Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadron 3 flagship USNS 2ND LT John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008) arrived in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, April 23 for Balikatan 2014. “Balikatan is an annual Marine Corps bilateral joint exercise encompassing a staff exercise, humanitarian and civic assistance even
Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Launceston has apprehended a foreign fishing vessel suspected of illegally fishing in Australian waters, about 180 nautical miles north-west of Darwin. Under the coordination of Border Protection Command (BPC), and working closely with the Australian Fisheries Manag
During the recent port visit of EU Naval Force Warship FS Floréal to the Seychelles, the ship conducted Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) with the Seychelles Coastguard. The training with the Seychelles Coastguard was conducted in three sections. Firstly, two members of FS Floréal’s ship’s c
Following their recent port visit to the Seychelles, EU Naval Force Warship FS Floréal assisted four Seychelles fishermen who were stopped in the water having suffered an engine failure on their way back to the Seychelles. FS Floreal was just a few hours from the Seychelles when she saw the small
The U.S. Navy’s ninth multilateral Pacific Partnership mission will include an enhanced role for Japan, and simultaneous seaborne and airborne phases, to improve disaster response preparedness in five Southeast Asia host nations beginning in late May. Directly assisting host nations Vietnam, Cambo
Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says the Government is committed to strengthening the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), and will be investing $100.9 million of operating funding in 2014/2015. “This significant investment in our Defence Force, combined with the savings and reinvestment achieved t
On the eve of Anzac Day commemorations, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Darwin seized and destroyed more than one tonne of heroin. The record 1032 kilograms of heroin was discovered on board a dhow in the Indian Ocean, approximately 27 nautical miles east of Mombasa, Kenya. Late on the 23rd Apr
On Saturday 26 April the master of a dhow spoke of his relief after 6 armed pirates, who had taken his vessel and crew hostage, fled the scene after sightings of an EU Naval Force Spanish maritime patrol and reconnaissance (MPRA) aircraft. The master confirmed his ordeal to members of the Boarding
During a port visit to Djibouti, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, met with the Chinese Military Attaché to Djibouti, Ji Mingzhou, on board the EU Naval Force flagship FGS Brandenburg. During the meeting they discussed the key issues related to counter piracy off the Horn of Africa and the successfu
NUSHIP Canberra’s Ship Company reached a significant milestone last week, as they marched together for the first time as a unit in the Sydney City Anzac Day Parade. Canberra’s tri-service contingent made up of Navy, Army and Air Force personnel marched proudly as thousands of onlookers showed thei
On Wednesday 23 April the German Secretary of Defence, Ursula von der Leyen, visited the EU Naval Force flagship, FGS Brandenburg during the German warship’s port visit to Djibouti. In what was her first visit to the German Navy since her inauguration, she met the troops from the European Union’s co
Officers and Sailors of HMAS Stuart have gathered on the ship’s flight deck for a memorial service to remember the 725 lives lost in a battle on the 19th November 1941. As Stuart passed near the final resting place of HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran, members of ship’s company remembered the battle
The first patrol boat gifted to the Sri Lanka Navy by Australia arrived at the Port of Colombo on April 24th, 2014. It was ceremonially welcomed in accordance with naval traditions on arrival. Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Robyn Mudie and Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy
Australia will acquire another 58 F-35A Lightning II aircraft in a major boost to the nation’s air combat capability, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced in Canberra on April 23. The additional aircraft will lift the total number of F-35As Australia will acquire to 72, after a previous decision t
