officials Charged With Corruption Al Jazeera | 12/04/2020 Eight former senior members of the Lebanese security forces have been charged with corruption, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). On Wednesday, a judge in Beirut filed the charges and transferred the case to Beirut Examining Magistrate Charbel Abu Samra, who set a date of Dec. 10 for the questioning of the suspects, reported Asharq Al-Awsat (London). Those charged included retired Gen. Jean Kahwaji, who served as armed forces commander from 2008 to 2017; Edmond Fadl, the intelligence chief from 2008 to 2016; and Camille Daher, intelligence chief from 2016 and 2017. The other suspects included the former head of Kahwaji's office; the head of army intelligence in northern Lebanon; the head of army intelligence in Beirut; an officer in Lebanon's General Security agency; and a brigadier general. The charges included illicitly enriching themselves through their positions by exploiting the influence and accepting bribes. Bribes were reportedly accepted to bring officers into the army and to provide services to influential people. The corruption charges were filed based on an investigation by Lebanon's public prosecution office. Under Lebanon's Illicit Enrichment Law, all eight will be tried in civilian courts rather than the military tribunals traditionally employed for cases involving the armed forces. The case is a rare instance of accountability for senior officials in Lebanon, where corruption is prevalent, but officials are rarely prosecuted. The charges are also a blow to the military's image as one of the few institutions in Lebanon largely untainted by corruption.
Somalia—CIA Officer Killed In November Raid Guardian | 12/04/2020 Somali intelligence officials have revealed that a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency officer was killed last month during a raid against Al-Shabaab, reports the Guardian (U.K.). On Nov. 6, the CIA officer accompanied Somali and U.S. special operations forces deployed to the coastal village of Gendershe southwest of Mogadishu in an operation to capture three Al-Shabaab leaders that intelligence indicated would be in the town. These included Abdullahi Osman Mohamed, a bomb-maker believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians as well as the attack on a base in Kenya in January that killed a U.S. soldier and two contractors. A large car bomb detonated as the joint team was approaching Gendershe, killing four Somali personnel and the CIA officer, said a Somali intelligence officer. The officer was a member of the CIA's paramilitary division and a former Navy SEAL, reported the New York Times. The explosion sparked a 40-minute firefight, after which the U.S. and Somali forces withdrew without achieving their objectives. Al-Shabaab claimed to have set up the ambush after having been informed of the raid in advance.
Sudan—Army Retakes Control Of Border Zone After 25 Years Radio Dabanga | 12/04/2020 The Sudanese military has reportedly regained control of a section of the border with Ethiopia previously controlled by Ethiopian militias, reports Radio Dabanga (Sudan). On Wednesday, the Radi El Fashaga Committee announced that the military had taken control of the Khor Yabis area in the eastern part of the El Gedaref state bordering Ethiopia. Military sources confirmed that troops had been deployed to approximately half of the area controlled by the Ethiopian militias. The area had been occupied by Ethiopian gunmen known as shiftas that regularly conducted violent cross-border raids. Ethiopian farmers had also operated on the Sudanese side of the border under the protection of the shiftas. The border between Ethiopia and Sudan was drawn in colonial times and no demarcation has been agreed since Khartoum became independent in 1956, noted analysts.
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