The List 6047 TGB
Good Monday Morning March 28 2022
I Hope that you all had a great weekend.
This is a Bubba Breakfast Friday in San Diego
Regards,
Skip
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
1814 British frigates HMS Phoebe and HMS Cherub capture the frigate USS Essex, commanded by Capt. David Porter, off Valparaiso, Chile after blockading the ship for six weeks.
1848 USS Supply, commanded by Lt. William F. Lynch, reaches the Bay of Acre, Israel, during an expedition to explore the Dead Sea and tracing the River Jordan to its source.
1944 Submarines USS Barb (SS 220) and USS Silversides (SS 236) sink Japanese cargo freighter Fukusei Maru off Rasa Island and Japanese cargo ship Kairyu Maru off Manokwari, New Guinea, respectively.
1944 USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE 86) is commissioned. She later supports the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns during World War II and serves during the Korean War.
1953 USS Philippine Sea (CV 47), USS Princeton (CV 37), and USS Oriskany (CV 34) launch 216 sorties against a North Korean supply depot during the Korean War.
1991 The first U.S. Navy carrier battle groups return to CONUS following action during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) battle group returns to Norfolk, Va., and the USS Saratoga (CV 60) battle group returns to Mayport, Fla.
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This Day in Word History March 28
1774 Britain passes the Coercive Act against rebellious Massachusetts.
1854 Britain and France declare war on Russia.
1864 A group of Copperheads attack Federal soldiers in Charleston, Illinois. Five are killed and twenty wounded.
1885 The Salvation Army is officially organized in the United States.
1908 Automobile owners lobby Congress in support of a bill that calls for vehicle licensing and federal registration.
1910 The first seaplane takes off from water at Martiniques, France.
1917 The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is founded, Great Britain's first official service women.
1921 President Warren Harding names William Howard Taft as chief justice of the United States.
1930 Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara respectively.
1933 Nazis order a ban on all Jews in businesses, professions and schools.
1939 The Spanish Civil War ends as Madrid falls to Francisco Franco.
1941 English novelist Virginia Woolf throws herself into the River Ouse near her home in Sussex. Her body will not be found until April 18.
1941 The Italian fleet is routed by the British at the Battle of Battle of Cape Matapan
1942 A British ship, the HMS Campbeltown, a Lend-Lease American destroyer, which was specifically rammed into a German occupied dry-dock in France, explodes, knocking the area out of action for the German battleship Tirpitz.
1945 Germany launches the last of its V-2 rockets against England.
1946 Juan Peron is elected President of Argentina. He will hold the office for six years.
1962 The U.S. Air Force announces research into the use of lasers to intercept missiles and satellites.
1969 Dwight D. Eisenhower dies at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C.
1979 A major accident occurs at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear power plant
1986 The U.S. Senate passes $100 million aid package for the Nicaraguan contras.
1990 Jesse Owens receives the Congressional Gold Medal from President George Bush.
1999 An American Stealth F117 Nighthawk is shot down over northern Yugoslavia during NATO air strikes.
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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear … Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post
… For The List for Monday, 28 March 2022… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 28 March 1967… The best seat in the house: Leading from in front…
http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-28-march-1967-holdem-by-the-nose/
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
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Awesome! …brings back many fond memories of chasing clouds
French Navy Rafale Formation Flight ....
thanks to Doctor Rich
Thanks to Jim via George M. ….
Hi George -
If you haven't seen it already, here's a wonderful 10-minute video of French fighter pilots in formation; music is good too. Watch it on "full screen".
Some of the most beautiful sights I've seen have been while flying. Hard to believe we did some of the same maneuvers as student pilots in Air Force T-38s back in the day.
Enjoy! Stay safe and healthy.
Cheers! Jim
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Thanks to Micro
video of Ukrainian tractors towing Russian tanks
From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:
Spirit. It's damned hard to defeat it!
This is too good not to share. Note the comments after you watch the short (1:46) video!
Here are some of the comments generated by the video:
According to reliable sources, Ukrainian farmers are now the fifth largest army in Europe.
The irony of Ukrainian farmers using American John Deere tractors to pick up abandoned Russian tanks should not be lost on anybody. Good job, Ukrainian farmers!
Imagine yourself as a Russian general, trying to explain to Putin you cannot attack your targets because a bunch of farmers GTA'd your armour units.
That has got to be the most humiliating sight in the history of warfare. You're this proud member of an allegedly world-class military, a farmer is towing your tank/APC/truck like you're 4 months behind on payments, and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it.
Russia is becoming even more of a meme. Imagine laughing and joking like this in a middle of a war towing tanks with tractors. Even in such terrible situation people can still laugh and cheer. Slava Ukraini!
The farmers should send bills to the Russian government for the towing charges.
If John Deere sends more tractors to Ukraine, would that be seen by Putin as an escalation of war?
Russia wants to demilitarize the Ukraine but leaves tanks everywhere.... absurd
Agricultural tractor just tows a deadly tank away... Can we take a minute to appreciate the peace symbolism of this?
Looking forward to seeing this in an advertising campaign by John Deere.
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Interesting Fact
Human Hair contains traces of golden
Gold is present in low levels throughout the Earth. It's been found on every continent except Antarctica, as well as in the planet's core, the oceans, plants, and in humans, too. The average human body of about 150 pounds is said to contain about .2 milligrams of gold, which we excrete through our skin and hair. Babies less than three months old tend to have more gold in their manes than older people, thanks to the precious metal being passed along in human breast milk. And while no one's suggesting we should mine the gold in hair or breast milk (as far as we know), researchers are studying whether gold — and other metals — might be recovered from human waste.
Gold is far from the only metal found in our bodies, however. Researchers estimate that 2.5% of the human body's mass is made up of metals; think iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, calcium, and more. Many of these metals have important health functions — gold helps transmit electrical signals throughout the body, and plays a role in maintaining our joints. As for how gold and other precious metals got to Earth in the first place, some astrophysicists believe it's all thanks to two neutron stars that crashed into each other about 4.6 billion years ago, leading to residual deposits of gold, silver, platinum, and more that eventually settled on our planet. Because these elements eventually found their way into our bodies, we can say that we truly are made of star stuff.
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This Day in U S Military History… March 28.
1814 – HMS Phoebe and Cherub capture USS Essex off Valparaiso, Chile. Before capture, Essex had captured 24 British prizes during the War of 1812. Two-thirds of Essex's crew is killed but 13-year old Midshipman David Farragut survives.
1942 – A British ship, the HMS Capbeltown, a Lend-Lease American destroyer, which was specifically rammed into a German occupied dry-dock in France, exploded, knocking the area out of action for the German battleship Tirpitz.
1945 – US naval forces, including TF58 and TF52, continue air strikes on Okinawa while TF54 continues bombarding the island. Japanese Kamikaze and submarine attacks continue.
1953 – U.S. Air Force Colonel James K. Johnson, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, became the 29th ace of the Korean War.
1969 – Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States and one of the most highly regarded American generals of World War II, dies in Washington, D.C., at the age of 78. Born in Denison, Texas, in 1890, Eisenhower graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1915, and after World War I he steadily rose in the peacetime ranks of the U.S. Army. After the U.S. entrance into World War II, he was appointed commanding general of the European theater of operations and oversaw U.S. troops massing in Great Britain. In 1942, Eisenhower, who had never commanded troops in the field, was put in charge of Operation Torch, the Anglo-American landings in Morocco and Algeria. As supreme commander of a mixed force of Allied nationalities, services, and equipment, Eisenhower designed a system of unified command and rapidly won the respect of his British and Canadian subordinates. From North Africa, he successfully directed the invasions of Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy, and in January 1944 was appointed supreme Allied commander of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of northwestern Europe. Although Eisenhower left much of the specific planning for the actual Allied landing in the hands of his capable staff, such as British Field Marshall Montgomery, he served as a brilliant organizer and administrator both before and after the successful invasion. After the war, he briefly served as president of Columbia University before returning to military service in 1951 as supreme commander of the combined land and air forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Pressure on Eisenhower to run for U.S. president was great, however, and in the spring of 1952 he relinquished his NATO command to run for president on the Republican ticket. In November 1952, "Ike" won a resounding victory in the presidential elections and in 1956 was reelected in a landslide. A popular president, he oversaw a period of great economic growth in the United States and deftly navigated the country through increasing Cold War tension on the world stage. In 1961, he retired with his wife, Mamie Doud Eisenhower, to his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He died in 1969 and was buried on a family plot in Abilene, Kansas.
1993 – The last A-6E Intruder departed from Marine Corps service. Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 332 transferred the last Marine A-6E to St. Augustine, Florida, and prepared for the squadron's transition to the F/A-18D and eventual movement from Cherry Point to Beaufort, South Carolina.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
WILSON, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 4th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Colorado Valley, Tex., 28 March 1872. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. Date of issue: 27 April 1872. Second award. Citation: In pursuit of a band of cattle thieves from New Mexico.
*HEDRICK, CLINTON M.
Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company I, 194th Glider Infantry, 17th Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Lembeck, Germany, 27-28 March 1945. Entered service at: Riverton, W. Va. Birth: Cherrygrove, W. Va. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: He displayed extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action on 2728 March 1945, in Germany. Following an airborne landing near Wesel, his unit was assigned as the assault platoon for the assault on Lembeck. Three times the landing elements were pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire from strongly defended positions. Each time, T/Sgt. Hedrick fearlessly charged through heavy fire, shooting his automatic rifle from his hip. His courageous action so inspired his men that they reduced the enemy positions in rapid succession. When 6 of the enemy attempted a surprise, flanking movement, he quickly turned and killed the entire party with a burst of fire. Later, the enemy withdrew across a moat into Lembeck Castle. T/Sgt. Hedrick, with utter disregard for his own safety, plunged across the drawbridge alone in pursuit. When a German soldier, with hands upraised, declared the garrison wished to surrender, he entered the castle yard with 4 of his men to accept the capitulation. The group moved through a sally port, and was met by fire from a German self-propelled gun. Although mortally wounded, T/Sgt. Hedrick fired at the enemy gun and covered the withdrawal of his comrades. He died while being evacuated after the castle was taken. His great personal courage and heroic leadership contributed in large measure to the speedy capture of Lembeck and provided an inspiring example to his comrades.
*MATTHEWS, DANIEL P.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company F, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Vegas Hill, Korea, 28 March 1953. Entered service at. Van Nuys, Calif. Born: 31 December 1931, Van Nuys, Calif. Award presented: 29 March 19S4. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader of Company F, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Participating in a counterattack against a firmly entrenched and well-concealed hostile force which had repelled 6 previous assaults on a vital enemy-held outpost far forward of the main line of resistance Sgt. Matthews fearlessly advanced in the attack until his squad was pinned down by a murderous sweep of fire from an enemy machine gun located on the peak of the outpost. Observing that the deadly fire prevented a corpsman from removing a wounded man lying in an open area fully exposed to the brunt of the devastating gunfire, he worked his way to the base of the hostile machine gun emplacement, leaped onto the rock fortification surrounding the gun and, taking the enemy by complete surprise, single-handedly charged the hostile emplacement with his rifle. Although severely wounded when the enemy brought a withering hail of fire to bear upon him, he gallantly continued his valiant l-man assault and, firing his rifle with deadly effectiveness, succeeded in killing 2 of the enemy, routing a third, and completely silencing the enemy weapon, thereby enabling his comrades to evacuate the stricken marine to a safe position. Succumbing to his wounds before aid could reach him, Sgt. Matthews, by his indomitable fighting spirit, courageous initiative, and resolute determination in the face of almost certain death, served to inspire all who observed him and was directly instrumental in saving the life of his wounded comrade. His great personal valor reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
INGRAM, ROBERT R.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Corpsman with Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines against elements of a North Vietnam Aggressor (NVA) battalion in Quang Ngai Province Republic of Vietnam on 28 March 1966. Petty Officer Ingram accompanied the point platoon as it aggressively dispatched an outpost of an NVA battalion. The momentum of the attack rolled off a ridge line down a tree covered slope to a small paddy and a village beyond. Suddenly, the village tree line exploded with an intense hail of automatic rifle fire from approximately 100 North Vietnamese regulars. In mere moments, the platoon ranks were decimated. Oblivious to the danger, Petty Officer Ingram crawled across the bullet spattered terrain to reach a downed Marine. As he administered aid, a bullet went through the palm of his hand. Calls for "CORPSMAN" echoed across the ridge. Bleeding, he edged across the fire swept landscape, collecting ammunition from the dead and administering aid to the wounded. Receiving two more wounds before realizing the third wound was life-threatening, he looked for a way off the face of the ridge, but again he heard the call for corpsman and again, he resolutely answered. Though severely wounded three times, he rendered aid to those incapable until he finally reached the right flank of the platoon. While dressing the head wound of another corpsman, he sustained his fourth bullet wound. From sixteen hundred hours until just prior to sunset, Petty Officer Ingram pushed, pulled, cajoled, and doctored his Marines. Enduring the pain from his many wounds and disregarding the probability of his demise, Petty Officer Ingram's intrepid actions saved many lives that day. By his indomitable fighting spirit, daring initiative, and unfaltering dedications to duty, Petty Officer Ingram reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for March 28, 2021 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
28 March
1913: Lts Thomas DeWitt Milling and William C. Sherman flew a Burgess H to a two-man duration and distance record of 4 hours 22 minutes for 220 miles from Texas City to San Antonio. (5)
1935: Dr. Robert Goddard launched the first rocket with gyroscopic controls to a height of 4,800 feet and a distance of 13,000 feet. It reached 550 MPH. (5) 1941: The Army asked for black volunteers to man a pursuit squadron. The 99th Pursuit Squadron, the first black fighter unit, activated earlier on 22 March at Tuskegee, Ala. (4)
1944: Operation STRANGLE. Fifteenth Air Force flew its first 1,000-ton air raid against communications targets in Italy to cut supply support to German troops in central Italy. Through 11 May, the Mediterranean Allied Air Force had supplied 50,000 sorties to drop 26,000 tons of bombs on enemy lines of communication in Italy. (24)
1946: Northrop Aircraft received development contracts for the Snark surface-to-surface, subsonic, intercontinental nuclear cruise missile and the Boojum medium- to long-range (1,500-to 5,000- mile) surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile. (6) (12)
1948: Operation DRIP. Boeing and Air Materiel Command studied the British hose method for refueling B-29s. In a test, two modified B-29s transferred 400 gallons of water from one bomber to another. The test helped the USAF to decide to modify 80 B-29s for inflight refueling, 40 as tankers, and 40 as receivers. (18)
1950: TAC completed its evaluation of the B-61A (later TM-61A) Matador missile. This allowed the system to begin full-scale development through November 1952, when it started flight tests. (5)
1952: First F-86F Sabre delivered to TAC for the 21st and 50th Fighter-Bomber Wings. (5)
1961: President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to: (1) put 50 percent of SAC's bombers on ground alert, (2) speed up the B-47 phaseout, (3) produce the Skybolt to replace the Hound Dog missile, (4) defer three Mobile Minuteman squadrons for three squadrons in silos, (5) phase out the Snark program, (6) reduce the Titan force by two squadrons, and (7) reduce the B-70A Valkyrie program to a R&D effort. Congress approved these measures. (6)
1962: The US Army formed its first helicopter-borne cavalry troop at Fort Knox, Ky., to perform scouting and reconnaissance. (24)
1963: North American Aviation ended production of the Hound Dog missile. (6)
1964: Operation HELPING HAND. Responding to a massive earthquake near Anchorage, Alaska, the USAF used C-124s, C-123s, C-130s, and C-97s to deliver 1,850 tons of relief supplies and equipment. Two B-58s from the 43 BMW at Carswell AFB conducted low-level photography over Alaska's earthquake area. The B-58 round-trip flight covered 5,571 miles. (1) (21)
1966: The USAF Special Weapons Center achieved the first completely successful mid-air recovery of an Air-launched, Air-Recoverable Rocket. In the test, an USAF F-4C launched an ALARR at 44,000 feet and recovered it with a JC-130B at 5,000 feet over White Sands Missile Range. (16) (26)
1973: The last PACAF aircraft left South Vietnam. The first PACAF aircraft deployed to South Vietnam on 20 October 1961. (16) (26)
1979: The first two F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft in USAFE arrived at Spangdahlem AB. (16)
1986: The USAF terminated the T-46A program. (12) 1999: The National Guard Bureau asked Nebraska's 155th Air Refueling Wing to help in Operation Allied Force. Less than 60 hours later, the wing had personnel and three KC-135 tankers at Rhine Main AB, Germany. (32)
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WORLD NEWS FOR 28 MARCH THANKS TO MILITARY PERISCOPE
USA—SOUTHCOM Chief Warns Of Growing Chinese Presence In S. America USNI News | 03/28/2022 The head of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has warned about China's growing presence in Central and South America, including its potential to restrict access to key lines of communication, reports USNI News. Chinese companies have won contracts or are bidding for work linked to the Panama Canal, including port operations at either end, water management and a logistics park, Gen. Laura Richardson said on Thursday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Chinese firms have also won rights in Argentina to build facilities near the Magellan Strait at the southern tip of South America that would give Beijing access to Antarctica and secured work on a space research project that could enable it to track U.S. satellites. These projects pose risks to those strategic lines of communication, which the U.S. must keep open, Richardson said. China is involved in 29 port projects across SOUTHCOM's area of responsibility, she said. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has helped push South and Central American nations to sign up for China's Belt and Road initiative to meet development needs. Richardson noted that these countries have also discovered that, like Belt and Road projects in Africa, the Chinese work is not up to standard and that Beijing brings in its own workers rather than hiring locally. To counter China, the U.S. needs to make up ground investing in key projects, particularly in Panama, the general said. A recent Army Corps of Engineers major water project is a good start, she said.
USA—B-2 Stealth Bomber Drills Down Under Pacific Air Force News Service | 03/28/2022 A U.S. Air Force stealth bomber recently conducted a long-range deployment to Australia for training, reports the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The B-2 Spirit from the 509th Bomb Wing took off from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., on March 23, on its way to RAAF Base Amberley in Australia's northeastern Queensland state, PACAF said in a release. After entering Australian airspace, the Spirit refueled from a KC-135 aerial tanker before training with eight fighter aircraft, including two Australian F-35A Lightning IIs, two E/A-18G Growlers, two F/A-18F Super Hornets and two U.S. Air Force F-16 aggressor jets. The B-2 landed at RAAF Base Amberley, the first time the type landed at the airfield. The bomber swapped its crew and then returned to Whiteman AFB, integrating with F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, while en route. The mission lasted 53 hours in total, reported Air Force magazine.
Ukraine—Another Russian General Killed Newsweek | 03/28/2022 Ukraine says it has killed another Russian general, reports Newsweek. Lt. Gen. Yakov Rezantsev, the commander of the Russian 49th Combined Arms Army, was killed in a strike near Kherson in southern Ukraine, said Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian President's Office. Ukrainian media said that Rezantsev was killed at the Chornobaivka airbase, which Russia has been using as a command post. Lt. Gen. Andrei Mordvichev was also reportedly killed at the base. Russia has only confirmed the death of a single general to date, although Ukrainian and Western officials believe that as many as seven have been killed. Ukraine has a military intelligence team dedicated to targeting Russian officers, according to a source in the Ukrainian presidential administration cited by the Wall Street Journal. Killing top officers is seen as a significant public relations victory, the source said.
Ukraine—Russian Ops Near Chernobyl Could Pose Radiation Threat, Officials Say Reuters | 03/28/2022 A top Ukrainian official says that Russian activity around the occupied Chernobyl nuclear power station posed a radiation risk to much of Europe, reports Reuters. Russian troops are "militarizing" the exclusion zone around the station, which was the site of the world's worst civil nuclear accident in 1986, said Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. The Russians were transporting a large amount of old and poorly maintained weapons through the area, risking damage to the containment vessel around the reactor the melted down in 1986. In addition, Russian forces were preventing firefighters from bringing several fires in the exclusion zone under control. Vereshchuk urged the U.N. Security Council to adopt measures to demilitarize the exclusion zone around Chernobyl and dispatch a mission to reduce the risk of another nuclear incident due to Russian actions. Damage to the containment vessel would "inevitably lead to the release in the atmosphere of a considerable amount of radioactive dust and contamination not only in Ukraine but also in other European countries," she said. Russia has denied putting nuclear facilities in Ukraine at risk. It occupied Chernobyl on the first day of the war and prevented workers from leaving or being replaced by others for weeks. For more on the nuclear risks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, please see Military Periscope's special report, "Nuclear Dangers In Ukraine."
Russia—Tankers Switch Off Tracking Systems In Possible Effort To Evade Sanctions Business Insider | 03/28/2022 Russian tanker ships turned off their tracking systems numerous times last week in what could be an effort to evade sanctions, reports the Business Insider. Last week, Russian tankers switched off their tracking systems 33 times, according to location data obtained by Bloomberg News from Windward, a maritime risk consultancy. The tactic is known as "going dark" or "dark activity" and has been identified by the U.S. Treasury Dept. as one of several "deceptive practices used to evade sanctions." Windward also said that ship-to-ship meetings are taking place that could be long enough to transfer cargo to vessels that are not sanctioned, although the frequency of such meetings was at a normal level. Twenty-two unique vessels also entered Russian waters for the first time last week since Moscow launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Several countries, including the U.S. and the U.K., have barred both Russian oil and Russian vessels from their ports.
France—Paris Flexes Nuclear Deterrent In Response To Russian Threats The War Zone | 03/28/2022 The French navy has increased the number of its nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines at sea for the first time in decades, reports the War Zone website. On March 21, the Telegramme newspaper (Brest) reported that two Le Triomphant-class missile boats had departed their base on the Ile Longue peninsula, putting three of France's four SSBNs at sea at the same time. The exact date the deployment started has not been confirmed, but it appears to have begun after Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. This is the first time since the end of the Cold War that France has had three missile boats at sea at the same time. French policy until 1997 was to keep two of the subs at sea. This was later reduced to a single submarine. The enhanced posture would reportedly only last for a "limited period." The presence of a third sub at sea may be linked to a delayed return to port rather than an intention to keep three boats at sea. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly approved the increased nuclear posture on the recommendation of Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Thierry Burkhard. The move comes as Russia has refused to rule out the use of nuclear weapons as its forces struggle to meet their goals in Ukraine. Meanwhile, on March 23, the French air force conducted a test-firing of an ASMP-A nuclear standoff missile from a Rafale fighter at the Cazaux air base.
Turkey—Talks To Resume With France, Italy On Air Defense Systems, Erdogan Says Daily Sabah | 03/28/2022 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that he has discussed reviving a deal for air defense systems with France and Italy, reports the Daily Sabah (Istanbul). On Friday, Erdogan said that he had discussed the potential purchase of the SAMP/T missile defense system with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi during a NATO summit in Brussels. Turkey previously considered buying the SAMP/T, with Turkish firms Roketsan and Aselsan inking a deal with manufacturer Eurosam under the Long-Range Air and Missile Defense Project. Ankara previously claimed the process was halted by the French political stance. Instead, Turkey purchased S-400 air defense systems from Russia, which resulted in its expulsion from the F-35 stealth fighter program. The three countries have now agreed to reactivate a cooperation group on the SAMP/T program, which would be expected to support Turkey's indigenous air and missile defense programs and support potential future exports by France and Italy, said Draghi. Erdogan also said that he hoped that talks with the U.S. on purchasing new F-16 fighters and modernization kits would lead to results soon.
NATO—Alliance Activates CBRN Defenses Air Force Magazine | 03/28/2022 NATO says it has activated a unit specialized in responding to attacks by weapons of mass destruction amid concerns that Russia is considering employing chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, reports Air Force magazine. On March 24, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that U.S. Air Force Gen. Tod Walters, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and head of U.S. European Command (EUCOM), had activated the alliance's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense element. The move involves about 400 soldiers from CBRN units assigned to the NATO Response Force, a NATO official said. The personnel were placed on a higher alert level and were not immediately deployed, said the official. The activation is a response to concerns that Russia could use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine that could then spread and affect NATO countries, said Stoltenberg. The secretary also announced plans to provide new CBRN capabilities and training to Ukraine, including detection equipment, protection and medical support as well as training in decontamination and crisis management.
Greece—Deals Inked For French Fighters, Frigates Naval Group | 03/28/2022 Naval Group says it has signed a contract with Greece for three frigates. The deal covers three defense and intervention (FDI) frigates, with an option for a fourth, and in-service support, Naval Group said in a press release. Two of the frigates are scheduled for delivery in 2025 and the third in 2026. The deal is believed to be worth around US$3.5 billion, reported Defense News. The Greek FDI frigates will be equipped with the Thales Sea Fire radar, MU-90 torpedoes, Exocet anti-ship and Aster anti-aircraft missiles and the CANTO anti-torpedo decoy. Separately, Greece signed a contract with Dassault Aviation for six additional Rafale fighters, reported the French aviation firm. The latest order will bring the Greek Rafale fleet to 24. Deliveries of an initial order for 18 jets are expected to conclude by the summer of 2023 with the first Rafale under the latest order to be handed over in the summer of 2024.
Switzerland—F-35s To Come From Italian Production Line The Aviationist | 03/28/2022 Most of the F-35 stealth fighters purchased by Switzerland will be produced at a facility in Italy, reports the Aviationist blog. The Swiss air force selected the F-35 to replace its aging F-5 Tiger and F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters in June 2021, with plans to buy 36 aircraft. The Swiss government has now decided that at least 24 of the fighters will be manufactured at the Cameri final assembly and checkout facility in Italy, the Swiss Dept. of Defense said in a release on March 24. The first eight jets will come from the production line in Fort Worth, Texas, reported Jane's. Those jets will support initial training for Swiss pilots in the U.S. Lockheed Martin is now exploring whether it is possible to perform final assembly at a RUAG site in Switzerland as part of an offset package. Those jets would be assembled in Italy if local production is not feasible. The first Swiss F-35s are expected to be delivered in 2027.
Burma—Junta Leader Vows To 'Annihilate' Opposition Reuters | 03/28/2022 The head of the military junta in Burma has rejected negotiations with opposition forces, calling them terrorists, reports Reuters. On Sunday, Min Aung Hlaing gave a speech marking Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, the capital, in which he rejected any talks with the "terrorist" opposition and pledged to annihilate them. Meanwhile, protesters marched on Sunday carrying signs saying "uproot the fascist military." The junta has accused the opposition of killing civilians and security forces, while activists say the military has killed hundreds in its crackdown since seizing power in February 2021. More than 1,700 people have been killed and nearly 13,000 arrested since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) rights group. The military says the AAPP's figures are exaggerated. Last week, the U.N. said that the Burmese army was committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
South Korea—Air Force Shows Off F-35s In Show Of Force After N. Korean ICBM Test Yonhap | 03/28/2022 The South Korean air force has conducted a show of force with its newest fighter jets in response to North Korea's latest missile test, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Friday, the air force held an "elephant walk" involving armed F-35A stealth fighters taxiing in a large formation at an airfield to demonstrate their operational readiness. This was the first major mobilization of South Korea's F-35 fleet since the 40th and final jet was delivered in January. The drill came a day after North Korea test-fired the Hwasong-17 ICBM.
Yemen—Houthis Announce Truce After Wave Of Attacks In Saudi Arabia Al Jazeera | 03/28/2022 Houthi rebels in Yemen announced a three-day cease-fire a day after it launched a series of drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). On March 25, the Houthis attacked targets across Saudi Arabia, including one on an oil plant in Jeddah that started a major fire. On Saturday, at least seven people were reportedly killed in Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Sanaa and Hodeidah. The Houthis said the attacks hit a power plant, fuel supply station and state social insurance office in Sanaa. Later in the day, Mahdi al-Mashat, the political leader of the Houthis, announced the suspension of all missile and drone attacks and other military activities for three days. "This is a sincere invitation and practical steps to rebuild trust and take all the sides from the arena of talks to the arena of acts," he said. Al-Mashat also said that the rebels were ready for a permanent cease-fire if the Saudi-led coalition ended its attacks on Yemen. Hours after the offer, the coalition conducted air raids on Sanaa, which it said targeted "Houthi camps and strongholds" in the city.
Israel—Iran Tops Agenda Of Negev Summit Jerusalem Post | 03/28/2022 Iran was the focus of the Negev Summit in Israel over the weekend, reports the Jerusalem Post. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hosted the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, United Arab Emirates and the U.S. on Sunday and Monday in Sde Boker. The discussions centered on developing "a regional security architecture that will build deterrence against threats from the air and sea," said unnamed Foreign Ministry sources. The ministers reduced the gaps between them on Iran during the talks, said an Israeli Foreign Ministry official. At the end of the summit, the leaders presented a united front against Iran, stressing that they would cooperate to deter Iran and its proxies. The ministers also agreed to make the Negev Summit a regular event and to invite Palestinian participation to work toward a "shared future of progress and success."
Israel—ISIS Claims Deadly Attack In Hadera Cable News Network | 03/28/2022 The Islamic State has taken responsibility for a terrorist attack in northern Israel, reports CNN. On Sunday, two gunmen opened fire on local police in Hadera, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Tel Aviv, killing two passersby, a police spokesperson said. The victims were members of the Israeli border police force. Six people were injured, two seriously, medical officials said. Both assailants, who were from the Arab-majority Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm, were killed after a brief gunfight, the spokesperson said. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack on its Amaq news agency, reported the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks terrorist groups.
Azerbaijan—Government Denies Violating Nagorno-Karabakh Cease-Fire Agence France-Presse | 03/28/2022 The Azerbaijani government has denied a Russian accusation that its forces violated the cease-fire in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, reports Agence France-Presse. On Saturday, Moscow accused Azerbaijani forces of entering the Russian peacekeeping mission's zone, the first time it has publicly assigned blame for a violation of the deal that brought an end to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in late 2020. The Russian Defense Ministry also accused Azerbaijan of employed Turkish-made drones against troops from the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh region. The foreign ministry expressed "extreme concern" over the growing tensions in the region. On Saturday, the Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin had discussed the situation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday and Friday. Azerbaijan rejected Russia's accusations on Sunday, saying that there had been no change in its positions in the village of Farrukh, which is part of Azerbaijan's sovereign territory, reported Euractiv.
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