Aviation
UK: Lusty Casts Off for Cougar ’13
Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious sailed from Portsmouth on August 12 as part of an annual deployment to the Mediterranean and Gulf region involving thousands of RN, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel. The long-planned Cougar ’13 deployment will see elements of the UK’s Re
Construction of Facilities for Australia’s New Warships Kicks Off
The construction of facilities for the new Landing Helicopter Dock ships and Air Warfare Destroyers has commenced in Sydney. Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator David Feeney attended a sod turning ceremony at HMAS Watson on August 8th and welcomed the commencement of building works. “This is
Operation Atalanta: Meteoro Relieves Numancia
Spanish Maritime Action Ship (BAM) ‘Meteoro’ relieved on August 7 the frigate ‘Numancia’ in the port of Djibouti. Operation ‘Atalanta’ is a EU-led mission fighting piracy in the coast of Somalia. Meteoro will remain in the theatre of operations for a period of four months. Her mission will be to pro
UK’s RFTG Sets Sail for Cougar ’13
Thousands of Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel will leave the UK today for an annual deployment to the Mediterranean and Gulf region – Cougar ’13. The long-planned deployment will see elements of the UK’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) – the naval force formed under the
Australia: Bonhomme Richard ARG Starts CERTEX
Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began Certification Exercise (CERTEX), Aug. 7. CERTEX is an event focusing on the 31st MEU’s capability of doing missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations or non-combatant
VIDEO: OPV Araguari Heads for Brazil
The newest ship in the Brazilian Navy’s fleet departed the UK in late July on a journey of more than 10,000 miles to Brazil. ARAGUARI is the third of three Amazonas Class ocean patrol vessels delivered to the Brazilian Navy by BAE Systems. First of the class, Amazonas, was handed over to the Brazili
Training Never Stops in HMAS Perth
They have already passed a rigorous evaluation and proved themselves in an international exercise but the training never ends for the ship’s company of the Anzac Class frigate HMAS Perth. While in the Coral Sea fighting off the forces of a fictitious enemy, 182 personnel aboard Perth were simultaneo
USS Rentz to Conduct Counter Drug Operations and UNITAS
Sailors and an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Legal Detachment aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) arrived in 4th Fleets area of operations Aug. 7 to join the multinational interagency fight against transnational organized crime as part of Operation Martillo. Operation Martill
US Navy Completes First Fleet Firing of Raytheon’s RAM Block 2
The U.S. Navy completed the first fleet firing of Raytheon Company’s Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2 as part of its ongoing developmental and operational testing (DT/OT). In an at-sea test conducted from the USS Arlington (LPD 24), two RAM Block 2 missiles engaged a subsonic target in a scenario de
UK: HMS Sultan Hosts First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC ADC visited HMS Sultan, the Royal Navy’s home of Marine and Air Engineering training on Thursday 1 August. As part of the visit the Admiral opened the new fitness suite within the Sports and Recreation Centre and watched some classes taking ph
VIDEO: Japan Launches Its Largest Warship Since WWII
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has launched its largest warship since World War II, according to media reports. The Izumo-class helicopter destroyer was officially unveiled at Yokohama on 6 August 2013. This unveiling occurred at a time of heightened tensions over several small disputed i
ESPS Numancia Completes Successful Counter Piracy Deployment
On Wednesday 7 August, ESPS Numancia completed her deployment with the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta, and started her journey back to her home port in Rota, Spain. This was the second time that the Spanish frigate has deployed as part of EU NAVFOR, the first hav
Keel for Future USS Portland Authenticated
The U.S. Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) authenticated the keel for the future USS Portland (LPD 27) during a ceremony at HII’s Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard, Aug. 2. The keel was authenticated to be “truly and fairly laid” by the ship’s sponsor, Bonnie Amos, spouse of Gen. James Amos, 35
USA: Bremerton Unveils F8-H Crusader Fighter Jet from Vietnam War
Officials from the Bremerton Parks and Recreation Department held a rededication ceremony for the newly renovated Naval Ammunition Depot Soroptimist Park Aug. 4. During the ceremony, officials unveiled a recently repainted F8-H Crusader fighter jet from the Vietnam War to the Sailors and civilians i