TheList 5693

The List 5693     TGB

 

Good Monday Morning April 26.

I hope that you all had a great weekend.

Regards,

Skip.

 

This day in Naval History April 26,

This day in Naval History April 26

1869 As a post-Civil War push for re-enlistments, the Good Conduct Medal, then called Good Conduct Badge, is authorized by Secretary of the Navy Adolphus E. Borie.

 

1918 USS Stewart (DD 13) collides with an unidentified steamer near Brest, France. Just days earlier, Stewart crew members attacked a German submarine and saved the SS Florence H crew when she exploded internally.

 

1944 USS Frost (DE 144), USS Huse (DE 145), USS Barber (DE 161) and USS Snowden (DE 246) sink the German submarine U 488 northwest of the Canary Islands.

 

1952 While steaming at night in formation 700 miles west of the Azores, USS Hobson (DD 464) and USS Wasp (CV 18) collide as Hobson crossed the carriers bow from starboard to port and was struck amidships, breaking her in two. Hobson and 176 of her crew are lost, including her commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. W. J. Tierney.

 

1960 USS George Washington (SSN 598) conducts a Polaris missile test firing in Long Island Sound in the Atlantic Ocean.

 

2002 The Watson-class vehicle cargo ship USNS Soderman (T AKR 317) is launched at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif.

Thanks to CHINFO

 

No CHINFO on the weekend

 

This day in World history  April 26

 

757				Stephen II ends his reign as Catholic Pope.
1478		Pazzi conspirators attack Lorenzo and kill Giuliano de' Medici.
1514		Copernicus makes his first observations of Saturn.
1564		William Shakespeare is baptized.
1607		The British establish a colony at Cape Henry, Virginia.
1865		Joseph E. Johnston surrenders the Army of Tennessee to General William T. Sherman.
1915		Second Lieutenant William Rhodes-Moorhouse becomes the first airman to win the Victoria Cross after conducting a successful bombing raid.
1929		The first non-stop flight from England to India is completed.
1931		New York Yankee Lou Gehrig hits a home run but is called out for passing a runner, the mistake ultimately costs him the home run record.
1937		The ancient Basque town of Guernica in northern Spain is bombed by German planes.
1941		The first organ is played at a baseball stadium in Chicago.
1968		Students seize the administration building at Ohio State University.
1983		The Dow Jones Industrial Average breaks 1,200 for first time.
1986		The world's worst nuclear disaster occurs at the Chernobyl power plant in the Soviet Union.
1994		Nelson Mandela wins the presidency in South Africa's first multiracial elections.

 

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Monday Morning Humor--Saturday Is May Day   Thanks to Al

 

As a world-wide day of celebration, the first of May probably ranks second only to New Year's day.  Whereas everyone celebrates the New Year, albeit in different ways, May Day has many different customs depending on where in the world you live:

May Day - The first day of summer

Beltane - Cross quarter day. Half way between the Vernal Equinox and Mid-Summer solstice

Maypole dances in England

Walpurgis Night (Germany and Scandinavia). - Bonfires and devil worship Hitler chose this night to commit suicide in 1945

Labor Day - China and Russia hold formal parades (N.B. Labor day in USA is on first Monday in September)

While May Day is now considered to be 1st May (or May 1st), Beltane or Walpurgis starts on the last evening of April and ends on 1st May.  There is evidence that at in ancient times  pagan celebrations occurred on the nearest full moon rather than the 1st of May.  One thought that flashes through my mind is all the different drinks that people world-wide will use to toast May Day, for example beer in Bavaria (Germany), Sima in Savonlinna (Finland), cider in Cornwall and mead in Merthyr (Wales).

 

 

     In olden times, it is reported that sacrifices were made at the altar.

     Since then, weddings have been held there, and times haven't changed at all!

 

 

     Two yokels were driving to the next village's May Day Fair.  They came to a sign that said: May Day Fair Left.  ... so they turned around and went home!

 

 

     A townie was looking for the May Day Fair, he stopped and asked Jethro.

     "Will this road take me to the May Day Fair?"

     "Oh no," said Jethro. "You'll have to go by yourself!"

 

 

     Norman decides to take a balloon ride on offer at the local May Day Fair. The balloon and its customers drift along in the breeze, but eventually they are lost.  

     Norman has no idea where he is, so when the gondolier takes the basket down to ten feet above ground he calls to a passer-by: "Excuse me, sir, can you tell me where I am?"

     After looking Norman up and down, the passer-by says: "You are in a red balloon, ten feet above ground."

     The balloon's unhappy resident replied, "You must be a lawyer."

     "How could you possible know that?" asked the passer-by.

     "Because your answer is technically correct but absolutely useless, and the fact is I am still lost".

     "Then you must be in management", said the passer-by.

     "That's right!  How did you know?'"

     "You have such a good view from where you are, and yet you don't know where you are and you don't know where you are going. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now your problem is somehow my fault!"

 

 

     Four high school boys afflicted with spring fever skipped morning classes.

     After lunch they reported to the teacher that they had a flat tire.

     Much to their relief she smiled and said, "Well, you missed a test today so take seats apart from one another and take out a piece of paper." Still smiling, she waited for them to sit down. Then she said: "First Question: Which tire was flat?"

 

 

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims!

 

Why are trees very forgiving?

Because in the Fall they "Let It Go" and by May Day they "turn over a new leaf".

 

 

Have a great week,

Al

 

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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear

LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War—. For The List for Monday, 26 April 2021... Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻

 

Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-68)

LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam air war...

From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 26 April 1966...

"Then and Now" (Great YouTube 16-minute tale recreated by Phantom Flyer Art Long: access through his comment at the bottom of 26 April 1966 RTR post)...

 

http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-26-april-1966-ready-or-not/

 

 

Vietnam Air Losses

Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at:  https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.

 

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This Day in U S Military History…….April 26

 

 

1805 – First Barbary War: United States Marines captured Derne under the command of First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon and former Consul to Tunis, William Eaton. The Battle of Derne was the decisive victory of a mercenary army led by a detachment of United States Marines and United States Army soldiers against the forces of Ottoman Tripolitania during the First Barbary War. It was the first recorded land battle the United States fought overseas. U.S. forces and mercenaries marched for 600 miles (970 km) through the desert to attack Derne.

 

1937 – During the Spanish Civil War, the German military tests its powerful new air force, the Luftwaffe, and the principles of Blitzkreig, on the Basque town of Guernica in northern Spain. Although the independence-minded Basque region opposed General Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, Guernica itself was a small rural city of only 5,000 inhabitants that declared nonbelligerence in the conflict. With Franco's approval, the cutting-edge German aircraft began their unprovoked attack at 4:30 p.m., the busiest hour of the market day in Guernica. For three hours, the German planes poured down a continuous and unopposed rain of bombs and gunfire on the town and surrounding countryside. One-third of Guernica's 5,000 inhabitants were killed or wounded, and fires engulfed the city and burned for days. The indiscriminate killing of civilians at Guernica aroused world opinion and became a symbol of fascist brutality. Unfortunately, by 1942, all major participants in World War II had adopted the bombing innovations developed by the Nazis at Guernica, and by the war's end, in 1945, millions of innocent civilians had perished under Allied and Axis air raids.

 

1945 – On Okinawa, the US 24th Corps attacks the along the Japanese held Maeda Escarpment (Shuri Line). American armor reaches the reverse slope.

1945 – Filipino troops of the 66th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Commonwealth Army, USAFIP-NL and the American troops of the 33rd and 37th Infantry Division, United States Army are liberated in Baguio City and they fight against the Japanese forces under General Tomoyuki Yamashita.

 

1952 – Air Force Major William H. Wescott, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, scored his fifth aerial victory to become the 12th ace of the Korean War. His F-86 Sabre "Lady Francis/Michigan Center" was also used by Colonel "Gabby" Gabreski for one of his victories.

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

 

COOPER, JOHN (Second Award)
Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: 1832, Ireland. Accredited to: New York G.O. No.: 62, 29 June 1865. Citation: Served as quartermaster on Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher's staff. During the terrific fire at Mobile, on 26 April 1865, at the risk of being blown to pieces by exploding shells, Cooper advanced through the burning locality, rescued a wounded man from certain death, and bore him on his back to a place of safety.

CODY, WILLIAM F.
Rank: Civilian Scout. Born: Scott County, Iowa. Organization: 3rd Cavalry U.S. Army. Action date: 26 April 1872. Place: Platte River, Nebraska. Citation: Gallantry in action.
(In 1916, the general review of all Medals of Honor deemed 900 unwarranted. This recipient was one of them. In June 1989, the U.S. Army Board of Correction of Records restored the medal to this recipient.)

FOLEY, JOHN H.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Loupe Fork, Platte River, Nebr., 26 April 1872. Entered service at:——. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 22 May 1872. Citation: Gallantry in action.

STRAYER, WILLIAM H.
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Loupe Forke, Platte River, Nebr., 26 April 1872. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Maytown, Pa. Date of issue: 22 May 1862. Citation: Gallantry in action.

VOKES, LEROY H.
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Loupe Fork, Platte River, Nebr., 26 April 1872. Entered service at:——. Birth: Lake County, Ill. Date of issue: 22 May 1872. Citation: Gallantry in action.

SHELTON, GEORGE M.
Rank and organization: Private, Company 1, 23d U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At La Paz, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 26 April 1900. Entered service at: Bellington, Tex. Birth: Brownwood, Tex. Date of issue: 10 March 1902. Citation: Advanced alone under heavy fire of the enemy and rescued a wounded comrade.

*DUKE, RAY E.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mugok, Korea, 26 April 1951. Entered service at: Whitwell (Marion County), Tenn. Born: 9 May 1923, Whitwell, Tenn. G.O. No.: 20, 19 March 1954. Citation: Sfc. Duke, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Upon learning that several of his men were isolated and heavily engaged in an area yielded by his platoon when ordered to withdraw, he led a small force in a daring assault which recovered the position and the beleaguered men. Another enemy attack in strength resulted in numerous casualties but Sfc. Duke, although wounded by mortar fragments, calmly moved along his platoon line to coordinate fields of fire and to urge his men to hold firm in the bitter encounter. Wounded a second time he received first aid and returned to his position. When the enemy again attacked shortly after dawn, despite his wounds, Sfc. Duke repeatedly braved withering fire to insure maximum defense of each position. Threatened with annihilation and with mounting casualties, the platoon was again ordered to withdraw when Sfc. Duke was wounded a third time in both legs and was unable to walk. Realizing that he was impeding the progress of 2 comrades who were carrying him from the hill, he urged them to leave him and seek safety. He was last seen pouring devastating fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants. The consummate courage, superb leadership, and heroic actions of Sfc. Duke, displayed during intensive action against overwhelming odds, reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.

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*ESTOCIN, MICHAEL J.
Rank and organization. Captain (then Lt. Cmdr.), U.S. Navy, Attack Squadron 192, USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). Place and date: Haiphong, North Vietnam, 20 and 26 April 1967. Entered service at: Akron Ohio, 2() July 1954. Born: 27 April 1931, Turtle Creek, Pa. Citation. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 20 and 26 April 1967 as a pilot in Attack Squadron 192, embarked in USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). Leading a 3-plane group of aircraft in support of a coordinated strike against two thermal power plants in Haiphong, North Vietnam, on 20 April 1967, Capt. Estocin provided continuous warnings to the strike group leaders of the surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats, and personally neutralized 3 SAM sites. Although his aircraft was severely damaged by an exploding missile, he reentered the target area and relentlessly prosecuted a SHRIKE attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire. With less than 5 minutes of fuel remaining he departed the target area and commenced in-flight refueling which continued for over 100 miles. Three miles aft of Ticonderoga, and without enough fuel for a second approach, he disengaged from the tanker and executed a precise approach to a fiery arrested landing. On 26 April 1967, in support of a coordinated strike against the vital fuel facilities in Haiphong, he led an attack on a threatening SAM site, during which his aircraft was seriously damaged by an exploding SAM; nevertheless, he regained control of his burning aircraft and courageously launched his SHRIKE missiles before departing the area. By his inspiring courage and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Captain Estocin upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

*LEE, MILTON A.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). place and date: Near Phu Bai, Thua Thien province, Republic of Vietnam, 26 April 1968. Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex. Born: 28 February 1949, Shreveport, La. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Lee distinguished himself near the city of Phu Bai in the province of Thua Thien. Pfc. Lee was serving as the radio telephone operator with the 3d platoon, Company B. As lead element for the company, the 3d platoon received intense surprise hostile fire from a force of North Vietnamese Army regulars in well-concealed bunkers. With 50 percent casualties, the platoon maneuvered to a position of cover to treat their wounded and reorganize, while Pfc. Lee moved through the heavy enemy fire giving lifesaving first aid to his wounded comrades. During the subsequent assault on the enemy defensive positions, Pfc. Lee continuously kept close radio contact with the company commander, relaying precise and understandable orders to his platoon leader. While advancing with the front rank toward the objective, Pfc. Lee observed 4 North Vietnamese soldiers with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher Lying in wait for the lead element of the platoon. As the element moved forward, unaware of the concealed danger, Pfc. Lee immediately and with utter disregard for his own personal safety, passed his radio to another soldier and charged through the murderous fire. Without hesitation he continued his assault, overrunning the enemy position, killing all occupants and capturing 4 automatic weapons and a rocket launcher. Pfc. Lee continued his 1-man assault on the second position through a heavy barrage of enemy automatic weapons fire. Grievously wounded, he continued to press the attack, crawling forward into a firing position and delivering accurate covering fire to enable his platoon to maneuver and destroy the position. Not until the position was overrun did Pfc. Lee falter in his steady volume of fire and succumb to his wounds. Pfc. Lee's heroic actions saved the lives of the lead element and were instrumental in the destruction of the key position of the enemy defense. Pfc. Lee's gallantry at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, the 502d Infantry, and the U.S. Army.

 

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for April 26, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

 

26 April

 

1934: Boris Sergievsky carried 16,608 pounds to 2,000 meters (1.24 miles) in altitude at Bridgeport, Conn., to set a world seaplane record. (24)

 

1945: Eighth Air Force fighters raided over 40 Luftwaffe installations in Germany and Czechoslovakia and destroyed a record 747 German fighters in one day. (4)

 

1948: The Northrop XB-49 set a record by flying 9 hours 30 minutes without refueling in a test flight.

 

1949: At Fullerton, Calif., Bill Barris and Dick Riedel set a new world endurance record of 1,008 hours 2 minutes in an Aeronca sedan, the Sunkist Lady. During the flight they picked up food and fuel four times a day from a jeep. (24)

 

1951: KOREAN WAR. At night, over the western sector, a B-29 close air support strike against enemy troops forming for an attack on the U.S. Army IX Corps broke up the assault. (28) The Boeing B-47B first flew.

 

1952: KOREAN WAR. In air-to-air operations, Maj. William H. Wescott, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group, destroyed his fifth MiG in four weeks to become the war's twelfth ace. (28)

 

1956: Naval Aircraft Factory at Philadelphia renamed as the Naval Air Engineering Facility (Ships Installations). Its mission changed to add research, engineering, design, development, and limited manufacturing of devices and equipment for launching and recovering aircraft and guided missiles.

 

1962: The US and Great Britain launched Ariel I, the first international satellite, on a Thor-Delta booster from Cape Canaveral. The 132-pound NASA-built satellite carried British equipment for six experiments. (24) NASA launched a Nike-Cajun rocket from Wallops Island to begin a joint US-Japanese threeshot test series on atmospheric phenomena. (24)

 

1963: An advanced Atlas F carried a slender, pointed reentry vehicle from Cape Canaveral over a 5,000-mile course down the Atlantic Missile Range.

 

1966: Using Sidewinder missiles, an F-4C crew shot down a MiG-21 over North Vietnam, the first to be destroyed in combat. Major Paul J. Gilmore and 1Lt William T. Smith were escorting F-105 Thunderchiefs near Hanoi when the MiGs attacked. (16) (26) Col Joseph F. Cotton and Lt Col Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr., became the first Air Force crew to fly the XB-70A bomber. (3) The Air Force selected the Martin Company to develop a manned lifting body vehicle--a rocket plane without wing--to explore atmospheric maneuverability of future spacecraft. (16)  SECDEF Robert S. McNamara approved a joint Air Force and Navy recommendation to discontinue the Navy's participation in MAC. (16)

 

1971: Charleston AFB received its 16th C-5A aircraft to complete the first operational C-5A squadron. MACKAY TROPHY/HARMON INTERNATIONAL TROPHY. Lt Col Thomas B. Estes flew an SR-71 to a record speed at high altitude in a 10-hour 30-minute flight from Beale AFB. He flew 15,000 miles at speeds over Mach 3 above 80,000 feet. The SR-71 used inflight refuelings to make two round trips across the northern and central US and a complete circle of the western states. Colonel Estes and his reconnaissance systems officer, Maj Dewain C. Vick, later received the 1971 Mackay Trophy and the Harmon International Trophy. (1) Operation CONSTANT GUARD II (see 7 April): Through 1 May, MAC moved personnel and cargo from Homestead and Eglin AFBs to Thailand. (2) A SAM shot down an O-2 flying northwest of Ban Karai Pass, Laos. It was the first US aircraft lost over Laos. (17)

 

1983: The first GLCM training class graduated from Davis-Monthan AFB. (26)

 

1999: Operation ALLIED FORCE. Secretary of Defense William Cohen ordered 30 tankers, their aircrews and support personnel, to deploy by 1 May 1999 from active duty and Air Reserve components. They were sent overseas in response to General Wesley Clark's 13 April 1999 request for additional U.S. military aircraft. (32)

 

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World News for 26 April thanks to Military Periscope

 

USA—Funding Shortage Halts Software Development For F-35 Logistics System Defense News | 04/26/2021 The Pentagon has decided to take a "strategic pause" on software development for a new logistics system for the F-35 fighter jet due to a lack of funding, reports Defense News. On Thursday, Lt. Gen Eric Fick, the F-35 program executive officer, told the House Armed Services Committee that development work on Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) software had been paused due to a 42 percent cut in the program's development and test funding for fiscal 2021. In 2020, the F-35 program office announced plans to develop ODIN to replace the troublesome Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), which supports logistics tasks such as ordering spare parts or logging repair work. The ODIN would combine hardware developed by Lockheed Martin with government software, enabling the Pentagon to retain more control. Despite progress, the program office "underestimated the complexity of deprecating ALIS capabilities while migrating to ODIN and learned several important lessons," Fick said. "We need to continue to improve the functionality of ALIS in the near term, as we ensure that the ODIN structure that we put into place, from a hardware perspective, from a data environment perspective, and from a software perspective, is what the users need," the general said. Fick did not provide a timeline for software development to potentially resume. The plan will be updated based on available funding, feedback from the services and a final strategy to migrate from ALIS to ODIN, he said. Hardware development is continuing, with the first kit handed over to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., in September. 

 

USA—Russia May Be Responsible For Directed Energy Attacks, Pentagon Probe Says Politico | 04/26/2021 The Dept. of Defense has briefed lawmakers on an investigation into the use of directed energy weapons against U.S. troops, reports Politico (Washington, D.C.). The Pentagon's office of special operations and low-intensity conflict began the probe in 2020, which has identified Russia as the likely suspect. The total number of troops affected by the directed energy attacks has not been revealed. Some of the incidents allegedly took place in Syria, although not all the locations under investigation have been named. The attacks reportedly used high-powered radio frequency or microwave devices as well as particle beams to harm the target. The Pentagon's investigation is part of a larger inquiry into directed energy attacks against U.S. officials in recent years, including reports since 2016 of a mysterious illness at the embassy in Havana. The attacks in Syria are reportedly similar to those identified in Cuba, although directed energy weapons have not been confirmed as the culprit in either case. 

 

Spain—Long-Delayed Isaac Peral Sub Launched Navantia | 04/26/2021 Navantia has launched the lead boat in a new class of submarines after a problematic development. The Isaac Peral was put into the water at Navantia's shipyard in Cartagena, Spain, on April 22, the shipbuilder said in a release. The boat suffered an extended construction period after it was discovered to be overweight in 2013 due to engineering miscalculations. The fix required a 33-foot (10-m) hull extension. The Isaac Peral will next undertake harbor and sea trials, with first sailing planned in early 2022. Delivery is slated for early 2023. 

 

France—5 Arrested Following Stabbing At Police Station Outside Paris Agence France-Presse | 04/26/2021 Five people have been arrested near Paris following the killing of a French police employee, reports Agence France-Presse. On Friday, Jamel Gorchene entered a police building in Rambouillet and stabbed a woman who worked with the police, according to prosecutors. He was killed by police shortly after the attack. Gorchene, 36, is originally from Tunisia and had lived in France for several years illegally until he received residency in 2020, prosecutors said. A review of his social media accounts showed several instances of jihadist propaganda. Gorchene's father had also noted some changes in his son's behavior. Police detained his father, a cousin, another family member and a couple who housed him when he was living in France illegally for questioning. On Sunday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that the government would propose a new law to toughen anti-terror measures, including allowing the use of computer algorithms to identify potential online threats. 

 

Czech Republic—More Russian Diplomats Expelled In Growing Dispute Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 04/26/2021 The Czech government has ordered Russia to remove most of its staff from its embassy in Prague, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The latest in a series of tit-for-tat moves follows Prague's decision to declare 18 Russian personnel personae non gratae on April 17 following an investigation that found two Russian GRU military intelligence personnel were involved in a 2014 explosion at a Czech ammunition depot that killed two. The Russian government subsequently ordered 20 Czech staff to leave the embassy in Moscow. The Czech government on Thursday declared that Russia would not be permitted to have more staff at its embassy in Prague than were allowed at the Czech embassy in Moscow unless it reversed its expulsion. Moscow rejected the demand. Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek told the Blesk daily that each embassy would be limited to seven diplomats and 25 administrative and technical personnel. This will result in the expulsion of 63 Russian diplomats, who will have until the end of May to return to Russia, reported Reuters. The move does not affect the number of diplomats and technical personnel at Russian consulates in Brno and Karlovy Vary, as well as at Czech consulates in several Russian cities, Kulhanek said. On Thursday, Russia demanded Czechia further reduce its staff at its Moscow embassy to account for locally recruited staff, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

 

Russia—Navalny Ends Hunger Strike Moscow Times | 04/26/2021 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has ended his hunger strike after being warned by doctors that he was close to death, reports the Moscow Times. In a social media post on Friday, Navalny said he had been examined twice by a team of civilian doctors who warned that he could die "at any minute" if he continued to refuse food. Medical tests indicated Navalny was at risk of renal failure and heart problems due to dangerous levels of potassium in his blood, reported CNN. The examination appeared to satisfy the original cause for Navalny's hunger strike, which he began on March 31. The opposition leader demanded medical care for a range of ailments, which had been previously refused by prison authorities. Navalny is still demanding to see a specialist over concerns he is losing sensation in parts of his arms and legs. Days before ending his strike, Navalny was transferred to a prison hospital due to his declining health, which had been worsening since his imprisonment and following his poisoning with the Soviet-era nerve agent, Novichok. Large demonstrations were held across Russia on April 21 protesting Navalny's imprisonment and demanding that he receive health care. Russian authorities reportedly arrested nearly 2,000 demonstrators on April 22. 

 

China—Navy Commissions 3 Ships In Ceremony In Hainan South China Morning Post | 04/26/2021 The Chinese navy has commissioned three warships during a single ceremony at the naval base in Sanya in Hainan province, reports the South China Morning Post. On Friday, the Hainan, the lead ship of the Type 075-class of amphibious assault ships; the cruiser Dalian; and the ballistic missile submarine Changzheng 18 (Long March 18) formally entered service during a ceremony overseen by President Xi Jinping, reported Naval News. The Hainan, the first ship in the Type 075 class, is designed to carry around 30 helicopters and hundreds of troops and displaces about 40,000 metric tons. It has been assigned to the South Sea Fleet and is expected to operate in the South China Sea as well as near Taiwan. The Dalian is the third Nanchang-class cruiser and the second to enter service in 2021. The Changzheng 18 is believed to be the seventh Type 094 SSBN. The subs in the class carry 12 JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. 

 

Australia—Latest Reaper Drones Sought From U.S. U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency | 04/26/2021 The Australian government wants to buy advanced drones from the U.S., reports the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The potential US$1.65 billion deal covers 12 weapons-ready MQ-9B air vehicles; 15 Raytheon Multispectral Targeting Systems-D (MTS-D) electro-optical/infrared sensors; 16 AN/APY-8 Lynx synthetic aperture radars (SAR) with ground moving target indicator (GTMI); 15 RIOTM communication intelligence systems; and 36 embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems (EGI) with selective availability anti-spoofing modules (SAASMs). The possible sale also includes six KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for 500-pound bombs; four MXU-650 airfoil groups for 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II guided bombs; seven MXU-1006 airfoil groups for 250-pound GBU-58 Paveway IIs; four MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control groups (CCGs) for 250-/500-pound Paveway II GBU-58/GBU-12 bombs; six FMU-139 fuse systems; 12 Mk 82 general-purpose 500-pound inert bombs; and five high-bandwidth compact telemetry modules (HCTMs). In addition, the proposed deal involves Honeywell engines; certifiable ground-control stations (CGCSs); mobile satellite communication ground data terminals (SGDTs); Leonardo SAGE 750 electronic surveillance measures system (ESM); GATES/RSO/GRMA; automatic information system (AIS); ARC-210 radios; AN/DPX-7 IFF transponders; General Dynamics satellite communication (SATCOM) antennas and Hughes modems with U.S. government encryption; Leonardo/Selex Seaspray 7500 maritime radars; KY-100M security voice terminals; KIV-77 Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic appliques; AN/PYQ-10C simple key loaders; training systems; and support. The drones would enhance Australian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); target acquisition; and submarine-hunting, counter-land and counter-surface capabilities, the agency said. 

 

Indonesia—Nanggala Sub Declared Sunk After Wreckage Found Reuters | 04/26/2021 The remains of a missing Indonesian submarine has been located and all 53 sailors onboard declared dead, reports Reuters. The Nanggala disappeared on April 21 during a training exercise in the Bali Strait. The boat was declared sunk on Saturday after its oxygen would have run out, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. Later in the day, search teams located objects from the boat, including periscope lubricant and prayer mats, near the sub's last known location. On Sunday, officials said that the missing boat had been found, broken into at least three pieces. The sub was located at a depth of about 2,790 feet (850 m), far below its depth rating. The cause of the sinking is under investigation. Officials have ruled out an explosion, reported the Maritime Executive. Navy officials told CNN that the service plans to raise the wreckage and recover the bodies of the crew. All 53 sailors have been posthumously advanced one rank, reported the Jakarta Globe. 

 

Vietnam—S. China Sea On The Agenda Of Defense Talks With China South China Morning Post | 04/26/2021 Top Chinese and Vietnamese defense officials met last week to discuss disputes over the South China Sea and areas to boost cooperation, reports the South China Morning Post. On Friday, Central Military Commission deputy chief Shao Yuanming and Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien held talks last week in Dongxing in southern China. The talks included a "frank and in-depth exchange of views" on international and regional security and military relations, said a release from the Chinese Ministry of Defense. Chien said that the Vietnamese military was prepared to "strengthen strategic mutual trust with China and make a greater contribution to the comprehensive strategic partnership," the ministry said. The agenda focused on ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea, reported the Vietnam News Agency. Vietnam emphasized that countries should "work together to maintain peace and stability" and maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully. Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe arrived in Hanoi on Sunday ahead of high-level talks, reported the VN Express. 

 

Iran—Zarif Slams IRGC's Influence Over Foreign Policy In Leaked Interview Guardian | 04/26/2021 Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif has criticized the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over Iranian foreign policy, according to leaked audio cited by the Guardian (U.K.). In an interview with journalist Saeed Laylaz in March, Zarif acknowledged that the IRGC often plays the leading role in formulating foreign policy, with diplomatic relations seen through a securitized lens. This forced Zarif to spend much of his time cultivating relations with the IRGC, he said. Zarif also said that some Iranian officials, including slain IRGC external operations chief Qassem Suleimani, attempted to disrupt the passage of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement by lobbying foreign officials and orchestrating the 2015 attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran. The minister suggested that he was unaware of the scale of Iranian troop deployments in Syria until he was informed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, reported Al Jazeera (Qatar). The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed the interview with Iran International, a Saudi-backed news venture, was genuine, but claimed the published excerpts distorted Zarif's comments to give a negative view of Soleimani. Some analysts say the leaks are an attempt to discredit Zarif amid ongoing negotiations to resume the 2015 nuclear deal. Others argue that Zarif was attempting to exonerate himself for the failures of Iranian foreign policy. 

 

Jordan—16 Freed 3 Weeks After Arrest In Alleged Coup Plot Al Jazeera | 04/26/2021 The Jordanian government has released most of those detained three weeks ago in an alleged plot to overthrow King Abdullah II, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). On Thursday, Jordanian prosecutors announced that it had released 16 detainees at the request of the king. Those released reportedly included several members of the prominent Majali clan, including Yasser Majali, the head of former crown prince Hamzah bin Hussein's office, and Sheikh Sameer Majali, reported the Washington Post. Those who were released were "misled, wronged, dragged behind this sedition," said King Abdullah. Two remain in custody: Former royal court chief Bassem Awadallah and former special envoy to Saudi Arabia Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, due to their differing indictments, roles in the plot and the degree of incitement compared to those who were freed, prosecutors said.

 

Israel—Kohavi Makes 1st Visit To U.S. Times of Israel | 04/26/2021 The head of the Israeli Defense Forces is in the U.S. this week for his first visit since assuming the job in 2019, reports the Times of Israel. Kohavi was scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on Sunday ahead of meetings with top defense officials. He is expected to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Gen. Mike Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of Central Command, and Gen. Richard Clarke, who leads U.S. Special Operations Command, the IDF said in a Friday release. The talks are expected to cover shared security challenges, with a focus on the Iranian nuclear threat; Iranian retrenchment efforts in the Middle East; Hezbollah armament efforts; and Iranian precision-guided missiles and joint force buildup, the IDF said. Kohavi is known as a strong opponent of the Iran nuclear deal and warned in a speech shortly after President Biden's inauguration that returning to it was a mistake. 

 

Somalia—Fighting Reported After Lower House Unilaterally Extends President's Mandate Garowe Online | 04/26/2021 Fighting has erupted in Mogadishu after the lower house of Parliament extended the term of President Mohammed Abdullahi "Farmajo" without Senate approval, reports the Garowe Online (Mogadishu). Fighting in the Middle Shabelle region began on Sunday, when forces  opposed to Farmajo seized control of several towns, including Fagah and Sanawith. In Mogadishu, numerous opposition candidates reported that their residences came under attack by soldiers loyal to Farmajo. Most of the soldiers involved in the attacks were said to be from Turkish-trained units. The government denied involvement in a statement. Somali troops loyal to opposition figures also fought pro-government troops in Mogadishu. Troops from both camps blocked key roads in the area, a witness told Agence France-Presse. Opposition forces were still in control of positions near the presidential palace on Monday. There were no immediate casualty figures. On April 12, the lower house of Parliament voted to extend Farmajo's term, which ended on Feb. 8, for two years. The Senate and others say the move is unconstitutional.

 

Chad—France Voices Support For Military Council Voice Of America News | 04/26/2021 French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has expressed support for the Chadian military's move to take power after the death of President Idriss Deby, reports the Voice of America News. On Thursday, Le Drian said in a television interview that the military's decision to dissolve Chad's National Assembly and form a transition council was necessary given the exceptional circumstances. Under the Chadian constitution, the speaker of the National Assembly, Haroun Kabadi, was next in line for the presidency. Kabadi says he supports the transition council, due to the "military, security and political context." The council named Deby's son, Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, as interim president. 

 

Mozambique—Total Withdraws From LNG Project In Cabo Delgado Total | 04/26/2021 French energy giant Total has declared force majeure under its contract with the Mozambican government to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) resources in the northern Cabo Delgado province, the company said in a release. On Monday, Total announced the withdrawal of all personnel from the site in Afungi, saying it would be unable to execute its contract due to ongoing security issues. The company indicated that it would like to resume work once security has been restored in the area. Total and ExxonMobil operate massive LNG projects in the region, noted Reuters. The French company halted plans to resume work at the site last month amid a renewed offensive by the Ansar Al Sunnah militant group in Palma, near the Afungi site.