As the Royal Navy’s HMS Albion awakens from her four-year slumber, her sailors raise a toast with veteran matelots. The assault ship has been in extended readiness since 2011 in her home base of Devonport, being brought back to life so she can take over as the nation’s principal amphibious vessel fr
US Navy’s Destroyer Squadron Fifteen (CDS 15) received a new commander in a change of command ceremony at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Aug. 7. During the ceremony Capt. Christopher J. Sweeney relieved Capt. Shan M. Byrne as commodore of CDS 15. Byrne, CDS 15’s 54th commodore, began his tour
Last week Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) met with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) while operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. Both groups had the opportunity to perform a passing exercise, characterized as sailing in formation. SNMG1 took the opportunity to refuel with SNMG2 ESPS CA
This week Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) entered in the port of Aksaz, Turkey for a planned port visit during its assignment to NATO’s counter-terrorism Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR. After the group assemble in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), the German flagship frigate FGS HAMBURG, followed by t
The UK MOD has awarded contracts worth £80 million to upgrade the backbone of the Royal Navy surface flotilla, the Type 23 Frigates. A £68M contract, with Rolls-Royce subsidiary MTU, which includes a training and transitional support package, will see each ship supplied with four new diesel generato
US Navy’s USS Ashland (LSD 48) is scheduled to arrive in Saipan on August 7 to provide relief in the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor, which devastated the island on August 2-3. Agencies including the Government of Guam, American Red Cross, Ayuda Foundation and other non-profit/non-governmental organiz
The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) connects fuel supply hoses from the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187). The operation was conducted while the vessels were sailing in the Pacific Ocean on July 31. The John C. Stennis Strike Group is co
Harris Corporation has been awarded an IDIQ contract with a ceiling value of $228 million to support the U.S. Navy’s maritime mine countermeasures (MCM) efforts. The five-year contract includes a three-year base and two one-year options. The Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific in
Raytheon Anschütz has been selected by BAE Systems to provide the Integrated Navigation and Bridge System (INBS) for the UK Royal Navy’s new Type 26 Global Combat Ships. Raytheon Anschütz is under contract to deliver the Integrated Bridge and Navigation System for the first three ships, including cu
The US Coast Guard’s latest 418-foot National Security Cutter James (WSML 754) entered Boston Harbor August 3, 2015. The James is the fifth of eight planned National Security Cutters – the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutters in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The cutters’ design prov
Amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) hosted the Commander of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 Rear Adm. Cynthia M. Thebaud on Aug. 3 while the ship was underway for the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group’s (ARG) composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX). During the course of her v
A Merlin from 814 Naval Air Squadron is guided down on to the flight deck of Italy’s flagship for the first time as part of the international migrant mission in the Mediterranean. The 814 NAS crew normally based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose near Helston in Cornwall flew on to the Aircraft Car
US Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) – Port Hueneme Division (PHD) awarded a $35.4 million contract to Engility Holdings, Inc. to continue providing radar engineering, software support and logistics services. The award is a follow on to a contract originally won by TASC, which was acquired by Engi
During May and June Australian Navy’s HMAS Newcastle was patrolling with the Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East region. During the patrols, the ship’s company discovered more than 1305kg of narcotics in two boardings. Now in the second half of her deployment, Newcastle has completed five su
