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Mothballed Oliver Hazard Perry frigates will not be reactivated, US Navy decides
The US Navy has decided not to reactivate old Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, according to an USNI News report which cites an internal service memo. The main driver for the decision is likely the cost of bringing the ships – the last of which was decommissioned in 2015 – out of mothballs. Accord
USS Jacksonville enters Bremerton for inactivation, dismantling
US Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) has reached her new homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton where she is to be decommissioned and inactivated. The submarine arrived in Bremerton on December 11, completing her homeport change from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Jac
Second Zumwalt destroyer aborts builder’s trials due to electrical problems
Electrical issues forced the US Navy’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) to abort builder’s trials just one day after leaving the shipyard. The future USS Michael Monsoor got underway from the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works site on December 4 but was forced to return on Dec
US Navy to receive ninth expeditionary fast transport ship USNS City of Bismarck
The US Navy is set to receive USNS City of Bismarck (T-EPF 9), its ninth expeditionary fast transport ship, later this month. As one of the navy’s newest ship classes, the non-combatant EPFs provide warfighters with a ship that can be configured and reconfigured to take on any number of missions fro
German minehunter FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg returns from SNMCMG1 deployment
German Navy minehunter FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg returned to its homeport in Kiel on December 12, concluding its NATO deployment. The minehunter spent the past five months as part of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1. The group spent time training and clearing mines in areas ranging from F
Canadian submarine joins US, JMSDF ships in Japan
A Royal Canadian Navy submarine recently became the first non-US/Japanese naval vessel to join the ‘Annual Exercise’ – a premier bilateral exercise carried out between the navies of Japan and the US. This year, for the first time since its inception, the exercise saw the participation of a country o
Iwo Jima amphibious group ready for deployment
The US Navy amphibious ready group (ARG) assembled around the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima is ready to deploy after tackling the final pre-deployment hurdle. Sailors aboard the three ships constituting the ARG completed a combined composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) December 9, provi
USS Theodore Roosevelt launches combat sorties into Afghanistan
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on December 7 launched combat sorties into Afghanistan as part of Pentagon’s operation Freedom’s Sentinel, the US Navy announced. Worth noting is the fact that the Roosevelt’s carrier air wing flew two different mission on the same day, one into Afghan
US Coast Guard commissions fast response cutter Jacob Poroo
The US Coast Guard commissioned USCGC Jacob Poroo, its 25th fast response cutter (FRC), in a ceremony in New Orleans on December 8. The cutter is the second FRC stationed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and in the Coast Guard’s Eighth District, which encompasses all or part of 26 states, including the p
Australia bolsters naval shipbuilding workforce retention strategy
In a bid to keep as many skilled naval shipbuilders within the industry, the Australian defense industry minister announced that shipbuilders currently working on the air warfare destroyer project would transition to support Collins-class submarine sustainment work as the destroyer project winds dow
After hull-puncture delay, USS Fitzgerald starts journey to US
After developing a new crack in its hull during the first departure from Yokosuka, US Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald started its voyage to the US for a second time on December 9. Fitzgerald was initially loaded aboard heavy lift vessel MV Transshelf in late November to be transported to Pascagoula, M
US Coast Guard christens National Security Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757)
The US Coast Guard christened its eighth Legend-class National Security Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on December 9. Jazania O’Neal, granddaughter of Midgett’s namesake, is the ship’s sponsor. She christened the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine ac
Australian Navy frigate HMAS Darwin retires after 33 years of service
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Darwin concluded her 33 years of service and was decommissioned in a ceremony at her homeport of Garden Island, Sydney. In a ceremony on December 9, Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, paid tribute to the service of the ship’s company past and present. “Darwin
US Coast Guard intercepts cocaine-carrying semi-submersible at sea
A US Coast Guard cutter has intercepted a cocaine-smuggling semi-submersible in international waters following a multi-day interagency operation. The intercept took place on November 13, according to the US Customs and Border Protection agency whose air and marine operations (AMO) crew pursued the v