Guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) completed two days of participation for Exercise Obangame Express 2012, Feb. 29. Obangame Express is an at-sea maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Gu
In February 2012, at and around the US Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, approximately 12,000 military personnel and 24 ships from 9 different countries participated in the largest US amphibious exercise since 2001. Among the participants in Bold Alligator were 2 Dutch units from the Caribbean region,
Multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk Feb. 28. Capt. Grady Banister relieved Capt. Thomas Chassee as commanding officer. “I would like to say one last time what an honor and privilege it has been to be a part of Iwo Jima’
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $70 million cost-plus-fixed-fee advance procurement contract modification from the U.S. Navy to provide long-lead materials for LPD 27, the 11th amphibious transport dock of the USS San Antonio (LPD 1
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG) launched its first combat sorties this deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Feb. 16. The ALCSG, which was last in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) in March 2011, is comprised of the most effective collection of ass
Forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) served as the staging area during a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) off the coast of Sattahip Feb. 12. The mock NEO was a chance for the crew to display what services they would provide in the event of an actual NEO. The
For the first time in an at-sea exercise, an MV-22 Osprey landed aboard a Military Sealift Command (MSC) ship while conducting a proof of concept test during Bold Alligator 2012 (BA12) Feb. 9. The Osprey, flown by the Fighting Griffins of VMM-266, landed aboard USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5), loaded
USS Germantown (LSD 42) began its involvement in Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 (CG 12), the multinational military exercise co-sponsored by the U.S. and Thailand, Feb. 10 in the Gulf of the Kingdom of Thailand. The exercise, now in its 31st year, is designed to promote regional peace and security. Nation
Sailors and Marines from Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) departed aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) after successfully completing a 30-day underway period in the Atlantic Ocean Feb. 9. CVW-1 and Enterprise spent the past month participating in a Composite Training Unit Exercise, a joint task force
The Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command (NMAWC) conducted a synthetic underwater mine-clearing exercise in support of exercise Bold Alligator 2012 (BA12) at Naval Warfare Development Command onboard Naval Station Norfolk Feb 3. BA12 is the East Coast’s largest joint and multinational amphi
The forward-deployed dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) pulled into Okinawa, Japan Feb. 2 to onload nearly 500 Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and their equipment in preparation for exercise Cobra Gold. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled joint and coalition multi
Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG) assets responded to a distressed Iranian fishing dhow in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 31. At 12:37 p.m. local time, an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the Golden Falcons of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 and embarked on aircraft carrier USS Abra
Huntington Ingalls Industries will present a new patrol frigate derivative of the company’s proven U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter at this week’s Pacific 2012 International Maritime and Naval Exposition. The patrol frigate could be built at the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding facility in Mi
USS Momsen (DDG 92) conducted helicopter visit board search and seizure (HVBSS) training Jan. 17 to prepare for operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). The guided-missile destroyer’s 12-man VBSS team was joined by the members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU)
