Ships deployed as part of the Royal Australian Navy’s annual maritime task group Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018 (IPE18) have returned to Australia following a three-month deployment to the Pacific. HMAS Adelaide docked in Townsville on August 23 to return embarked soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal
The New Zealand government has approved NZ$103 million for the purchase and refit of a second-hand multi-role offshore support vessel that will be used as a dive and hydrographic support vessel by the Royal New Zealand Navy. Following purchase, the 85-meter Norwegian-built survey vessel MV Edda Fonn
Ships deployed as part of the Royal Australian Navy’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour tour have concluded their final port visits before returning home later this week. HMA Ships Adelaide and Toowoomba visited the Solomon Islands’ capital Honiara, while HMAS Success visited Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, workin
The Australian defense industry minister has announced a request for information inviting companies to have their say on how marine support services should be delivered in the future. The RFI was issued for the Defence Marine Support Services (DMSS) program which includes services such as tugs for p
The US Navy has identified a Marine who was reported missing from the USS Essex on August 9 has been identified as Cpl. Jonathan Currier. After a five-day search in the Mindanao Sea, which involved the Essex amphibious ready group (ARG) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in addition to Phi
Forward-deployed ships from the US Navy’s Ronald Reagan carrier strike group (CSG) started bilateral training with Japan Maritime Self Defense destroyer JS Kirishima on August 14. The exercise is also joined by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) personnel from the Commander, Escort Division (
Australia’s future P-8A Poseidon pilots are set to benefit from a new simulator and training systems facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh after it was officially handed over to the defense department on August 17. Australian defense minister Marise Payne said the advanced P-8A training system would bette
The UK Royal Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force are scheduled to conduct their first joint amphibious exercise in Japanese waters next week. Taking place on August 23 and 24, the exercise will be spearheaded by Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Albion and the JMSDF tank landing ship
The US Navy has called off the search for a Marine who was reported missing from amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) on August 9. The Marine, assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS Essex, is presumed dead after the US Navy announced the end of search and rescue effo
Hyundai Heavy Industries hosted a keel laying ceremony for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s future tanker HMZS Aotearoa at its shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, on August 13. Aotearoa’s keel laying consisted of more than 500 tonnes of carefully constructed keel blocks being positioned together in the dry
Australian Navy ships and personnel are continuing their Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018 (IPE18) deployment after concluding exercise Rim of the Pacific off Hawaii in early August. Landing helicopter dock ship HMAS Adelaide and frigate HMAS Toowoomba – along with a platoon of Australian soldiers from 2R
Australian shipbuilder Austal announced it has started sea trials for the first Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB-R). The announcement was made on August 8 as part of the company’s celebration of 30 years of successfully delivering shipbuilding programs. The PPB-R program will see 21 Austal de
Royal Navy’s amphibious assault ship HMS Albion has wrapped up a five-day visit to Tokio, Japan, becoming the largest RN vessel to visit the country in a quarter of a century. The 20,000-ton ship pulled alongside on August 3 and hosted over 6000 members of the public during an open weekend. During t
Royal Australian Navy’s hydrographic survey ship HMAS Leeuwin showed off its skills following a port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia. During a five-day passage from Indonesia to Port Klang, Malaysia, the crew were joined by six members of the Indonesian Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic organization
