Sailors assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in partnership with Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conducted a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training evolution aboard USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) Aug. 13. “VBSS operations are another way in which
Pacific Partnership 2013 concluded its final mission port, the Solomon Islands, Aug. 13. U.S. Navy forces were joined by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional partners that included Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and New Zealand wit
Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program, Austal hosted the keel-laying ceremony on August 14th for the third vessel, Cape Nelson, one of eight 56-metre patrol boats that Austal is designing, building and supporting for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Servi
Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy for the production of acoustic nose arrays for the MK54 lightweight torpedo in support of Navy and foreign military sales requirements. The initial scope is for 428 nose arrays with a potential for as many as 3,000 over the li
“Distance two cables, bearing seven degrees,” reported HMAS Ballarat’s Navigating Office, Lieutenant Tom Geraghty to his Commanding Officer, Commander Matthew Doornbos. “140 feet displaced sir,” he said, as Ballarat made her final approach on HMAS Sirius to conduct a replenishment at sea operation (
The construction of facilities for the new Landing Helicopter Dock ships and Air Warfare Destroyers has commenced in Sydney. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator David Feeney attended a sod turning ceremony at HMAS Watson on August 8th and welcomed the commencement of building works. “This is
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
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
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
Members of Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) from the U.S. and Royal New Zealand Navy traded places for seven days, switching ships and returning to their respective vessels prior to the end of the PP13 mission’s completion, Aug 5. The Sailors from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LS
HMAS Darwin is “Resurgent” again; having recently completed a major maintenance docking, which involved more than 140,000 hours of contracted work. Emerging from the dry Dock in mid May, her crew began the tireless work required to transform the industrial worksite back into an operational warship.
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules has arrived at Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, to support Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) activities as part of Operation LANDSCAPE. Approximately 60 ADF personnel assigned to Joint Task Force 638 have been deployed or have already directl
On Monday, 29 July 2013, the Dutch frigate HNLMS VAN SPEIJK, part of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD, conducted a maritime exercise together with the Seychelles Coast Guard, focusing on search and rescue operations and enhancing coordination and cooperation between the Coast Guard and N
