Building Undersea Warfare Capacity:Sub Group 2 Re-established

On 30 September 2019,in response to re-emergent great power competition, the US Navy re-established Commander,Sub Group 2 in Norfolk, Virginia.It had been dis-established in August 2014.According to the Navy,SUBGRU 2 is aimed at:
Enhancing the Navy's capacity to command and control its Undersea Warfare forces seamlessly across the entire Atlantic area, from the Eastern Seaboard of the United States to the Barents Sea, and even into the South Atlantic,if the need arises.*
VADM Charles Richard, Commander of Submarine Forces, said that:
The security environment continues to grow more challenging and complex in the North Atlantic.To maintain America's undersea superiority, we must increase naval power and our readiness for high-end blue water warfare.How we're organized to command that employment will be a driving factor in our success-that's why we're re-establishing Sub Group 2 today.*
Commander, SUBGRU 2 RADM James Waters:
We will prepare forces to control the undersea domain through rigorous competitive training, and a thorough understanding of our adversaries and the environment where we both operate.Further, we will innovate and advance the art of theater anti-submarine warfare through complex fleet exercises and war games.*
SUBGRU 2 is capable of operating as an embedded Commander ,Task Force within Commander ,U.S. 2nd Fleet when it is activated as a Maritime Command Element.*
ADM Christopher Grady, Commander,U.S. Fleet Forces Command,told SUBGRU 2 that:
You must understand that winning decisively in a potential "Fourth Battle of the Atlantic" should be your guiding vision.The best way to prevent a fight is to be prepared to win decisively should anyone threaten us.We believe in power for peace.*

BALTOPS 2019 Participants

Those participating in the upcoming Exercise BALTOPS 2019 are:
Belgium,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,the Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Spain,Sweden,Turkey,the UK and the US.*
The 47th iteration of BALTOPS will be led by Commander,2nd Fleet (C2F) from the USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20),a Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship.It was docked at Naval Base Kiel-Tirpitzhafen,Germany on 5 June 2019 as crew members prepared for directing and supporting the warfighting drills in the Baltic Sea Region.*
BALTOPS 2019 runs from 9-21 June.It aims to enhance the defence of the Baltic Sea Region by NATO Allies and partners.

Navy's New Atlantic Fleet Begins Full Operations with Critical NATO Exercise

Less than a year after it was re-established,having been drydocked in 2011 by the Obama administration,the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet (Commander 2nd Fleet,or C2F) achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on 29 May 2019.That means it can now lead fleet-wide operations,developing and employing forces at the highest level of warfare,as well as interoperating with allies and partners in the North Atlantic and Arctic.The C2F is based in Norfolk,Virginia.It is under the command of VADM Andrew "Woody" Lewis,a US Naval Academy graduate and distinguished naval aviator.The new fleet is a response to Russia's aggressive activity and China's increasing influence in the North Atlantic and Arctic.Both countries have been steadily developing and deploying advanced weapons systems and maritime assets that challenge the defences of North America and Europe alike. *
C2F's major European debut mission will be leading the annual Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) in the Baltic Sea,leveraging increased lethality,interoperability and integrated warfighting capability with regional allies and partners.VADM Lewis described BALTOPS as being:
an unambiguous display of strength in the Baltic Region.As an Alliance,increasing our capabilities across all domains,as well as building a command-wide network,will give us the ability to deter aggression and project stability.*
C2F will ensure access and defend the US,allied and partner interests.In partnership with the Naval War College and the warfare development centres,C2F will be a hub in the Navy's concept development and implementation,ensuring that when the Navy operates around the world,it is prepared to compete,fight and win in this era of great power competition,the Navy said.The motto of C2F is "Ready to Fight."*
BALTOPS 2019 runs from 9-21 June.With air,maritime and ground assets from 18 nations,BALTOPS participants will exercise air defence;maritime interdiction;anti-subsurface warfare;mine countermeasures;and amphibious operations,in order to strengthen joint leadership and teams across all layers of the battlespace.BALTOPS will demonstrate resolve in defending the Baltic Sea Region by executing a series of combined tactical manoeuvres  and scenarios.For example,some of the drills are to be staged off the heavily militarised Russian enclave of Kaliningrad,which is nestled between Poland and Lithuania.BALTOPS must show that establishing and maintaining maritime superiority is uppermost in the minds of the NATO and partner forces charged with securing the Baltics..