After 148 days in charge, the Finnish Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) handed over the responsibility for the protection of the World Food Program (WFP) Ship MV Caroline Scan to a Lithuanian AVPD on 10 August. On behalf of Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, Operation Commander European Union Na
The upgraded Anzac Class frigate HMAS Perth ended Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 with a bang—lots of bangs actually—as she participated in a joint live fire exercise at Townsend Island, off Queensland. Perth fired around 100 rounds from its 5-inch gun, in an exercise that coordinated live fire from Au
Sailors from Submarine Group 7 and organizations around the world participated in a Search for Simulated Submarine Casualty Exercise (SMASHEX) at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Aug. 7-8. SMASHEX is a table top exercise to test procedures and practices required in the very unlikely event of a submarine se
Spanish Maritime Action Ship (BAM) ‘Meteoro’ relieved on August 7 the frigate ‘Numancia’ in the port of Djibouti. Operation ‘Atalanta’ is a EU-led mission fighting piracy in the coast of Somalia. Meteoro will remain in the theatre of operations for a period of four months. Her mission will be to pro
USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) completed the second of three combat systems testing and sea trials, in support of the first-ever integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) destroyer Aegis baseline nine combat systems upgrade, July 19. The upgrade, part of the Navy’s destroyer modernization program, beg
General Dynamics-NASSCO Earl Industries, based in Portsmouth, Va., has received a $82.4 million modification to a previously awarded contract for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE) fiscal 2013 dry-docking planned incremental availability. Under the contract, during its scheduled maintenance
The guided-missile frigate USS Nicholas (FFG 47) returned to Naval Station Norfolk on August 9, marking the successful completion of her final six-month deployment. The ship deployed on Jan. 20 of this year and traveled to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility where she supported Mariti
Thousands of Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel will leave the UK today for an annual deployment to the Mediterranean and Gulf region – Cougar ’13. The long-planned deployment will see elements of the UK’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) – the naval force formed under the
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ledbury returned to Portsmouth on August 9 following a three- month deployment across the Mediterranean and northern Red Sea. She formed part of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2, working extensively with NATO partners from Germany, Italy, Turkey and Albania as
Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed Marseille, France, Aug. 9 after successfully completing its scheduled port visit. “The trip was fantastic,” said Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Donald Novak, Harry S. Truman’s command master chief. “It was great to see everyone returning to the sh
Guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) hosted United States Ambassador to France and Monaco Charles Rivkin Aug. 6 during a port visit to Marseille, France. Rivkin toured Gettysburg’s engineering spaces, mess decks, and combat information center (CIC), which showcased the capabilities of a ful
Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began Certification Exercise (CERTEX), Aug. 7. CERTEX is an event focusing on the 31st MEU’s capability of doing missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations or non-combatant
Capt. Daryl K. Daniels, commanding officer of U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, has relieved Command Master Chief, Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW/FMF) Robert Banuelos, due to lack of confidence because of allegations of personal misconduct. The allegations of misconduct against Banuelos are
They have already passed a rigorous evaluation and proved themselves in an international exercise but the training never ends for the ship’s company of the Anzac Class frigate HMAS Perth. While in the Coral Sea fighting off the forces of a fictitious enemy, 182 personnel aboard Perth were simultaneo
