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
Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed the multinational, joint exercise Cobra Gold 2013 (CG 13), Feb. 22. Cobra Gold 2013 is in its 32nd iteration and was designed to advance regional security by exercising a robust multilateral force from n
After navigating the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb strait, French frigate FS Courbet has joined EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta. The French frigate replaces the FS Surcouf, who has been operating within the EU counter-piracy operation since last December. On Monday 18 February
Rear Adm. David F. Steindl relieved Rear Adm. T. K. Shannon as commander, Carrier Strike Group One (CSG-1) during a change of command ceremony aboard aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Feb. 21. Shannon, who assumed command of CSG-1 Nov. 18, 2011, led the strike group through a successful Wes
The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG), with nearly 4,500 Sailors, deployed from Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Feb. 21, to support operations in the U.S. Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleets. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), commanded by Capt. Marcus A. Hit
The US Coast Guard, Navy, Ocean Safety and Honolulu Fire Department are searching for a Navy sailor near Kaena Point, Oahu, Wednesday. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu was notified that a Hawaii-based sailor was reported missing after he became separated from other members of his command during an open o
For the first time while forward-deployed, amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conducted landing operations with the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, Feb. 19. The MV-22 Osprey is designed as the medium-lift replacement for the Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight assault support helicopt
On 19 February, HNLMS De Ruyter, has stopped the activities of a group of suspected pirates approximately 120 nautical miles east of Eyl off the coast of Somalia. Nine suspected pirates were apprehended and taken on board of the De Ruyter. The Dutch frigate that is deployed with the European Union N
In yet another step toward becoming a fully mission-capable aircraft carrier, Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson’s (CVN 70) weapons department worked around-the-clock Feb. 17-18, making her a warship poised to do the nation’s tasking. “A weapons onload is when we receive the am
Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) worked in conjunction to conduct a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) and transportation of Japanese nationals overseas exercise off the coast of Sattahip, Thailand, Feb. 17. These emergency evacuatio
