Three Merlin helicopters from 829 and 814 Naval Air Squadrons based at Culdrose in southwest Cornwall as well as 75 supporting air and ground crew are the UK’s input to Proud Manta– the biggest anti-submarine exercise run by NATO. Ships, submarines and aircraft from 14 nations have converged on Sici
Fishery Protection vessel HMS Mersey has taken part in a rare opportunity to practise winching training with a Merlin helicopter from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose. The Portsmouth-based vessel was on a routine patrol of the UK’s fishery limits over the weekend when the wind increased, whipping up
Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) competed in a metabolic conditioning competition in the ships hangar bay, March 1. Sailors were given 15 minutes to complete as many sets as possible of five pull-ups, 10 hand-release push-ups and 15 squats. “The ideas for
The Navy’s first littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) departed her homeport of San Diego to venture out to the Asia-Pacific region on its maiden deployment March 1. Making good on a pledge made initially by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the 2011 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Fr
After navigating the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb strait, ESPS Rayo joined EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta on Tuesday 26 February. Having completed her first patrol in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Spanish warship is currently alongside Djibouti, together with EU
The U.S. Navy has prepared and released to the public a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental effects that may result from homeporting up to 14 littoral combat ships (LCSs) on the East Coast of the United States by 2020. The EA evaluates the potential environmen
New Russian Stealth corvette Boiky of the Project 20380 commanded by Captain 2 Rank Sergey Lipsky successfully performed the ASW helicopter Ka-27 deck to the ship… Source: Russian Navy, March 1, 2013; Image: mil
Greater Western Sydney Giants coach and AFL legend Kevin Sheedy kicked off a recent visit to the Shoalhaven in style when he arrived at HMAS Albatross in a Navy Bell 429 helicopter. Kevin Sheedy, accompanied by Giants player Dom Tyson, was at Albatross to deliver the keynote address for the 816 Squa
Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) returned home to Norfolk Naval Base Feb. 26 after completing an eight-month deployment to the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility in support of theater security cooperation. The ship and her crew traveled more than 45,000 nautical miles d
The U.S. Pacific Fleet announced yesterday that the Navy’s first littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) will depart her homeport of San Diego on March 1 and deploy to the Asia-Pacific region. Making good on a pledge made initially by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the 2011 Shangri-La
A naval airman from Ramsgate serving in the helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious recently played his part in raising the profile of the forthcoming Battle of the Atlantic 70th anniversary. HMS Illustrious – known to her crew as Lusty – visited Liverpool recently and Naval Airman Chris Heale, 31, was a
At the end of February the Luxembourg Maritime patrol and Reconnaissance (MPRA) Detachment returned to the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta counter piracy mission, having taken over MPRA duties from the Swedish Coast Guard MPRA unit operating from the Seychelles. During their pr
In an unusual turn of events, the Royal Navy’s duty search and rescue helicopter was called to assist in four separate incidents in the Lake District on Saturday (23 Feb). All four calls were to assist with injured climbers on Helvellyn, Swirral Edge, Scafell Pike and St Sunday Crag. During the cour
Commander, Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN, Capt. Cathal O’Connor hosted six Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officers aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), as part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group’s completion of exercise Cobra Gold 2013 (CG 13), Feb. 22. O’Connor said it w
