Aviation
French Frigate Joins CMF Counter-Terrorism Ops
On 5 December 2014, the French frigate Guépratte sailed out of the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, ready and willing to support Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-terrorism operations under Canadian-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150). For this mission, Guépratte’s crew have four goals: gathering
Red Reef 15 Commences
U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), along with members of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, began exercise Red Reef 15 Dec. 7 in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Red Reef is a biennial, bilateral exercise between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Ar
HMS Severn Assumes HMS Argyll’s Duties
Royal Navy drug buster HMS Argyll has formally handed over the reins to HMS Severn as the two ships met up in the North Atlantic ocean. The Type 23 frigate is on her way home for Christmas while HMS Severn will spend the next six months tackling drug smugglers, assisting in the event of natural [&he
Four Rescued from Boat on Fire off Murrells Inlet
The US Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued four people whose boat caught fire off the coast of Murrells Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach, Sunday. Rescued were two men and two women. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received the initial report over VHF Channel 16 at approximately 11 a.
Image of the Day: Sea Hawk Lands aboard USS John C. Stennis
Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Jonathon Weimer, from Miami, directs an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the Chargers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14 to the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is undergoing an operational train
NAS to Support Royal Navy’s Middle East Ops
849 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) has set off for the Gulf this week to support Royal Navy and coalition forces on operations in the Middle East. 849 NAS has played an essential role in training the Culdrose Sea King Force aircrew and engineers as well as supporting frontline operations. It has also supp
USS Fort Worth Refuels in Guam
Littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) stopped in Guam to refuel before continuing on to Southeast Asia, Dec. 11. Fort Worth is on her maiden 16-month rotational deployment in support of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Building on USS Freedom’s (LCS 1) inaugural 10-month deployment from March to
US Navy Moves Forward with SSC Combatant
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has directed the Navy “to move forward with a multi-mission small surface combatant based on modified Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) hull designs.” Consistent with the Fleet’s views on the most valued capabilities delivered by a small surface combatant, the modified LCS
HMAS Tobruk Docks in Garden Island after Five Months at Sea
On 6 December, HMAS Tobruk sailed through Sydney Heads after five months away, and was welcomed alongside her home port, Garden Island by family and friends. Commanding Officer, Commander Leif Maxfield said since sailing in mid June, the ship has maintained a high tempo: We spent a significant perio
Former MLB Players Tour USS America
Former Major League Baseball (MLB) players visited with Sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) Dec. 9. Daniel Plesac and Ryan Dempster, now MLB network analysts, received a tour of America from Capt. Robert A. Hall Jr., commanding officer, before meeting with Sailors on the fligh
HMS Defender’s Miss Adventure Celebrates 35th Birthday
Whilst deployed on operations in the Middle East, HMS Defender’s helicopter Miss Adventure has celebrated her 35th birthday. The Westland Lynx Mk 8 helicopter normally based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovil has been embarked on the fifth Type 45 Destroyer since the Ship departed Portsmouth at the b
ESPS Rayo Joins EUNAVFOR
On Monday 8 December Spanish warship ESPS Rayo joined the EU Naval Force. The ship will be deployed at sea in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden for the next 6 months. Following an intense period of operational sea training, ESPS Rayo departed her home port of Las Palmas on 17 November, with an [&hel
ESPS Navarra, ITS Andrea Doria Rendezvoused at Sea
On Friday 5 December EU Naval Force Spanish frigate, ESPS Navarra, rendezvoused at sea with the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, off the coast of Somalia. After sailing near to each other, the Commanding Officer of ESPS Navarra, Commander Alejandro Cuerda Lorenzo, and two Spanish journalis
GD to Provide Mission System Equipment for UK Merlin Helicopters
General Dynamics UK has been awarded a contract by AgustaWestland to provide mission system equipment for UK AW101 Merlin Mk4/4a helicopters. This contract is part of the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP), which was awarded to AgustaWestland by the UK Ministry of Defence in January 2014 to co