Intelligence Report
Re: STANAVFORLANT
Satellite shot of STANAVFORLANT, taken on July 2, shortly after leaving the port of Halifax heading East-Northeast.
Background:
STANAVFORLANT (Standing Naval Force, Atlantic) is a surface squadron made up of 8-10 destroyers and frigates from various NATO countries, and typically patrols the North Atlantic covering a region of ocean from North America, the Denmark Straits, Iceland and Norway. Ships will rotate in and out at various times depending upon the country's level of commitment, including the flagship and its commander. The squadron will leave its assigned patrol zone in cases of emergencies in nearby theaters. During the Kosovo crisis in the late 90's, for example, the squadron escorted relief convoys from Naples to the Adriatic.
The STANAVFORLANT currently consists of 9 ships, as follows:
HMCS HALIFAX (Canada)
HDMS NIELS JUEL (Danmark)
HMS GRAFTON (England)
HNLMS WILLEM VAN DER ZAAN (Holland)
HNOMS TRONDHEIM (Norway)
NRP VASCO DA GAMA (Portugal)
SPS ASTURIAS (Spain)
FGS LÜBECK (Germany)
USS Thomas S. Gates (U.S.A.)
(Report submitted July 2, 2009).
Report from Wilhelmshaven, September 20:
FSB agents spotted STANAFORLANT arrive in Wilhelmshaven on September 9, where it stayed 10 days and took on stores and provisions while the crew had liberty leave in town. One agent found some young sailors drinking heavily and after a few hours got to be very friendly with them. The agent learned that the German destroyer and the Danish and Dutch frigates are being replaced, which is the usual procedure. Even more luckily, the sailor had the travel schedule on his person, which the agent acquired after the sailor got rip-roaring drunk. Here now is that schedule:
Updated Order of Battle:
Current patrol schedule for STANAVFORLANT:
July-August - Commence patrol from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Iceland, refueling and resupplying Reykjavik. Patrol eastward across Norwegian Sea north of Iceland then south toward to Faroe Islands. Continue south via North Sea, to Antwerp, Belgium then northeast to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 2-week furlough, refuel and resupply.
September - October -- Commence patrol from Wilhelmshaven, Germany to Bergen, Norway. North to Narvick, Norway then west across Norwegian Sea to Angmagssalik, Greenland. South along Greenland coast through GIUK to St. Johns, Newfoundland. St. Johns to Halifax.
October-November -- Patrol North Atlantic from Halifax to Brest, France, then south to Rota, Spain. 10-day furlough, refuel and resupply. Then west to Azores. Patrol North Atlantic from Azores west to Norfolk, Virginia. 10-day furlough, restock and resupply. Patrol US eastern seaboard to Halifax.
November-December -- Repeat July-August patrol, with final destination being Amsterdam instead of Wilhelmshaven. 2-week furlough in Amsterdam, refuel and resupply.
Janurary-February -- Commence patrol from Amsterdam through English Channel to Bay of Biscay, allowing ships from Holland, France and Spain to rotate in. Deploy to Azores by way of Canary Islands, then cross Atlantic to Norfolk, Virginia. 10-day furlough. Embark north for New York, then continue northeast to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
March-April -- Repeat cycle from July though April, above.