Aviation
USS Makin Island Completes Composite Training Unit Exercise
The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) returned to San Diego Sept. 16 after completing a 16-day Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California. The training was another first for the Sailors and Marines assigned to the Navy’s newest amphibious assault
BAE Systems to Develop and Deliver Training for Royal Australian Navy LHD Ships
BAE Systems has been engaged by the Commonwealth for the development and delivery of training for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships. The training will rely heavily on simulation and virtual scenarios using the latest technology, including avatars. BAE Systems Dire
Raytheon Australia Signs Contract to Provide Three Helicopters for Royal Navy
Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Royal Australian Navy has signed a new contract with Raytheon Australia to provide three Bell 429 helicopters aimed to maintain and develop the skills of junior Naval helicopter aircrew. The contract is worth around $26 million over
USS George H.W. Bush Holds Pinning Ceremony for 49 New Chief Petty Officers
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) held a pinning ceremony for 49 new chief petty officers (CPO) assigned to the ship and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Sept. 16. The newest chief petty officers received their golden anchors after senior deckplate leaders spoke about the significance of the insignia,
Attack Helicopter Ships from British and French Navies Rendezvous off Libyan Coast
HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy’s helicopter carrier, and her French counterpart, Mistral, a Marine nationale (French Navy) projection and command ship, are both operating attack helicopters as part of the NATO-led Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, enforcing UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973 to prote
Guided-Missile Frigate USS Boone Returns From Six-Month Deployment
The guided-missile frigate USS Boone (FFG 28) returned to homeport at Naval Station (NS) Mayport, Fla. Sept. 18 following a six-month deployment in support of Southern Seas 2011 and counter illicit trafficking operations in the U.S. 4th Fleet (C4F) area of responsibility. Southern Seas is a U.S. Sou
Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington Returns to Sea
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to sea Sept. 19 to continue her 2011 patrol after three weeks at her forward operating port of Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. “During this part of our patrol, we look forward to increasing friendship and understanding wi
Bangladesh, US Navies Begin First CARAT Naval Exercise
The Bangladesh and U.S. navies begin eight days of maritime safety and security exercises Sept. 18, during the first-ever Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Bangladesh 2011. The event began with a ceremony at Bangladesh Navy Base Issa Khan. It marks the first time Bangladesh has parti
Japan Plans to Build Another Helicopter-Carrying Ship
Japan plans to build another helicopter-carrying ship in reply to China’s acquirement of its first home-made flattop, reports Korean information agency Cho Sun. The information that China had started construction of its first aircraft carrier was circulated by Chinese media on Wednesday. Reportedly,
Amphibious Assault Warship ‘Ready to Deliver’ as Britain’s Flagship
HMS Bulwark is ready to assume the mantle of the nation’s flagship after completing six months of gruelling training. The last phase of that training, following a £30m refit, was played out on the shores of Hampshire with an invasion of Browndown Camp near Gosport. Seen through a night-vision camera
UK: HMS Protector Operates Helicopter for First Time
New ice patrol ship HMS Protector has taken another key step down the road to her maiden deployment by operating a helicopter for the first time. The icebreaker, formerly MV Polarbjørn, has spent the spring and summer steadily being converted into a hydrographic survey ship to plug the gap left by H
Britain’s Sandown-Class Minehunter Shows off in Gulf
Three of Britain’s quartet of minehunters joined in the US-UK minehunting workout (Ramsey on the left, Pembroke on the right and, out of shot, HMS Quorn) while the Americans committed aircraft from their specialist Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron HM15 plus Avenger-class minehunter USS Gladi
BF, French Warships Exercise in Baltic Sea
Baltic Fleet (BF) harbor minesweeper Sergei Kolbasiev and French Navy’s minesweeper Céphée held joint counter-mine exercise in the Baltic Sea, told BF Information Support Group to Central Navy Portal. The ships practiced search and detection of mines by sonar and remotely-controlled mine seeker, tac
UK: Merlin Squadron Gets Honour
If you’re looking for the Fleet Air Arm unit at the very top of its game, look no further than the Merlins of 820 Naval Air Squadron. The Culdrose-based squadron can rightly call itself ‘the best of the best’ after bagging all four major naval aviation trophies for its global deeds over the past [&h