United States | Operation Five Rings

[Odinson]

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OPERATION FIVE RINGS​

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SECRET​

NAVY DEPLOYMENT​

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CARRIER STRIKE GROUP FOUR
Rear Admiral Vance Thibodeaux​

Ship Class	Vessel	Compliment	Home Port
Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier	William J. Clinton	Total: 5796 / Compliment: 3500 / Pilots: 250 / Air Wing: 2000 / NCIS Agents Afloat: 2 / SEALs: 44	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Ticonderoga-class Guided Missile Cruiser	USS Bunker Hill	330	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Ticonderoga-class Guided Missile Cruiser	USS Thomas S. Gates	330	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer	USS Joseph R. Biden	323	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer	USS Connie Mack III	323	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer	USS Bob Graham	323	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer	USS Max Cleland	323	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Celestial-class Frigate	USS Samuel Adams	140	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Supply-class Support Ship	USNS Stratus	600	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia
Henry J. Kaiser-class Replenishment Oiler	USNS John Isherwood	113	Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia

CARRIER AIR WING TWO
Captain Michael Bondar​

Squadron	Aircraft	Number of Aircraft	Personnel	Garrison
Fighter Attack Squadron 106 (VFA-106)	F/A-18F Super Hornet	12	24 Pilots	Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
Fighter Attack Squadron 107 (VFA-107)	F/A-18F Super Hornet	12	24 Pilots	Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
Fighter Attack Squadron 108 (VFA-108)	F/A-18F Super Hornet	12	24 Pilots	Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
Fighter Attack Squadron 109 (VFA-109)	F/A-18F Super Hornet	12	24 Pilots	Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 202	F/A-18F Super Hornet	12	24 Pilots	Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC
Electronic Attack Squadron 302 (VAQ-302)	EA-18G Growler	12	24 Pilots	Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 402 (VAW-402)	E-2D Hawkeye	4	20 Pilots	Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field, Virginia
Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 502 (VRC-502)	C-2 Greyhound	2	4 Pilots | 4 Crew	Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field, Virginia
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 604 (HMS-604)	MH-60R	6	12 Pilots | 12 Crew	Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field, Virginia

DETAILS

Nimitz-class - Fully Fueled; Aviation reserves fully fueled; Non-perishable and perishable food/water for 3 month journey; Standard armaments including: x3 NATO Sea Sparrow Launchers (x8 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow loaded in each); x4 Phalanx CIWS; x2 RAM launchers (x21 missiles); Standard countermeasures/decoys; Onboard: x500 M4A1 Carbine and associated ammo and x500 M1911 and associated ammo in barracks;
Aircraft: x60 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and all of their necessary armaments and equipment; x12 EA-18G Growler; x5 Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye; x2 C-25 Greyhound; x3 MH-60R; x3 MH-60S.

Ticonderoga-class - Fully Fueled; Non-perishable and perishable food/water for 3 month journey; x8 RGM-84 Harpoon missiles; x2 5 in 62 caliber Mark 45 Mod 4 lightweight gun; x2 25 mm (0.98 in) Mk 38 gun; x4 .50 in (12.7 mm) cal. machine gun; x2 Phalanx CIWS Block 1B; x2 Mk 32 12.75 in (324 mm) triple torpedo tubes (standard reserve of Mk 54 torpedoes); Onboard: x30 M4A1 Carbine and associated ammo and x30 M1911 and associated ammo in barracks;
x2 61 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems containing: x5 RUM-139C (Mrk 54 Torpedo); x244 (Quad packed) RIM-162A ESSM; x40 RIM-161B (SM-3 block IA); x16 RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile;
Countermeasures/decoys: Mark 36 SRBOC; AN/SLQ-25 Nixie;
Aircraft: x2 Sikorsky MH-60S;
Boats: x1 RHIB.

Arleigh Burke-class (Flight IIA) - Fully Fueled; Non-perishable and perishable food/water for 3 month journey; x1 5-inch (127 mm)/62 Mk. 45 Mod 4 (lightweight gun); x2 20 mm Phalanx CIWS; x2 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun; x2 Mk 141 Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile Launcher (x8 Harpoon missiles each); x2 Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes: x1 per tube + full standard storage of Mark 54 torpedoes on ship; Onboard: x150 M4A1 Carbine and associated ammo and x150 M1911 and associated ammo in barracks.
x1 96-cell Mk 41 VLS: x10 RUM-139C (Mrk 54 Torpedo); x32 (Quad packed) RIM-162A ESSM; x5 RIM-161B (SM-3 block IA); x40 RGM/UGM-109E Tomahawk Land Attack Missile; x33 RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile;
Countermeasures/decoys: AN/SLQ-32(V)2 Electronic Warfare System; AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures; MK 36 MOD 12 Decoy Launching System; MK 53 Nulka Decoy Launching System; AN/SLQ-39 CHAFF Buoys;
Aircraft: x2 Sikorsky MH-60S;
Boats: x1 RHIB.

Celestial-class Cutter - Fully Fueled; Aviation reserves fully fueled; Non-perishable food/water for 2 month journey; Well-rested, fed, and uniformed crew;
32-cell Mk 41 VLS: x5 RUM-139C (Mrk 54 Torpedo); x36 (Quad packed) RIM-162A ESSM; x3 RGM/UGM-109E Tomahawk Land Attack Missile; x15 RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile;
Standard armaments including: x2 Mk 141 canister Harpoon missile launcher (x8 missiles); x1 Mk 32 triple torpedo launcher + 10 Mark 50 torpedoes stored; x2 Mk44 Bushmaster II 30-mm chain guns; x1 SeaRAM CIWS; x1 Mk 110 57mm gun; x4 crew-served .50 caliber Browning M2 machine guns; x2 crew-served M240B 7.62 mm machine guns;
Decoys: x2 Mk 36 SRBOC chaff rapid decoy launchers;
Barracks: x100 Sig Sauer P229 DAK 9mm w/ Night Sights and x200 loaded magazines; x100 M4 Carbine and x300 loaded magazines; x10 M870P 12-gauge and x300 12-gauge shotgun shells.
Boats: x2 RHIB (each with mounted .50 cal Machine Gun).

Supply-class - Fully Fueled; Fully-stocked with non-perishable and perishable food/water for 6 month journey of the entire fleet (on top of the resources the respective ships already have); complete storage of usable fuel for aforementioned vessels; complete storage of aviation fuel for aforementioned aircraft; x2 Sikorsky MH-60S; Onboard: x100 M4A1 Carbine and associated ammo and x100 M1911 and associated ammo in barracks;
Boats: x1 RHIB.

Henry J. Kaiser-class Replenishment Oiler - Fully Fueled; Fully-stocked with non-perishable and perishable food/water for 6 month journey; complete storage of usable fuel for all conventionally-powered vessels for 6 month journey; complete storage of aviation fuel for all aircraft in the fleet for 6 month deployment; Onboard: x60 M4A1 Carbine and associated ammo and x60 M1911 and associated ammo in barracks;
Boats: x1 RHIB.​

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JSOC DEPLOYMENT​

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NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE DEVELOPMENT GROUP
"SEAL Team Six"
Rear Admiral Lewis Burton​

SQUADRON	TROOP	PERSONNEL	GARRISON
Silver Squadron	Juliett Troop	16 Special Warfare Operators	Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
Silver Squadron	Kilo Troop	16 Special Warfare Operators	Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
Gray Squadron	Quebec-Charlie Troop	12 Air Mobility Crew	Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia

DETAILS
Silver Squadron - Apparel: x1 Enhanced Combat Helmet; x3 Navy Combat Uniform (as well as boots and gloves) with American flag patch, x1 Jumpable Plate Carriers, x1 four-eyed special forces night vision/infrared goggles (AN/PVS-15); x1 AN/PRC-148 Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio; x1 The Individual First Aid Kit.
Weapons: x1 HK416 rifle +10 30-round magazines and bayonet, x1 M1911 +4 magazines; x4 flashbangs; x1 white smoke grenade, x1 yellow smoke grenade, x2 red flares (all firearms have non-lethal equivalent brought for training exercise).
Gray Squadron - x2 Navy Combat Uniform (as well as boots and gloves) with American flag patch; x2 Navy Flight Uniform.
Weapons: x1 M1911 +4 magazines; x4 flashbangs; x1 white smoke grenade, x1 yellow smoke grenade, x2 red flares (all firearms have non-lethal equivalent brought for training exercise).

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DEPLOYMENT ORDERS​

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CONTEXT​

The Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games would soon happen in Istanbul, Turkey. American Olympians and some American representatives would be in Turkey for the games. The President ordered the deployment of a carrier strike group to the Mediterranean to, at the very least, operate in the area as a deterrent and be available to assist Americans in Istanbul. The broader hope of the White House and the Pentagon, however, was that Carrier Strike Group Four and its assets could assist the Turkish armed forces for protection of Istanbul before, during, and immediately after the Opening Ceremony. Exactly 32 Navy SEAL operators were to be deployed among the USS William J. Clinton and were to be available for a variety of missions. The deployment of the carrier strike group had not been disclosed to anyone other than the Turkish government.​

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Jay

 

[Odinson]

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DEPLOYMENT ORDERS​

SECRET​

The USS William J. Clinton and the rest of Carrier Strike Group Four departed Virginia at around 6:00 in the morning on a Wednesday. The fleet sailed with the carrier in the center of the formation, the Ticonderogas sailing 10 miles away from the carrier on either side, and the Arleigh Burkes spaced out evenly, some 25 miles away from the carrier. The USS Samuel Adams sailed within a mile from the USNS John Isherwood, which itself was only a mile the carrier. Throughout the entire deployment, unless otherwise stated, there was always one E-2D Hawkeye in the air, flying somewhere over the fleet at the appropriate operating altitude and speed, searching for possible air and surface bogeys. Two fully armed F/A-18F Super Hornets were on standby on the carrier at all times for a scramble deployment. Throughout the deployment, the carrier, cruisers, destroyers, and frigate used all active and passive means of radar and all passive means of sonar to search for threats below the waves, on the surface, and in the air.

When Carrier Strike Group Four sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar, it compressed to fit within the strait. Throughout the transit, the entire fleet would be at a heightened state of alert. The destination of the carrier was approximately 50 miles south of the Turkish city of Kaş.​

TRANSIT
FM>GM>HM>IM>JM>KM

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Jay

 

[Odinson]

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DEPLOYMENT ORDERS​

SECRET​

Carrier Strike Group Four arrived to its desired location of about 50 miles south of the Turkish city of Kaş. Even though CSG-4 was now in its desired location, it would not remain still and would continue moving around in the general location to avoid sitting still and being an easier target. The same security measures were taken as before to ensure that the fleet was safe and protected from any outside threats.

Because of all of the VIPs, including President Sinclair, who would be staying in Istanbul, Rear Admiral Thibodeaux securely reached out to the appropriate Turkish naval authority and requested to put the USS Joseph R. Biden destroyer in the Sea of Marmara, near the Princes' Islands. The mission of the destroyer would be to provide additional air defenses to Istanbul and to assist the Turkish Navy in investigating any suspicious surface vessels in the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus.​

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Jay

 

[Jay]

Rear Admiral Recep Erdinç Yetkin, commanding officer of Naval Determination, was aboard the TCG Bodrum (D-602), the designated flagship of the operation. Under his command were two FREMM-Class Frigates, the TCG Alanya (D-601) and the TCG Bodrum (D-602), as well as three Ada-Class Corvettes, the TCG Bozcaada (F-500), the TCG Bandırma (F-502), and the TCG Büyükada (F-512). Each vessel was fully fueled, fully crewed, and carrying a three-month supply of provisions. All crew members had been rested and briefed prior to departure. The flotilla was operating under the authority of Ankara, with Naval Determination serving as the maritime contingent to the broader Turkish security operation surrounding the Istanbul Olympics.


The three Ada-Class Corvettes, TCG Bozcaada, TCG Bandırma, and TCG Büyükada, were assigned to rotating patrol duties along the Bosphorus Strait and the approaches to the Sea of Marmara. Each corvette had its embarked S-70B Seahawk helicopter available for maritime patrol, providing aerial surveillance coverage of the waterway and its surrounding areas. The corvettes were tasked with intercepting and investigating any surface vessels deemed suspicious and with maintaining a visible Turkish naval presence along the strait for the duration of the Olympics.

The two FREMM-Class Frigates, TCG Alanya and TCG Bodrum, were positioned in the Sea of Marmara. Their Héraklès multi-function AESA radars and CAPTAS-4 towed array sonars provided a robust picture of the surrounding maritime environment, and their SYLVER A43 VLS cells loaded with Aster 15 missiles provided a meaningful air defense envelope over the area. Their embarked rotary-wing aircraft were available for ASW and maritime interdiction support as needed.

Upon being informed of the arrival of the USS Joseph R. Biden into Turkish waters, Rear Admiral Yetkin personally hailed the American vessel over a secure channel from the bridge of the TCG Bodrum. Speaking in English, the Rear Admiral extended a formal welcome to the crew of the USS Joseph R. Biden on behalf of the Turkish Navy and the Republic of Türkiye, expressing that it was a pleasure to have American naval assets operating alongside the Turkish navy during such a significant occasion for the Turkish people as friends rather than foe.

Rear Admiral Yetkin extended a personal invitation to his American counterpart to come aboard the TCG Bodrum at their earliest convenience for tea. He noted that he had received Ankara's cables regarding the cooperative arrangement between the two navies and was fully prepared to discuss the details of Naval Determination, the Turkish patrol plan for the Bosphorus, and how the two forces could best coordinate their efforts in the Sea of Marmara.

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

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DEPLOYMENT ORDERS​

SECRET​

The USS Joseph R. Biden carefully sailed to the Sea of Marmara. Special attention was paid to watching out for civilian maritime traffic as the warship transited the Bosphorus. Once the destroyer was approaching the Princes' Islands, it received the message from Rear Admiral Yetkin. Rear Admiral Thibodeaux was informed that they were now communicating with the Turks and that they would begin their security mission in coordination with them.

The captain of the destroyer, Captain Tristin Puckett, responded to Rear Admiral Yetkin over the appropriate secure channel. Captain Puckett thanked Rear Admiral Yetkin for the welcome and stated that he and the crew of his destroyer were honored to be the first American warship to coordinate with the Turkish Navy under their democratic government. Captain Puckett gracefully accepted the invitation to come aboard the TCG Bodrum for tea and to discuss the cooperative operations that they would be undertaking.

The American destroyer and Turkish frigate were presumably close enough that Captain Puckett decided that he would transfer over to the TCG Bodrum via the destroyers RHIB. An away team of four-armed sailors in life jackets drove the RHIB to the Turkish frigate with Captain Puckett on board. The RHIB had a small American flag behind it. The RHIB radioed to the Turkish destroyer as they approached and requested that a ladder be lowered so that Captain Puckett could come aboard. Puckett had put on his summer white uniform for the occasion.​

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Jay