The United States Military Sealift Command (MSC) has exercised the first of three six months options for the ongoing charter of the Austal high speed vessel “WestPac Express”. The option forms part of a 24 month contract that Austal was awarded in December 2011. Austal Chief Executive Officer, Andre
Surgeons aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) provided a unique and relevant service to Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) participants in the form of minor surgeries, Aug. 14. During the transit from the mission’s final port in Cambodia to Guam, service members were able
The crew of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) conducted the ship’s eighth change of command ceremony Aug. 16. Rear Adm. Herman Shelanski, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, presided over the ceremony in which Capt. S. Robert Roth relieved Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne in front of s
Guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) held a change of command ceremony at sea in the Gulf of Aden, Aug. 16. Cmdr. Christopher D. Stone relieved Cmdr. Michael E. Hutchens as Churchill’s commanding officer in a ceremony held on the destroyer’s flight deck. Hutchens assumed comman
Guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) assisted a United States-flagged sailing vessel in the Western Caribbean Sea Aug. 14. Carr discovered the U.S. flagged sailing vessel “Bob” which failed to answer calls on the bridge-to-bridge radio. Sailors from Carr manned the rigid hull inflatable boat to
Guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) rendered medical assistance and provided food, water and fuel to an Iranian-flagged dhow, M/V Payam, Aug. 15, approximately 45 miles southeast of Muscat, Oman. At approximately 2:20 p.m. local time, Hue City responded to a distress call for medical assista
Navy helicopters teamed with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection units Aug. 15 to conduct aerial firefighting against several wildfires in eastern San Diego County. At CALFIRE’s request for immediate response support, the Navy is providing three firefighting helicopters equipped wi
BAE Systems recently received a $25.7 million contract from the U.S. Navy to overhaul and upgrade two Mk 45 naval guns bringing them to the 5-inch 62-caliber Mk 45 Mod 4 configuration. The Mod 4 is an upgrade to the Mod 2 design, which significantly enhances overall mission performance. “This contra
Norfolk-based frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) retrieved 1,250 pounds of cocaine while being resupplied by an air drop at sea during Operation Martillo, Aug. 15. A long range P-3 patrol aircraft from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) decreased altitude, passed close to the ship and dropped a single
The Bahamas Journal reports that the Bahamas Government intends to spend up to USD 200 million in order to make physical and equipment changes to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). The Defence Force is seeking the acquisition of four classes of vessels comprising 11 crafts estimated to cost USD
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced yesterday that its AMSEC LLC subsidiary has been awarded a task order under a previously awarded contract to provide engineering and technical services to support efforts to improve U.S. Navy shipboard technical data environments. The indefinite-delivery, inde
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 held an aerial change of command ceremony in the skies above the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Aug. 15. Capt. Robert D. Boyer relieved Capt. Jeffrey L. Trent as Commander. During the ceremony, Boyer flew in an F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the Thunderbolts of Marine
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) hosted 12 midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) units, July 31-Aug. 15. U.S. Naval Academy and NROTC’s academic curriculums require midshipmen to complete a summer cruise pr
USS Carr (FFG 52) conducted an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) while deployed to the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Martillo, Aug. 13. Typically ships assigned to the Fourth Fleet area of responsibility must go off station to conduct a brief stop for fuel in p
