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USS Harry S. Truman visits Portsmouth
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman arrived into Portsmouth on October 6 for a port visit while on a Mediterranean Sea deployment. The carrier most recently visited France and Greece and will continue with her program early this week. Arriving early Saturday morning into a foggy Solent, she
US Navy could broaden engagement in Pacific Islands, navy undersecretary says
“The United States can help Pacific island nations with security needs,” US Navy Undersecretary Thomas B. Modly told reporters in Washington after finishing a trip through the island nations of Oceania. The trip involved stops in Kiribati and its capital on the island of Tarawa. He also visited Papu
JMSDF helicopter carrier JS Kaga in India for joint ASW drill
Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) helicopter carrier JS Kaga and guided-missile destroyer JS Inazuma arrived at Visakhapatnam, India, on October 7 as part of the Indo-Southeast Asia Deployment 2018. The JMSDF task group, commanded by Rear Admiral Tatsuya Fukada, Commander, Escort Flotilla
Canada names 1st Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship
The Royal Canadian Navy’s first ship built under the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) project, Harry DeWolf, has been named at Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax Shipyard. Harry DeWolf is scheduled to be turned over to the Royal Canadian Navy in 2019. Work to prepare the ship for sea trials in 2019
NATO’s SNMCMG1 returns to Baltic Sea operations
Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) transited the Kiel Canal and arrived in Wismar, Germany, October 5, returning to the Baltic Sea for another routine patrol. The SNMCMG1 visit to Wismar included courtesy calls with local authorities, a force reception and ships ope
HII wraps up sale of Avondale facility
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has completed the sale of HII’s Avondale facility to Avondale Marine, a joint venture between terminal operator T.P. Host and real estate firm Hilco Redevelopment Partners. As part of cost-saving measures, HII announced in 2010 the decision to close the facility,
Assault ship HMS Albion arrives in Oman for major exercise Saif Sareea
Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Albion has arrived in Oman ahead of the start of an exercise that will see the involvement of over 4,000 British personnel. Exercise Saif Sareea (Swift Sword) is the largest combined military exercise for UK forces since 2002 and HMS Albion will be in charge of
US Coast Guard NSC home after seizing 10 tons of cocaine
US Coast Guard’s national security cutter USCGC Strato returned home after a deployment in which operations spanned from the Arctic Ocean to the coasts of South America. Stratton’s crew began their deployment in the Arctic Ocean in support of Coast Guard District Seventeen and operation Arctic Shiel
Royal Navy’s new tanker RFA Tidesurge begins trials
At the beginning of October, the third of Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s new tankers headed to sea to begin military trials. RFA Tidesurge (A138) — one of four Tide-class ships built to support the new carriers and their battle groups — has already proven her seakeeping abilities courtesy as she arrived in
Australia awards BAE Systems first Hunter-class frigate contract
The Australian government announced on October 4 the signing of an interim contract with BAE Systems Australia for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigate program. The Advanced Work Arrangement (AWA) will cover ongoing work on the $35 billion program, ahead of agreeing the head contract. Au
Navantia bags Spain-based US destroyer maintenance contract extension
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia announced it has received a contract extension for the maintenance of four US Navy destroyers forward-deployed to the Spanish Navy base Rota. The original contract first entered into force in November 2013 and includes one-year extension options until November 2020. Acco
USNS Comfort ready for 11-week medical assistance mission in South America
US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is ready to start Enduring Promise, an 11-week medical assistance mission conducted with host-nation health and government partners in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Honduras. Comfort is scheduled to depart Norfolk on October 11, en route to South America a
Australian OPV construction kicks off with steel cutting ceremony
Construction works on the Royal Australian Navy’s new generation of offshore patrol vessels officially kicked off with a steel cutting ceremony on Wednesday. The steel cutting for the first of overall 12 vessels took place at Civmec’s Western Australia facility. Civmec will be responsible for buildi
International SMARTEX exercise wraps up in the Mediterranean Sea
Ships and personnel from the US, Spain, Germany and France concluded the four-day Smart Defense Exercise (SMARTEX) on September 28. SMARTEX is a NATO initiative designed to enhance interoperability and training between participating countries. During the exercise, Spanish sailors embarked aboard the