U.S. Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, Company 2-1, concluded a three-week subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) with Panamanian divers, May 3. The SMEE, which was part of Navy Dive-Southern Partnership Station 2012 (ND-SPS 12), focused on underwater cutting, surface s
Phoenix Express 2012 (PE12), a multi-national exercise between Southern European, North African and U.S. naval forces, officially kicked off at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operation Training Center (NMIOTC) in Souda Bay, May 7. Phoenix Express is an at-sea maritime exercise designed to improve co
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today the next Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer (DDG) will be named the USS Thomas Hudner. Thomas J. Hudner Jr., a naval aviator who retired as a captain, received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman for displaying uncommon valor du
The nation’s third Littoral Combat Ship, USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), successfully completed its U.S. Navy acceptance trials and will be delivered to the Navy this summer. Fort Worth is the second surface combatant designed and built by a Lockheed Martin -led industry team. The trials, conducted in Lake
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) welcomed six Royal Australian Defense Force (RADF) officers aboard, April 29 – May 2, giving them an opportunity to observe a U.S. aircraft carrier in action as the ship continues its deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Royal Australian Navy (RAN) officers L
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced May 4 the selection of USS Tripoli as the name for the Navy’s next large-deck amphibious assault ship (LHA 7). The USS Tripoli will be the third ship to bear the name Tripoli. The name commemorates the capture of Derna in 1805 by a small force of U.S. [&hell
U.S. Pacific Fleet’s humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) mission, known as Pacific Partnership, deployed aboard U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) May 3, 2012, for a four-month deployment to the host nations of Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. Mercy was originally sche
Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) departed Naval Station San Diego May 3, beginning its part in Pacific Partnership 2012, a four-and-a-half month humanitarian and civic assistance mission to Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. Mercy is crewed by 70 civil servi
The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) received a visit from Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic (CSFTL), while at sea, on its progress though a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), May 1. Rear Adm. Dennis E. FitzPatrick, CSFTL, landed on the destroyer via helic
The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, announced the commanding officer for the 2013-14 seasons during a press conference at the National Aviation Museum on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., May 1. A panel of admirals and former Blue Angels commanding officers sel
The combined U.S. and Canadian Exercise Frontier Sentinel 12 (EX FS12) formally kicked off with a live diving demonstration by the Royal Canadian Navy’s, Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic (FDUA), at the Sydney Marine Terminal, May 1. Led by Royal Canadian navy, Rear Adm. Dave Gardam, Canadian Joint Task Fo
The secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) visited Sailors and Marines assigned to amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), while the ship was in Aqaba, Jordan, for a port visit, April 26. SECNAV Ray Mabus, was in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility as part of a regional tour to thank
Sailors aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) concluded their participation in exercise Saharan Express 2012 while underway off the coast of West Africa, April 30. Saharan Express, one of four express series exercises, focused on improving communications and building relationships o
Fleet Base West has experienced a busy first half of 2012, with both HMAS Stirling and West based Fleet Units playing host to several high profile international visitors since January. April was particularly busy with a flurry of VIP visits to the West. The first was from the United States Secretary
