U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) made a port visit to White Beach, Okinawa, August 17. During the visit, Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will join the Bonhomme Richard (BHR) crew for a scheduled deployment. BHR is conducting a fall deployment in th
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) conducted coordinated maneuvering events, Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), and a search-and-rescue (SAR) swimmer training event with the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) Jiangkai II class frigate Daqing (FFG 576
The final ship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) departed its forward-deployed homeport of Sasebo, Japan for a routine patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, August 10. While on patrol, the Bonhomme Richard ESG and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will conduct a
The U.S. Navy said its amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) completed a routine patrol in international waters of the South China Sea on August 6. Another ship from the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), completed a similar patrol August 4. Th
The U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 flagship, USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), departed Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan for a scheduled patrol on August 6. Bonhomme Richard recently competed a four-month selective restricted availability (SRA) period, during which time the ship made renov
U.S. and Indonesian Marines recently conducted a subject matter expert exchange aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). During the exchange, held in Harpers Ferry’s well deck, Marines discussed amphibious operations, techniques and equipment for safely and efficiently lan
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered the first two of four offshore patrol patrol vessels to the Bangladesh Coast Guard. The converted and upgraded former Italian Navy Minerva-class corvettes were delivered during a ceremony held August 4 at the shipbuilder’s Muggiano yard in Italy. Formerl
Republic of Korea’s top naval officer met with senior military leaders in San Diego August 2 to discuss maritime security issues and strengthen the relationship between the navies. During his first stop of a weeklong trip to the U.S., the Chief of Naval Operations for the Republic of Korea, Admiral
Algerian Navy ship Ezzadjer arrived to Kochi, India for a three-day port visit on August 2. The Algerian corvette is led by Commander Chalabi Ahcene, Commanding Officer, who together with Captain Chouchane Mohamed EI-Mouldi, the ‘mission commander’, called on Rear Admiral RB Pandit, the Chief of Sta
U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Force 7th Fleet changed command aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) in Sasebo, Japan on August 3. During the change of command ceremony Rear Adm. Marc H. Dalton took over from Rear Adm. John B. Nowell Jr.. Nowell highlighted the work Expeditionary Strike Group 7 sailors and ma
U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) mine countermeasures units completed the mine countermeasures exercise (MCMEX) 2JA 2016 that took place July 15 to 30, near the region surrounding Misawa Air Base, Japan. MCMEX is an annual bilateral exercise held between the U.S. and Japan to
The 22nd annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore Armed Forces came to a close at Changi Naval Base July 28. CARAT Singapore 2016 focused on addressing shared maritime security concerns, building relationships and enhancing int
The USS New Orleans (LPD 18) with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka for a port visit, July 24. The ship and embarked MEU are in Sri Lanka to increase bilateral ties with the Sri Lankan navy and exchange best practices on humanitarian assistance/disaster reli
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded VSE Corporation a contract worth up to $74 million to reactivate two former U.S. frigates prior to their delivery to the Taiwan Navy. Under this contract, VSE will manage the industrial work, logistics and crew training for two Oliver Hazard Perry-class