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F-35B ready USS Essex returns to sea
U.S. Navy’s Wasp-class multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) returned to sea on May 3 after completing her phased maintenance availability. During this availability, USS Essex (LHD-2) was fitted with equipment needed to deploy the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Essex is the thir
European navies gather in Italy for exercise Mare Aperto 17
Some 40 vessels from 7 countries gathered in the port of Cagliari to take part in the annual, Italian-hosted exercise Mare Aperto 2017. Starting Monday, May 8, navy ships from France, Spain, Canada, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and Italy will spend two weeks honing their skills in mine countermeasures a
Pacific Partnership 2017 reaches Vietnam
After visiting Sri Lanka and Malaysia, the U.S.-led mission Pacific Partnership 2017 arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, on May 8. Pacific Partnership is an annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. This year, the mission is sta
Australian Navy contracts CHC Group for SAR services
The Royal Australian Navy has contracted CHC Group to provide aviation emergency response services out of the Australian Navy base at Nowra, on the south coast of New South Wales. CHC Group announced the 15 month contract on Sunday adding that crash response services will be delivered at HMAS Albatr
Australian OPV contender Austal sets up design office in Adelaide
Western Australian shipbuilder Austal is establishing a new design and project management office in Adelaide, South Australia, in a bid to secure a contract for the construction of Australian Navy offshore patrol vessels but also to support the company’s expansion into one of Australia’s two major s
US Marines join French Navy’s Jeanne D’Arc task force for drills
U.S. Marine Corps have teamed up with other multinational forces to take part in the French Navy’s Jeanne D’Arc exercises that are set to take place from April 29 to May 18 on land and in the surrounding waters of Guam and Tinian. Approximately 100 Marines from 3rd Marine Division joined forces from
GRSE to assemble Rolls-Royce engines in India
Rolls-Royce and India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) have signed an agreement that will enable GRSE to assemble MTU Series 4000 engines in India. According to Rolls-Royce, the 12V and 16V 4000 M90 type engines will be assembled in GRSE’s diesel engine plant in Ranchi. An option for t
ADV Cape Fourcroy officially joins Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy has officially welcomed ADV Cape Fourcroy, the first of two Austal-built Cape Class Patrol Boats, with an ensign hoisting ceremony. Commanding officer Cape Fourcroy Commander Mark Taylor ordered the crew to ‘cheer ship’ after a naming ceremony was held for the boat alongsid
NATO minehunters arrive in Latvia for ordnance disposal ops
Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) arrived in Liepāja, Latvia, on May 3. Led by Commander Johan-Elias Seljamaa from the Estonian Navy, the group will conduct a port visit and continue with historical ordnance disposal operation (HODOPS) in Latvian waters until May 1
German fleet tender intercepts Libyan weapons in the Med
A German Navy fleet tender with an embarked team of Lithuanian boarding specialists intercepted a Libyan weapon-smuggling vessel on May 1. Tender ‘Rhein’ intercepted the Libyan-flagged vessel ‘El Mukthar’ in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. ‘Rhein’ is currently part of a EUNAVFOR count
Italian frigate pulls into Dammam, Saudi Arabia
The Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Carabiniere pulled into Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on May 5, on the return leg of her Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment. Carabiniere is set to depart Dammam on May 6, after hosting a press conference on its deck and engaging with local officials. The ship’s crew previously
Mauritius receives second India-built fast patrol vessel
The Mauritius Coast Guard received its second fast patrol vessel, MCGS Valiant, from Indian shipbuilder Goa Shipyard Limited on April 30. The $27 million contract for the construction of MCGS Valiant and sister ship MCGS Victory was signed in May 2014. The contract also included ten 14.5m-long fast
US Navy considering use of UAVs for man-overboard situations
The U.S. Navy is looking at the possibility of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for man-overboard situations in which the UAVs would help keep a visual on the sailor in the water. According to the Naval Safety Center, since 2006 more than 110 sailors and marines have fallen overboard, and eight
Battle of the Coral Sea commemorated aboard HMAS Choules
Representatives from Australia, U.S. and Japan commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea aboard Australian Navy amphibious ship HMAS Choules which positioned herself in the waters of the conflict off Townsville on May 1. The ship’s company and embarked forces took a break from