The construction of facilities for the new Landing Helicopter Dock ships and Air Warfare Destroyers has commenced in Sydney. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator David Feeney attended a sod turning ceremony at HMAS Watson on August 8th and welcomed the commencement of building works. “This is
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) served host to 78 future officers from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and Navy Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) units from colleges and universities across America, through three at-sea training phases, J
The upgraded Anzac Class frigate HMAS Perth ended Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 with a bang—lots of bangs actually—as she participated in a joint live fire exercise at Townsend Island, off Queensland. Perth fired around 100 rounds from its 5-inch gun, in an exercise that coordinated live fire from Au
HMAS Newcastle has made a rendezvous with the United States Navy’s Mine Counter Measure Ship USS Devastator in the Southern Persian (Arabian) Gulf. Newcastle was in the area conducting maritime security patrols as part of the Combined Task Force 152, focussed on maritime security in the Arabian Gulf
Sailors from Submarine Group 7 and organizations around the world participated in a Search for Simulated Submarine Casualty Exercise (SMASHEX) at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Aug. 7-8. SMASHEX is a table top exercise to test procedures and practices required in the very unlikely event of a submarine se
Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began Certification Exercise (CERTEX), Aug. 7. CERTEX is an event focusing on the 31st MEU’s capability of doing missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations or non-combatant
USS Lassen Docks in Melbourne, Australia The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) arrived in Melbourne for a port visit, Aug. 7. During the port visit Lassen will be involved in several community engagement projects including a visit to an after school program and a socce
They have already passed a rigorous evaluation and proved themselves in an international exercise but the training never ends for the ship’s company of the Anzac Class frigate HMAS Perth. While in the Coral Sea fighting off the forces of a fictitious enemy, 182 personnel aboard Perth were simultaneo
Members of Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) from the U.S. and Royal New Zealand Navy traded places for seven days, switching ships and returning to their respective vessels prior to the end of the PP13 mission’s completion, Aug 5. The Sailors from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LS
HMAS Darwin is “Resurgent” again; having recently completed a major maintenance docking, which involved more than 140,000 hours of contracted work. Emerging from the dry Dock in mid May, her crew began the tireless work required to transform the industrial worksite back into an operational warship.
The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Aug. 8 for a visit as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific. With a crew of 135 men, Santa Fe will conduct a multitude of missions and showcase the latest capabilities of the submarine fle
Without fanfare, HMAS Ballarat departed Fleet Base East early on 5 August 2013 to conduct some additional warfare training before commencing a three month South East Asian and Operation RESOLUTE deployment, following almost a month of intense Unit Readiness Workups. The deployment is a milestone for
