The flagship of the John C. Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG), Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), will depart Monday, Aug. 27, to begin an eight-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta spoke here Wednesday with the cre
The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 Detachment 2 returned to Naval Base San Diego (NBSD), Aug. 22 after circumnavigating the globe. Cape’s crew completed a nine-month deployment in support of the U.S. 5th,
USS Carr (FFG 52) conducted what is scheduled to be the ship’s last underway replenishment, Aug. 20 before decommissioning in March 2013. Carr is currently deployed to U.S. Fourth Fleet (C4F) area of responsibility in support of Operation Martillo. Carr’s Operations Officer, Lt. Brenda Beznoska, gui
Guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) rendered medical assistance to Panamanian-flagged, bulk carrier M/V Belde, Aug. 20, approximately 110 miles north of Socotra Island, Oman. At approximately 1:10 p.m. local time, Winston S. Churchill responded to a distress call following a c
Navy helicopters teamed with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection units Aug. 15 to conduct aerial firefighting against several wildfires in eastern San Diego County. At CALFIRE’s request for immediate response support, the Navy is providing three firefighting helicopters equipped wi
Norfolk-based frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) retrieved 1,250 pounds of cocaine while being resupplied by an air drop at sea during Operation Martillo, Aug. 15. A long range P-3 patrol aircraft from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) decreased altitude, passed close to the ship and dropped a single
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, embarked aboard aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), began flying the first combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Aug. 9. These missions will provide direct support to coalition forces on the ground in Afghanistan. The support include
The F-35 Lightning II accomplished a significant test milestone Aug. 8 when the aircraft successfully released a weapon in flight. BF-3, a short take-off and vertical landing F-35 variant, executed an inert 1,000-pound GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) separation weapon over water in an Atl
The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island to speak with Sailors and answer questions Aug. 7. The CNO addressed Sailors assigned to Whidbey Island’s Electronic Attack and Reconnaissance squadrons and tenant commands during an all hand
U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Aug. 7, to patrol the southeast Asian-Pacific region. With Capt. Will Pennington at the helm for the first time since he assumed command July 27, Blue Ridge will continue to strengthen partnerships through exercises
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36), recovered 49 bales of narcotics from the Caribbean Sea during Operation Martillo, Aug. 3. Underwood pursued a “go-fast” speed boat late Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, but it dumped its load before Underwood was able to effect a b
On Monday Huntington Ingalls Industries began construction on the amphibious transport dock LPD 27. The ship, being built at the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, is the 11th ship in the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class of ships. “This is the 11th LPD in what has become a hot production line,”
Australian Navy Clearance Divers are playing a key role at RIMPAC 2012, both in Hawaii and on the US mainland. Their focus is on mine countermeasures – the largest collection of Mine Counter Measures (MCM) capacity ever deployed by Australia on this exercise. Commander Doug Griffiths is in charge of
HMAS Darwin has successfully exercised complex ship and air launched torpedo delivery during the multinational maritime exercise RIMPAC 2012. Firing one MK46 torpedo from Darwin and two Mk46 torpedos from embarked S-70B-2 Seahawk “Valkyrie”, Darwin demonstrated a combined ability to detect and count
