The guided missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) conducted a change of command ceremony while in homeport at Naval Base San Diego, Nov. 22. Cmdr. Steven R. McDowell, a native of Millbrook, N.Y., relived Cmdr. James E. Brown, a Las Vegas native, as commanding officer of Gary during a ceremony on the pier
PHILIPPINE SEA -Ticonderoga guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) flight deck crew have been operating non-stop during daylight hours in support of Operation Damayan. Damayan, which translates to “to help those in need” in Tagalog, has been the Cowpens’ focus in the aftermath of super Typhoon H
USS Chancellorsville Finishes Combat Systems Upgrades Naval Sea Systems Command completed the first-ever Air Defense Cruiser Aegis Baseline 9 combat systems upgrade for USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), March 29. The upgrade, part of the Navy’s Cruiser Modernization program, began in April 2012 at BAE S
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) returned to its homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Nov. 22 from a deployment to the Western Pacific. Commanded by Capt. Patrick Kelly, the ship and its crew of nearly 340 Sailors departed Hawaii on April 30th and conducted integ
Chaplain Lt. Brian Kirschenbaum, of Carrier Air Wing Five, assisted aircrews in the Guiuan area with the loading and unloading of supplies and interacted with local citizens who were in need of food and shelter. Members from the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) helped hundreds of
General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.(NASSCO) has received a $12.1 million worth contract modification to exercise the option for the fitting-out availability of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, the USS Somerset (LPD 25). The contract includes engineering, planning, manage
USS Ashland (LSD 48) and USS Germantown (LSD 42), with embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7 and Commander Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11, arrived in Leyte Gulf off the Philippines coast Nov. 20 in support of Operation Damayan. The ships will be jo
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus completed a visit to Doha, Qatar, Nov. 20. The visit was designed to build upon an existing relationship with Qatar, an important partner in the Middle East region. “Qatar is and remains a very valuable American partner,” said Mabus. “In our cooperation on a wide rang
The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 departed Norfolk to begin Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX)Nov. 20. COMPTUEX is a series of training exercises designed to certify the carrier strike group deployment-ready by testing its ability to react to real-world scenarios and perform
Ticonderoga guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) commenced its aid to the Republic of the Philippines in support of Operation Damayan, Nov. 16. The cruiser has been providing aid to the locals affected by Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda via SH-60B Seahawk helicopter supply-drops provided by its embarke
Commodore Paddy McAlpine, Commander United Kingdom Task Group, met his US Navy counterpart, Captain Malcolm Potts, Commander Amphibious Squadron One, in the waters off Djibouti to discuss continuing amphibious interoperability between the two allies. Captain Potts, based on board USS Boxer, and Colo
The Aegis guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) returned home to Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 18 marking the successful completion of her nine-month maiden deployment. Gravely deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations Feb. 15. She supported maritime security and theater security opera
The Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) keeps warships like aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) mission ready with fresh food, JP-5 fuel and even ammunition with vertical replenishments and conventional replenishments, Nov. 17. During Opera
USS Freedom (LCS 1) arrived at Brunei’s port of Muara Nov. 18 to take on fuel and supplies in preparation to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in the Philippines. The port visit occurs during the annual bilateral exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Br
