Showing posts with label USS Mesa Verde. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Mesa Verde. Show all posts

Monday, September 18, 2023

Northern Coasts 23:Defending the Baltics from Enemy Attack

About 30 warships and 3200 military personnel from 14 nations are carrying out an annual exercise intended to enhance defence of the Baltic Sea Region.It will concentrate on high-end warfare and collective deterrence and defence by NATO Allies,NATO said.The drills began on 9 September and last two weeks.Said Dylan White,acting NATO spokesperson:Seven-soon to be eight-NATO Allies border the Baltic Sea,so the area is of critical importance to our Alliance.Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has radically altered the security situation in the Baltic Sea,and NATO has substantially increased its defensive presence in the region at sea,onland and in the air.Exercises like these send a clear message that NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory.*The two weeks of drills are currently underway,including amphibious operations;air defence;strikes from sea to land;and securing sea lanes.Participating are Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1,as well as military personnel from Allies Belgium,Canada,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,the Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Partner Sweden and the US.Germany is leading the manoeuvres.The drills are also featuring participation of land and air forces from the 14 nations.The scenario of the exercise simulates a Russian attack on the Baltics,according to ERR News (Estonian Public Broadcasting).*Vice-Admiral Jan Chrisitian Raack,commander of the German Navy,told Reuters that warships will practise sea lane defence primarily off the coasts of Estonia and Latvia.Germany is also commanding the operation from its new Maritime Command Headquarters at the city of Rostock on the Baltic Sea.Said VADM Raack:Finland and the Baltic States depend to almost 100% on the maritime supply routes through the Baltic Sea.*For its part,the US Navy is contributing the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19),an amphibious transport dock of the San Antonio-class.*Rostock is on the Bay of Mecklenburg,an arm of the Baltic Sea.The city is in the German state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.The new HQ will reportedly serve as NATO's go-to HQ for Baltic Sea Region defence.* Please excuse any delays as this blog experienced an outage while writing this post.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

US Forces Poised For Iraq Response-USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group

US warships,aircraft and troops are poised for orders to respond to the advance of Iraqi Islamist militants toward Baghdad.In the Persian Gulf,aka Arabian Gulf,are the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush(CVN 77) and its strike group:guided missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea(CG 58) and guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun(DDG 103),as well as one or more attack submarines.
The George H W Bush has about 60 aircraft to coordinate and execute any strike mission against the militants the President may order.The cruiser and destroyer can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles for precision strike,as can attack submarines.
Also in the Persian Gulf is the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde(LPD 19) with 550 US Marines aboard.The Marines are on standby to evacuate up to 5,000 American civilians currently in Iraq.In Iraq itself,170 Marines and Army troops have been added to the permanent US embassy guard force to bolster security and support for US personnel.The Baghdad embassy compound,located in the International Zone,aka Green Zone,is the largest in the world.The Green Zone is a heavily guarded,closed-off area of central Baghdad that houses Iraqi government buildings;private military contractors;and the US,British,Australian and Egyptian embassies.
Another 100 US troops have arrived in the region and are on standby for airfield management,security and logisitics support.
The White House is also considering sending up to 100 special forces troops to Iraq.They would be non-operational,soley for training and advising the Iraqi army on military bases,although authorised to defend themselves.
The main militant group is formally known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,or ISIL,and has captured extensive territory in both Iraq and Syria.They are only 37 miles North of Baghdad at this writing.