Sherman A1
Sherman A1's JournalRUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, MARCH 16
Mason Clark, George Barros, and Kateryna Stepanenko
March 16, 5:30 pm ET
Russian forces face mounting difficulties replacing combat losses in Ukraine, including the possible death of the commander of the 150th Motor Rifle Division near Mariupol. Russian efforts to deploy forces from Armenia, its proxy states in Georgia, and reserve units in the Eastern Military District will not provide Russian forces around Kyiv with the combat power necessary to complete the encirclement of the city in the near term. Russian forces made limited, unsuccessful attacks northwest of Kyiv and did not conduct offensive operations in northeastern Ukraine, toward Kharkiv, or toward Mykolayiv. Russian forces did make limited territorial gains in Donetsk Oblast and around Mariupol and continued to target civilian infrastructure in the city. Russian forces will likely continue to reduce the Mariupol pocket in the coming days, but Russian forces likely remain unable to conduct simultaneous attacks along multiple axes of advance.
Key Takeaways
Russia is deploying reserves from Armenia and South Ossetia and cohering new battalion tactical groups (BTGs) from the remnants of units lost early in the invasion. These reinforcements will likely face equal or greater command and logistics difficulties to current frontline Russian units.
President Zelensky created a new joint military-civilian headquarters responsible for the defense of Kyiv on March 15.
Russian forces conducted several failed attacks northwest of Kyiv and no offensive operations northeast of Kyiv on March 15.
Much More at Link......
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-16
Tsunami advisory lifted for northeastern Japan
Japan's meteorological agency has lifted a tsunami advisory it issued for the northeastern parts of the country following an earthquake off the Pacific coast.
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck at around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
It had a maximum intensity of 6-plus on Japan's seismic scale of zero to 7. The depth of the focus was estimated at 57 kilometers. Tremors were felt across much of eastern Japan.
Waves up to 30 centimeters were reported at Ishinomaki Port in Miyagi Prefecture.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220317_37/
Conrad Wins US Navy Barge Building Contract
Louisiana shipbuilder Conrad Shipyard has emerged as the winner of a nearly $19 million contract for the detail design and construction of a new Yard, Repair, Berthing, and Messing (YRBM) craft for the U.S. Navy.
YRBM barges provide a temporary home away from home and workplace for service men and women whose vessels are in port for repairs and/or maintenance. Conrad said its design incorporates functional spaces which allow the sailors to work, sleep and eat comfortably.
The $18,988,990 firm-fixed-price contract is for one YRBM accommodation barge, but includes options for up to eight, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $142,906,420. The contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with six offers received.
Work for the initial award will be performed in Amelia, La., and is expected to be completed by November 2023. But, if all options are exercised, work will continue through December 2025.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/conrad-wins-us-navy-barge-building-495089
US Approves More Exports from Major LNG Terminals
The U.S. Energy Department said on Wednesday it had authorized additional exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass, Louisiana, and Corpus Christi, Texas, terminals.
The approvals allow the terminals flexibility to export the equivalent of 0.72 billion cubic feet per day of LNG to any country with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement, including all of Europe.
In addition, every operating U.S. LNG export project has approval to export its full capacity to any country where not prohibited by U.S. law or policy, the department said.
Republican lawmakers and energy industry trade groups have called on the Biden administration to ramp up natural gas and oil exports to allies, particularly with Europe facing an energy crunch stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/us-approves-exports-major-lng-terminals-495093
Russia-linked Oil, Fuel Cargoes Rush to US Before Ban Starts
At least 10 vessels carrying Russia-linked cargoes of crude and refined products were approaching the United States on Wednesday, as suppliers rushed to deliver ahead of the U.S. government's deadline to wind down Russian energy purchases, data from traders and Refinitiv Eikon showed.
The United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, this month banned imports of Russian energy products due to the invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special operation." Washington's ban gives importers until April 22 to discharge cargoes moving under pre-ban contracts.
At least one tanker carrying fuel oil heading to the United States has diverted, and at least two others that stopped at Russian terminals are awaiting discharge at U.S. ports, according to Refinitiv data, one since March 7.
U.S. crude and products arrivals from Russia are provisionally forecast at 18 million barrels, or 597,000 barrels per day (bpd) on average this month, said energy strategist Clay Seigle, citing Vortexa data. That compared with an average of 672,000 bpd last year, according to U.S. government data.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/russialinked-oil-fuel-cargoes-rush-us-495091
Spain Detains Yacht Thought to Be Owned by Rosneft CEO
Spanish authorities on Wednesday detained a mega-yacht called "Crescent" that is believed to belong to Igor Sechin, the sanctioned chief executive of Russian oil giant Rosneft, a police source told Reuters.
The 135-metre-long yacht, described by specialist publications as one of the biggest in the world, sails under a Cayman Islands flag and arrived in Spain from Italy in November 2021, according to monitoring site Marine Traffic.
Spain's Transport Ministry, which confirmed the detention but not the ownership, said it docked in the Mediterranean port city of Tarragona on November 2 and had sought permission from the coast guard to depart on March 4 but never set sail.
It said it would hold the yacht while it sought to determine its ownership and whether the owner was covered by European Union sanctions targeted at Russia's super-rich and politically connected over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/spain-detains-yacht-thought-owned-rosneft-495086
Rising Covid infections just 'tip of the iceberg' - WHO
Figures showing a global rise in Covid-19 cases could herald a much bigger problem as some countries also report a drop in testing rates, the WHO has said.
After more than a month of decline, Covid cases started to increase around the world last week, the WHO said, with lockdowns in Asia and China's Jilin province battling to contain an outbreak.
A combination of factors was causing the increases, including the highly transmissible Omicron variant and its cousin the BA.2 sub-variant, and the lifting of public health and social measures, the WHO said.
"These increases are occurring despite reductions in testing in some countries, which means the cases we're seeing are just the tip of the iceberg," WHO's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.
https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2022/0316/1286708-coronavirus-global/
Irish people 'fully behind' Ukraine, Taoiseach tells Zelensky
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and told him that the Irish people stand fully behind his country.
He said Mr Zelensky thanked Ireland for its continued humanitarian aid, shelter, global support and sanctions against Russia.
More than 7,000 people fleeing the war have now arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Mr Martin said there would be significant costs arising from the war in Ukraine and that additional expenditure to support people arriving in Ireland should be targeted.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0316/1286791-ireland-ukraine/
Taoiseach and ministers promoting links between Ireland and US
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and other political leaders are continuing their visits to the United States for St Patrick's week.
In Washington, the main emphasis of the programme will be on business and economic links between the two countries.
The Taoiseach and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan will continue their meetings with senior US congressional figures, and Mr Martin will present Science Foundation Ireland awards to John and Patrick Collison, the founders of financial services firm Stripe at a US Chamber of Commerce event.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, and Michelle O’Neill, are also meeting the Congressional Friends of Ireland group on Capitol Hill.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0316/1286707-st-patricks-day/
Funding Secured for Cal Maritime's New Training Ship
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed the $1.5 billion Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations package that includes a funding provision for the California State University Maritime Academy's new state-of-the-art training ship.
The newly funded ship, which has yet to be named, is the fifth in a series of 524.5-foot-long National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) designed specifically for America's state maritime academies. It will replace Cal Maritime's aging training ship Golden Bear and is expected to be delivered within the next three to five years.
“We are grateful for the funding of this new ship,” said Cal Maritime president Tom Cropper. “This moment is remarkable – it culminates eight years of work by the Consortium of State Maritime Academies and for the first time, provides brand new training vessels for our cadets.”
The new highly capable, modern and versatile NSMVs will be a major upgrade from the retired and retrofitted naval vessels currently used to train state maritime academy cadets. “The training ship Golden Bear is a former oceanographic research vessel within the Navy fleet and has been retrofitted for cadet training. The ship requires continuous repairs, remodeling, upgrading, and improvements to best serve those aboard,” Cropper said.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/funding-secured-cal-maritimes-new-495046
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