A Royal Navy frigate escorted two Russian corvettes which sailed through the English Channel on the night between April 15 and 16. Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland located the two Russian ships in the early hours of Friday morning as they sailed through the North Sea towards the Dover Straits. The two
Canada has concluded a five-month period of commanding the Bahrain-headquartered Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) and handed over duties to France. This was Canada’s third command of the multinational maritime security and counter-terrorism task force located in the greater Middle East region. The
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded BAE Systems Land & Armaments a $40 million contract ordering more Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS) canisters for its guided missile cruisers and destroyers. The contract modification also includes orders for ally navy platforms. Mk 41 VLS is used to l
The U.S. Navy is joining forces with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to refit and modernize up to five of the Yard Patrol (YP) 676 class training craft. Work will be performed at the USCG Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, and will allow the midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) to continue training onb
U.S. Navy’s Maritime Prepositioning Force ships USNS Pililaau (T-AK 304) and USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008) recently tested their skills in deploying the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS), a floating pier-like causeway system. The INLS is a sea state three (SS3) capable system comprised
The U.S. Navy’s Sterett-Dewey surface action group (Sterett-Dewey SAG) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 11, for the first stop of the group’s Western Pacific deployment. The group is composed of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105) who
German Navy tanker ‘Spessart’ had to be towed home from UK waters after experiencing problems with its engine during the Joint Warrior drill off Scotland. The 40-year-old ship broke down on March 27 and the extent of damage is yet to be determined, German Kieler Nachrichten reported. Spessart withdr
The U.S. Navy’s MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter completed the initial testing phase aboard a littoral combat ship returning from USS Montgomery (LCS-8) on April 11. The Fire Scout test team along with USS Montgomery sailors conducted dynamic interface testing to verify the MQ-8C launch and reco
Filipino fishermen are once again allowed to fish in the contested waters off Scarborough Shoal under Chinese Coast Guard supervision, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman confirmed during a regular press conference on Monday. China has given Filipino fishermen access to the waters, based on the “fr
The U.S.-led humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission Pacific Partnership 2017 has arrived in Malaysia. Embarked aboard Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4), servicemen arrived in Port Klang on April 8. The arrival marks Malaysia’s 1
U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) wrapped up a four-day visit to Hong Kong setting sail from port on April 11. The visit allowed nearly 2,500 sailors and marines assigned to the ship and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit the opportunity to experience Hong Kong’s cult
The U.S. Naval Sea System Command has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries a contract for the provision of engineering services and technical, logistics, maintenance and installation/alteration support to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD). AMSEC LLC, now part of the fl
Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi concluded its participation in the EU NAVFOR-led operation Sophia in the Mediterranean Sea. The carrier stepped down from its duty as flagship of the mission on April 4, some six month after joining the group. During its time spent with operation
Ships and personnel from U.S., UK and France have kicked off the two-week multilateral amphibious exercise Alligator Dagger 17. The drill is taking place in international waters off the coast of Djibouti and in the vicinity of Djibouti and Arta Beach, between April 5 and 20. Participating forces inc
