Slitherine

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KALININGRAD, March 14. (ARMS-TASS). Russian Black Sea Fleet in 2016 will receive six new surface patrol ships and six diesel submarines. This was announced here today by Deputy Chief of the Navy Rear Admiral armament Victor Bursuk.
He took part in the ceremony of launching the patrol ship "Admiral Grigorovich" - the lead ship in the series, being built for the Navy by Russian shipyard "Yantar".
Now here is based on five of the six patrol vessels in this series 11356 develop Northern Design Bureau. Now comes the formation of their shells, loading equipment. Sixth ship of the series, according to Bursuk be laid this year. Complete construction of all six patrol boats in the company in 2016 should
"Admiral Grigorovich" is designed to update the Black Sea Fleet, "- said zamglavkoma Navy. He noted that the distinguishing feature of these ships is a large degree of armament, it is modern, high-speed, fully equipped with modern Russian equipment. Asked about the possibility of increasing this series, counter Admiral replied that "the towing operation of ships will make a conclusion about the need to increase their numbers."
According Bursuk Black Sea Fleet until 2016 and will be equipped with six new diesel submarines of Project 636. According to him, "two units this year will go into the Navy, and the fifth and sixth submarine - in 2016."
Took part in the ceremony of launching the "Admiral Grigorovich" United Shipbuilding Corporation President Vladimir Shmakov said that the event, which took place today at the "Amber", can not be overemphasized. "We are making a big step towards updating emergent group of warships of the Black Sea Fleet. Black Sea sailors waiting for this very modern, equipped with powerful weapons systems of all types, having the best seaworthy ship in its class," - he said. Shmakov assured that all six ships will be delivered to the customer on time.
The ceremony was attended granddaughter of the famous Russian Admiral Grigorovich - Olda Petrova, ITAR-TASS reported. She admitted that "all descendants of Admiral looking forward to today's moment - the launching of the ship, named after a wonderful man, a loyal son and his Russian fleet." Named godmother of the ship, Olda Petrova in the presence of factory workers, honored guests in good naval tradition smashed a bottle of champagne on board "Admiral Grigorovich" admonished him in a long and good sailing the seas and oceans.

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As I write, Russian forces, reportedly close to 100,000 troops, are massing on the eastern borders of Ukraine for a possible invasion. The Kremlin is either about to start a major war, or wants the world to think it is: there is no third choice now. Given the scheduled referendum in the Crimea this Sunday, smart money has it that Putin, if he really launches an all-out push for Ukraine – which, as I’ve already explained, could be a disastrous move on his part – it will come early next week. Needless to add, this scenario brings chills to me and to anyone who understands the stakes in what would immediately be the biggest European war since 1945.

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will travel to Ukraine to meet with the interim Government of Ukraine to discuss the evolving situation there and how Canada can, along with its allies, continue to provide support. The Prime Minister will be in Kyiv on March 22 to meet with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Prime Minister Harper is the first G-7 leader to announce plans to travel to Ukraine since the beginning of this crisis.

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ORIGINAL: Baloogan


Ukranian S-300 TELs moving near Odessa today.

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Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 27m
Around 2 hours something is happening in #Kharkiv. Pro-#russians are damaging building of local organization 'Prosvita', at 18 Rymarska str

Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 21m
People says that they has heard gunshots and explosions in #Kharkiv. But police are not interfere |PR News #Ukraine

Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 18m
Clashes has started around 9pm at the #Kharkiv Independence square b/w pro-#russian activists&unknown (pro-russian says it was Right Sector)

Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 13m
Than pro-#russians deceided to block pro-ukrainian office 'Prosvita' & there real battle has started -hromadske.tv |PR #Ukraine #Kharkiv

Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 10m
'Situation in #Kharkiv is well-organized provocation by #russian forces' says acting governor #Kernes |PR #Ukraine

Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 7m
At front of 'Prosvita'office at9:30pm shooting has started between pro-#russian activists (includingOPLOT)&pro-#ukrainian Prosvita members

Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 1m
As a result of firing in #Kharkiv, 2 persons were killed and 1 hardly injured -hromadske.tv |PR #Ukraine

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ORIGINAL: Gunner98

Baloogan
Nice, a lot going on. I'm 2.5 hrs into it and will go for a restart. Have knocked about 52 A/C, a bunch of radars, a Kashin and a Krivak sunk, Slava and Kara damaged, the Kara badly. But I've lost 7 A/C myself and need to pay more attention.

Some comments:
-You may want to reset the time at scenario start. Looks like you ran it for 20 min or so to get the ships in the right direction but just need to reset the start time.
-it's not clear in the briefing if you intend for the CSG to go through the Bosporus into the Black Sea. Recommend that you make it clear that it should not do so. Also the George Bush was sited a few days ago near Antalya, which is a better spot for it than in the restricted waters of the North Aegean, would just require a couple more tankers.
-You have the NATO E-3A's involved, I would suspect that with this much going on some US E-3Bs would be in town.
-Some form of Recon A/C, satellite, or potentially SOF units in country would be useful - I suspect we know where the SAM's & SSM's are - roughly anyway. Perhaps a marker for 'Last known location'
-I think its very likely that CVW 8 would have some of its Hornet's with an AAW loadaout, no mater what the threat
-I think your A/C count for HSC-9 and HSM -70 are a bit high. Not actually sure but it seems more likely that they would have only 5-6 helo's each
-Soviet Jammers start engaging later on in the scenario but I suspect that the Bear in the Air would be sparking up very early on. Counter that with some EC-130J's and there won't be a Garage door opener within a 1000 miles not going crazy!
-48th FW seems a bit odd. It should have 2xSqn of F-15E and only one of F-15C, all of 24 A/C each.
---Yup just checked, 492 (Madhatters) & 494 (Panthers)Ftr Sqns have Es, and 493rd (Grim Reapers)has C & Ds : Would be nice to have the Sqn names
---On that note 31st FW has: 510th FS (Buzzards), 555th FS (Triple Nickle) which only has Block 40's I believe. 24 A/C each
-All A/C are fully ready, plausible in this situation but it is unlikely that all would be serviceable, recommend having a handful down for maintenance (10% perhaps?)

Had an issue with HARMs going astray and have reported that. That caused my strike at the surface group to be less than fully effective.

Back to it now...

B

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ORIGINAL: ThunderCBR

Baloogan,

Just reviewing your OOB for US forces, I find it very hard to believe that USAF B-52H's would be forward positioned in Romania that close to the front lines. Closest I could see them coming would be RAF Fairford which have previously supported missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. More realistically for the purpose of your scenario, you can have them available direct from Barksdale AFB and Minot AFB and fly the long trip and back if you wanted heavy bombardment option. This would require some serious strike planning in addition to your tactical aviation assets already present.

Nothing has been in the news regarding moving B-52's or other heavy assets and such a move would be seen by the Russians as provocative in the extreme, IMHO.

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ORIGINAL: ThunderCBR
EDIT: Just wanted to add that this is great work!!

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ORIGINAL: NakedWeasel

Hard to imagine the Russians moving all that hardware into the Crimea AO, if they have no intention of using it. NATO is really behind the curve on this. Its time to deploy some air assets, real quick like. I'd rather have and not need it, than to wait until the inevitable occurs before moving it to where it needs to be. I hope that Russia and it's people understand the ramifications of what Putin is doing. The Ukrainians aren't going to simply roll over and die, and they will kill many thousands of Russian troops before surrendering. And if the Russians really do start attacking the Ukraine en mass, I cannot see how NATO cannot intervene. Putin may well be remembered as the man who single-handedly started World War Three. I hope that this is not the history lesson my grandkids will have to learn in school- if there are any grand kids, or schools in the distant future....

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ORIGINAL: ThunderCBR
Just reviewing your OOB for US forces, I find it very hard to believe that USAF B-52H's would be forward positioned in Romania that close to the front lines. Closest I could see them coming would be RAF Fairford which have previously supported missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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ORIGINAL: Skyhigh

NATO intervened in Afghanistan though:
NATO and Afghanistan

NATO’s primary objective in Afghanistan is to enable the Afghan authorities to provide effective security across the country and ensure that the country can never again be a safe haven for terrorists. Since August 2003, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has been conducting security operations, while also training and developing the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). 
______

Reading this it occurs to me that Putin doesn't want Ukraine to be a safe-haven for fascist terrorists. Hmm.

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ORIGINAL: Gunner98
-I think your A/C count for HSC-9 and HSM -70 are a bit high. Not actually sure but it seems more likely that they would have only 5-6 helo's each

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ORIGINAL: Skyhigh

Annexing, rigging referendums or installing puppets... what's the real difference?

I like it though that Russia says that USA invaded Iraq illegally so they have no right to speak - I find that almost an admission of guilt over illegally invading Ujraine :)

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ORIGINAL: Baloogan

Thanks for your notes I've updated the scen based on your comments.

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Thanks for your notes I've updated the scen based on your comments.

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ORIGINAL: Elouda

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ORIGINAL: Gunner98
-I think your A/C count for HSC-9 and HSM -70 are a bit high. Not actually sure but it seems more likely that they would have only 5-6 helo's each

In 2011 she carried 8 MH-60S of HSC-9 and 11 MH-60R of HSM-70. The typical numbers from what I've seen in the newer airwing arrangements tend to float around 6-8 HSC and 8-12 HSM, so would be rather surprised if it was any less at the moment.

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Russia isolated over Crimea after UN vote
Moscow only opponent to Security Council resolution condemning Crimean referendum, with China crucially abstaining.

Russia has been exposed as internationally isolated over the crisis in Crimea, with members of the UN Security Council overwhelmingly supporting a draft resolution condemning an upcoming referendum in the Ukraine region as illegal.

Russia vetoed the US-backed resolution when it was put to the council on Saturday, but its China abstained, leaving Russia as the only nation to recognise the Crimean referendum.

The veto means the resolution will not be adopted by the UN, but highlights Russia's isolation in the international community over Crimea

After the vote was taken, Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, said: "Under the UN charter, the Russian Federation has the power to veto a security council resolution. But it does not have the power to veto the truth."

"History has lessons for all of us, who are willing to listen. Unfortunately, not everyone was willing to listen today."

Al Jazeera's diplomatic editor, James Bays, said the vote laid bare the international opposition to Russia's stance on Ukraine and Crimea.

"China is not supporting its ally Russia on this occasion. It is abstaining. That's the best the Western nations, who drafted this resolution, could hope for, but they think that this is important because it exposes that Russia is on its own."

Before the vote, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that Russia's action in Crimea arose because of an "unconstitutional coup" in Kiev.

Final preparations

Pro-Russian leaders in Crimea were making final preparations for a referendum widely expected to transfer control of the region to Russia, despite denunciation by Ukraine and threats of Western sanctions.


Rival protests staged in Ukraine and Russia on Crimea referendum
On Saturday, Ukraine's acting president, Oleksander Turchinov, accused "Kremlin agents" of fomenting deadly violence in eastern cities of Donetsk and Kharkiv, ahead of the vote on Sunday.

Ukraine's parliament meanwhile voted overwhelmingly to dissolve Crimea's assembly, while demonstrators staged large protests in Ukraine and in the Russian capital Moscow, for and against the referendum.

Three people died in two incidents on Friday, including two in a reported shootout in the eastern city of Kharkiv.

On the eve of a breakaway vote, Turchinov told politicians: "You know as well as we do who is organising mass protests in eastern Ukraine - it is Kremlin agents who are organising and funding them, who are causing people to be murdered."

Security has been stepped up in Donetsk, where thousands of pro-Russian supporters are rallying on Saturday.

And in Moscow, about 50,000 people have rallied to protest against Russia's intervention in Ukraine, shouting, "The occupation of Crimea is Russia's disgrace" and "Hands off Ukraine".

A rival demonstration within sight of the Kremlin attracted an estimated 15,000 people in support of Putin.

The peninsula of two million mostly Russian speakers is widely expected to vote to split from Ukraine and join Russia after its politicians declared independence from Kiev earlier this month.

The referendum comes in direct response to three months of protests that on February 22 toppled the pro-Kremlin president, Viktor Yanukovich, and brought to power a new nationalist European-leaning team in Kiev.

Kiev has denounced the Crimean vote as illegal but is also warily watching as similar separatist sentiments are being fanned by Moscow supporters in other regions in eastern Ukraine, which has deep cultural and trade ties to Russia.

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ORIGINAL: Gunner98

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ORIGINAL: Elouda

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ORIGINAL: Gunner98
-I think your A/C count for HSC-9 and HSM -70 are a bit high. Not actually sure but it seems more likely that they would have only 5-6 helo's each

In 2011 she carried 8 MH-60S of HSC-9 and 11 MH-60R of HSM-70. The typical numbers from what I've seen in the newer airwing arrangements tend to float around 6-8 HSC and 8-12 HSM, so would be rather surprised if it was any less at the moment.

Didn't think they would be that big, I guess there is enough room for them now.

B