Aviation
USS Blue Ridge Leaves West Port, Malaysia
U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) along with embarked 7th Fleet staff, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 and Marines from Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Pacific departed West Port following a four-day visit, May 22. U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) along with embar
Australian Navy Ship Seizes 786 Kilograms of Narcotics
HMAS Darwin has again intercepted a suspected drug smuggling vessel operating in international waters, seizing 786 kilograms of narcotics with an estimated street value of $30 million. Darwin’s boarding parties boarded the suspicious dhow in the Arabian Sea and spent approximately 23 hours searchi
France Caught in “Crossfire” over Delivery of Mistrals to Russia
A considerable load has been put on France due to its intention to continue with the construction and sale of Mistral-class ships to Russia. France said that the delivery of two warships to the Russian Navy will not be affected by the current EU sanctions imposed on Russia amid the Ukrainian crisi
Russian, Chinese Navy Ships Kick Start Joint Exercise
Russian and Chinese navy ships have teamed up in a bilateral naval exercise called the Joint Sea-2014. The Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is paying an official visit to Beijing to, inter alia, talk about the long-awaited gas deal between the two countries, joined his Chinese counterpart Xi
Dutch Frigate Joins EU Navfor
On Monday 19 May 2014, Dutch frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provenciën joined EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. As the ship sailed towards the Gulf of Aden the crew maintained a high level of operational readiness. They conducted a hostage release exercise with a Dutch merchant vessel
Sailors aboard USS Freedom Demonstrate Future CONOPTS
The U.S. Navy Sailors aboard USS Freedom (LCS 1) demonstrated the future concept of operations (CONOPS) for manned and unmanned helicopters aboard littoral combat ships during an underway off the coast of San Diego April 25-May 16, in preparation for an initial deployment of the aircraft later this
Australian Helicopter Performs Basic Fast Rope Course
One of the Royal Australian Navy’s new MRH-90 helicopters recently supported the Basic Fast Rope Course at HMAS Cerberus. The 40 course members who took part in the rigorous assessment had to overcome the challenge of sliding down a rope to disembark a helicopter in hover. It takes a physically an
US Navy Merlins Support CAL FIRE
Six flight crews from the “Merlins” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 provided firefighting support to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in response to wildfires throughout San Diego County May 15. At the request of CALFIRE, the six specially-equipped MH-60S
Germany: HMS Lancaster Helps Hamburg to Celebrate 825th Anniversary of Harbour
HMS Lancaster sailed up the Elbe and into the great port of Hamburg as the harbour celebrated its 825th birthday. More than 100 vessels from around the world attended the Hafengeburtstag (‘harbour birthday’) festival in the heart of the Hanseatic city. Despite leaden skies in Germany’s greatest po
Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R Romeo Helicopter Gets Its First ALFS
The Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R Romeo helicopter has had another system added to its arsenal, with the commencement of dipping operations off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida on 13 May. After five months of flying operations from Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, NUSQN 725 received its fi
Greece: Phoenix Express 2014 Kicks Off
Phoenix Express 2014, a multinational maritime exercise between North African, European, and U.S. naval forces, commenced its inport phase at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operation Training Center (NMIOTC) in Souda Bay, May 13. The U.S. Africa Command-sponsored exercise, now in its eighth year,
U.S. Coast Guard Assists Commercial Fishing Vessel
U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews responded to a report of three people in distress aboard a vessel taking on water approximately 22 miles southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge Tuesday evening. The Coast Guard Sector San Francisco command center received a call at approximately 7:25 p.m. from a person a
USCG, Canadian Navy Begin Joint Maritime Exercise
The United States and Canadian personnel began a three-day joint maritime exercise Tuesday near Juneau. The crews of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa, a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and the Canadian Royal Navy vessels HMCS Brandon and HMCS Whitehorse tested search
USS Blue Ridge Visits Thailand
U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) along with embarked staff, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 and Marines from Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Pacific successfully concluded a three-day visit to Thailand, May 13, strengthening ties and engaging with the local community. While anc