Visits to 816 and 723 Squadrons, a flight in a Squirrel helicopter, simulator experience in flying a Seahawk and an anti-submarine warfare demonstration were all part of the busy itinerary that Commander Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Vince Di Pietro, recently put together for Air Vice Marshal Mel Hupfeld
USS Independence (LCS 2) successfully completed a test event with the ship’s Mk 110 57 millimeter gun on May 20. Held at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu Range, the test demonstrated Independence’s surface warfare capabilities by engaging a stationary target using the ship’s c
A change of command ceremony was held aboard USS Essex (LHD 2), May 28 where Capt. Peter M. Mantz relieved Capt. Joker L. Jenkins as Essex’s commanding officer. “You have worked together time and time again to achieve and exceed our command goals under challenging conditions,” said Jenkins. “You h
The oceanic patrol vessel ‘Relámpago’, currently participating in the European-led counter-piracy operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean, has provided medical assistance to a ‘dhow’-type fishing boat off the coast of Somalia. The ‘Relámpago’ carried out a friendly approach or MSAV (maritime situ
French frigate FS Floréal, which is currently deployed with the EU Naval Force, recently carried out several friendly approaches on dhows and skiffs off Somalia. With the consent of the ships’ masters, direct talks were conducted in order to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU
Personnel from HMAS Tobruk, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have been awarded Military Civic Action medals by the Philippines Government for their assistance following Typhoon Haiyan in late 2013. Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Philippines, General Emmanuel Trinid
Yesterday afternoon, Bluefin-21 completed its last mission searching the remaining areas in the vicinity of the acoustic signals detected in early April by the Towed Pinger Locator deployed from ADV Ocean Shield, within its depth operating limits. The data collected on yesterday’s mission has been
The UK Royal Navy has seized an £8.5m haul of heroin after a raid on a suspect vessel in the northern Arabian Sea. Nearly 60 kilograms of the drug was seized by sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Somerset, the Plymouth-based Type 23 Frigate, who intercepted the fishing boat in Royal Navy fast boat
Thales has expanded its product portfolio by acquiring the Integrated Maritime Coordination and Surveillance System (IMARCS) from Austal. IMARCS is a maritime command and control system which integrates Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), GPS and radar into a single picture of the operational
The Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Federico Trillo-Figueroa Martínez Conde, yesterday visited the Operational Headquarters of EU Naval Force at Northwood Base, North London. He was met by the Deputy Operational Commander of Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauz
U.S. 7th Fleet’s medical staff hosted Malaysian and Indonesian military medical teams underway aboard the flag ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) May 22 – 25. The training and discussions focused on the importance of medical expertise in shipboard and dive medicine, medical planning, medical evacuation
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) transiting the Black Sea on May 24. The cruiser entered the Black Sea on May 23. Vella Gulf is deployed in a multi-mission role in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility to contribute to regional maritime security and to suppor
The 20th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series began with an opening ceremony on Sattahip Naval Base, on May 20th. Over the next eight days, sailors and marines will participate in CARAT Thailand 2014, the first of nine bilateral exercise phases with the armed fo
The first ever Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ship to serve as the primary mission platform for the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s annual humanitarian and disaster response-focused mission arrived at Commander Fleet Activities, Yokosuka to on-load supplies and a multinational crew. The Osumi-Clas
