5th Fleet Focus: Observing the Rotations

On Saturday, USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) crossed the Suez Canal as expected to relieve USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) which is returning home after a 6 month deployment. While I know a number of SWO's who do not like me pointing it out, the LSD has become the US Navy ship of choice for fighting irregular warfare and piracy.

The continued rotation leads to extensive use of the current LSDs, which btw were already overused and in worn condition during the Clinton administration. This further erodes the capability of the Navy to deliver Marine Corp MEBs to combat on Expeditionary ships, and the LPD-17 class will not solve that problem. There are a number of discussions that can be conducted on this topic, but until then, I'll just note the latest rotation as yet another example the discussion is past due.

However, what also caught my attention on Saturday is that Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) crossed the Suez Canal on Saturday as well.

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2)

TCG Orucreis (F245)
HMS Northumberland (F238)
NMM Aliseo (F574)
HS Aegeon (F460)
SPS Canarias (F86)
FGS Rhoen (A1443)
USS Laboon (DDG 58)

There was no press release or announcement that I am able to locate in the US media, and I have made inquiries to people in other countries if they have heard anything. So far, nothing. This could be a number of things, including an unannounced exercise with Israel or Egypt in the Red Sea. Such exercises are usually go without much media attention.

However, this could be something else considering a number of regional events lately (and no I am not talking about Iran), and is something worth observing. If anyone is aware of a press release regarding the activity of SNMG2 south of the Suez, please post in comments.