Amphibious & Support Ships
USS Makin Island Sailors Start “Biggest Loser” Competition
Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) began a “Biggest Loser” weight-loss and fitness competition Jan. 16, to help promote physical readiness during 2013. The competition, sponsored by the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) division, is based on the popular te
QinetiQ’s HTU Tests New Composite Materials for UK Submarine Fleet
The HTU forms part of an array of specialist equipment housed in QinetiQ’s Diving and Hyperbaric Test Centre based in Haslar, Portsmouth. The use of composite materials in the construction of submarines has a number of advantages, including the need for less maintenance which delivers a reduction in
RN Sailor Recognized for Accurate Weather Reports during Libyan Conflict
Leading Seaman Freddie Noakes stepped up into the role normally occupied by a Lieutenant during board HMS Liverpool’s deployment on operations on Libya, when the ship was providing naval gunfire support from the sea into Misrata during the Libyan conflict. He received his Joint Commanders Commendati
HMS Monmouth Sailors Visit USS John C. Stennis within PASSEX
Several guests from the Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Jan 15. Royal Navy Cmdr. Gordon Ruddock, Monmouth’s commanding officer, and 15 Monmouth sailors met with Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3,
IMB: Worldwide Piracy Figures Drop, but Dangers Still Lurk
Naval and armed guard protection is working, but the seas off East and West Africa remain dangerous, warns IMB. Piracy on the world’s seas has reached a five-year low, with 297 ships attacked in 2012, compared with 439 in 2011, the latest International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) report revealed on Janu
Polish Navy Takes Command Over Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One
On Thursday, January 17th, the Polish Navy assumed command over Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One. ORP ‘Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki’ became the flagship of the Group and Cdr Piotr Sikora (Polish Navy) was appointed as the Commander of the SNMCMG1. The official Change of Command Ceremony
Sweden: Saab Secures Order for Its AUV62
Defence and security company Saab have signed a contract on delivery of autonomous underwater vehicles systems, AUV62, in training configuration. The order has a total value of MSEK 269 and comprises supply and long term maintenance and support of AUV62, the latest version of the advanced training t
NETC Commander Discusses Impact of US Navy with Pensacola Leaders
The commander of Naval Education Training Command (NETC) led a roundtable discussion among Navy and Pensacola leaders Jan. 10 about the economic and social impact the Navy has on the local area. Rear Adm. Don Quinn moderated the discussion, held inside the National Naval Aviation Museum on board Nav
High Powered UK Defence Delegation Visits Austal
Austal today welcomed a high profile defence delegation, including the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence, to its Western Australian facility. The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, was accompanied by Australia’s Minister for Defence, the Hon Stephen Smith,
Korean Navy Opts for AgustaWestland’s AW159 Helicopter
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced on January 15 that the Republic of Korea has selected the AW159 helicopter to meet its Maritime Operational Helicopter requirement. The contract for eight AW159 helicopters for the Republic of Korea Navy is the first export order for this new generat
UK: HMS Montrose EWO Awarded with Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, Commander United Kingdom Maritime Force, presented WO1 AWT Nick Payne MBE, Executive Warrant Officer (EWO) in HMS Montrose with the clasp to his Long Service and Good Conduct medal – marking 30 years of unblemished, dedicated service. Seaman Radar Nicholas John Payne joine
UK: RN Divers, Bomb Disposal Experts Raise Funds for Diving Museum in Gosport
A team of Royal Navy Divers and bomb disposal experts based at Horsea Island paid a visit to the Diving Museum in Gosport recently to thank them for the loan of historic diving kit used by the Royal Navy in the Great South Run and hand over a £400 donation to the museum’s charity. Chief […]
UK: RFA’s Wave Knight Sets Sail for Counter Narcotics, Disaster Relief Patrol
A support ship to the Royal Navy has set sail for the West Coast of North America on a counter narcotics and disaster relief patrol for the next six months. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Wave Knight left Portland to take up the task of the UK’s Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North), a year round commit
UK: HMS Somerset Leaves Devonport Royal Dockyard for Sea Trials
Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset has left Devonport Royal Dockyard for sea trials with significantly increased sustainability and fighting capability, following a successful nine-month docking period undertaken by Babcock; the first major maintenance period conducted under the full implementation of the