US SHANGRI - LA: SOVIET DESTROYERS FOLLOWING TASK FORCE: SOVIET OCEANOGRAPHIC VESSEL: AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF AND LANDING FROM US SHANGRI-LA.




Initials GEP/V/CT/SS



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Background: DURING THE PAST FORTNIGHT 60 SHIPS AND 300 AIRCRAFT HAVE TAKEN PART IN EXERCISE "DAWN PATROL" IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. THE BIGGEST EXERCISE IN RECENT YEARS BY THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION. THE MANOEUVRES HAVE BEEN CLOSELY OBSERVED BY WARSHIPS FROM THE SOVIET MEDITERRANEAN FLEET - THE STRONGEST THE USSR HAS EVER MAINTAINED IN THE AREA.

THE SOVIET VESSELS FIRST APPEARED BESIDE THE UNITED STATE AIRCRAFT CARRIER SHANGRI - LA, ABOUT SIX MILES AWAY FROM HER ESCORTING DESTROYERS, ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE EXERCISE. A SOVIET OCEANOGRAPHIC VESSEL SHOWED INTEREST IN THE TASK FORCE DURING ITS MANOEUVRES, AS WELL AS DESTROYERS. THEY WATCHED WHILE TURKISH AIRFORCE UNITS CARRIED OUT MOCK ATTACKS ON THE SHANGRI-LA AND AIRCRAFT FROM THE CARRIER STRUCK BACK AT LAND TARGETS.

UNITS FROM THE UNITED STATES, TURKEY, THE UNITED KINGDOM, ITALY, AND GREECE ARE TAKING PART IN THE EXERCISE TO TEST NATO DEFENSIVE, OFFENSIVE, AND RECONNAISSANCE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. IN PARTICULAR "DAWN PATROL" IS DESIGNED TO TEST THEIR ABILITIES TO DEFEND CONVOYS AGAINST AIR SUBMARINES ATTACK AND TO ESTABLISH A BEACHHEAD ON "ENEMY" TERRITORY - THE ISLAND SARDINIA WAS THE TARGET ON AN AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT.

SHORTLY BEFORE THE EXERCISE STARTED ADMIRAL HORACIO RIVERO, THE ALLIED FORCES COMMANDER IN SOUTHERN EUROPE SAID AT A CEREMONY MARKING THE NATO'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY THAT "DAWN PATROL" HAD BEEN PLANNED MANY MONTHS AHEAD AND HAD NO DIRECT CONNECTION WITH THE GREAT INCREASE IN SOVIET NAVAL STRENGTH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.