On 31 August 2013 ships and sailors from the Indonesian Eastern Fleet and the Royal Australian Navy completed Exercise CASSOWARY 2013 in the Darwin area. The biennial maritime security training exercise is one of a series which aims to strengthen relationships and enhance mutual cooperation and unde
Four Royal Australian Navy members involved in the winch rescue of a man from floodwaters at Laidley Creek during the Queensland Floods in 2011 have been approved for the award of a Group Bravery Citation. The Royal Australian Navy wishes to congratulate Petty Officer Nicholas Anderson, Chief Petty
Spanish frigate ‘Blas de Lezo’ left the Military Arsenal of Ferrol to begin the second phase of her deployment as command ship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2). The Spanish Navy warship had previously departed Ferrol on June 4th to integrate into this Standing Escorts Group in the Mediterr
An international task force of Marines embarked the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam (L800) as part of a 3-month comprehensive effort to strengthen capabilities with African partner forces in West Africa on Aug. 30. The ship and combined security cooperation task f
Under cover of darkness the first landing craft stealthily departed HMS Bulwark marking the start of exercise Albanian Lion. Over the course of four days hundreds of Royal Marines, supported by Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels as well as elements of the Army, will enter a fictional natio
Lockheed Martin will provide the U.S. Navy and U.S. allied navy customers from Canada and The Netherlands with upgrade kits and services for the MK 48 heavyweight torpedo under a new, $37 million contract award, part of a five-year effort to upgrade the entire submarine fleet. The Mod 7 Common Broad
USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) held a change of command ceremony in the ship’s homeport of San Diego, Aug. 30. During the ceremony, Cmdr. William H. Baxter turned over command of the guided missile destroyer to Cmdr. Randy J. Van Rossum, who has previously served as the ship’s executive officer. The c
Two ships deployed on Cougar 13 have met up mid Mediterranean for a swap of supplies vital to the operation. With over 45,000 tonnes of steel between them; HMS Illustrious and Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ship, RFA Fort Austin, held a straight course while the exchange took place over a distance of
Sailors and Marines of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Darwin Aug. 28 to participate in Exercise Koolendong 2013 (KD 13), a bilateral exercise taking place at the Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in Australia’s Norther
A Royal Navy Officer recently ‘hitched a ride’ across the Red Sea onboard HMAS Newcastle, while trying to make his way home to England. The unsuspecting Brit got a real surprise when he was greeted on the flight deck of the Australian ship by a long term friend and former RN colleague who had latera
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed Darwin, Australia Aug. 31. Bonhomme Richard is in Darwin as part of Exercise Koolendong 2013 (KD 13), a bilateral exercise taking place at the Bradshaw Field Training
EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta warship ESPS Meteoro recently evacuated a member of the ships crew who had a medical issue. The ship had been conducting counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. The ship broke from counter-piracy operations and clo
U.S. Army, Navy and Marine forces in conjunction with Japan Self-Defense Forces and local Japanese agencies participated in the Shizuoka Prefectural Government (SPG) annual disaster drill Sept. 1. During the drill, U.S. Armed Forces joined first responders from SPG, Japan Self-Defense Forces, Fuji a
VFA-106 Commanding Officer Relieved of Duties The commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Six (VFA-106) based at Naval Air Station Oceana was relieved of his duties Aug. 26 by Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. US to Attack Syria on Thursday? The US could attack Syria with three
