The next Commanding Officer of HMAS Arunta, Commander David Landon, has been named as a recipient of the Conspicuous Service Medal in the 2014 Queens Birthday honours list this weekend. The proud father of three from Sydney’s east is to be recognised for his achievement in the performance of duty
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Osumi-Class JS Kunisaki (LST 4003), carrying a multinational crew of U.S., Australian and Japanese personnel arrived in Da Nang June 6 for Pacific Partnership 2014, beginning nine days of collaborative medical and engineering activities with the people o
Twenty-three Royal Australian Navy personnel have been awarded honours and awards in the 2014 Queens Birthday Honours List. The distinguished group of officers and sailors were awarded the honours and awards for their outstanding performance in duties ranging from operational service, support to o
The construction of Nowra’s Boer War memorial was very much a community effort. In 1900, a committee was formed to raise funds for what was originally intended to mark just one aspect of the Boer War “the brave defence of Mafeking by Colonel Baden-Powell.” Subscriptions were sought and, in January
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus visited sailors and Military Sealift Command (MSC) civil service mariners attached to the U.S. 6th Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), June 7. The SECNAV’s visit included a tour of Mount Whitney, a chief pinning ceremony and an all-ha
The Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships USS Pioneer (MCM 9) and USS Chief (MCM 14) were loaded onto an ocean-going heavy lift ship as final preparations were made to get underway for their new homeport in Sasebo, Japan May 31. Pioneer and Chief will be part of forward deployed naval forces (FD
In a training evolution to be conducted as part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2014 exercise series, U.S. Navy divers, assisted by personnel from the Indonesian navy, will survey the World War II wreck of the cruiser USS Houston (CA 30) in June. The purpose of the mission
Four NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1) arrived in Karlskrona on Thursday, 5 June 2014, for a scheduled port visit and pre-sail conference in advance of the annual BALTOPS exercise. SNMCMG1 is visiting the port as part of the Group’s deployment to the Ba
The NATO counter-piracy flagship ESPS Cristobal Colon helped to provide specialised training to the Royal Omani Navy in the port of Salalah. On Sunday, 1 June 2014, Captain Amor Humaid Al Zakwani, Commander of the Royal Oman Navy Southern Area, accompanied by several other officers from the Fast P
Ultra announces that its Ocean Systems business (UEOS), located in Massachusetts, USA has been awarded a three-year contract totalling over US$19m from the US Navy. The contract is for the production of the Naval Acoustic Electromechanical Beacon (“NAE Beacon”) expendable countermeasure and includ
Thousands of people from across the UK descended on Southsea in Portsmouth for the 70th anniversary commemorations of D Day. Veterans were given pride of place at a special Drumhead ceremony near the war memorial with 144 members of all three Services on parade as a ceremonial guard of honour as w
For the first time in history a member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has actively participated in the Eternal Flame Ceremony, which is conducted every evening beneath the world-renowned Arc De Triomphe in Paris. Petty Officer Don Blackley is in France as part of a small contingent of Australi
NATO Defence Ministers on Tuesday (3 June) decided to extend NATO’s counter-piracy operation Ocean Shield until the end of 2016. Since August 2009, NATO ships have patrolled the waters off the Horn of Africa as part of Operation Ocean Shield. Their mission is to contribute to international efforts
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) welcomed aboard U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel during a scheduled port visit to Constanta, Romania, June 5. Vella Gulf’s presence in Romania reaffirms the United States’ commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and
