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
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) served host to 78 future officers from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and Navy Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) units from colleges and universities across America, through three at-sea training phases, J
After 148 days in charge, the Finnish Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) handed over the responsibility for the protection of the World Food Program (WFP) Ship MV Caroline Scan to a Lithuanian AVPD on 10 August. On behalf of Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, Operation Commander European Union Na
Sailors from Submarine Group 7 and organizations around the world participated in a Search for Simulated Submarine Casualty Exercise (SMASHEX) at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Aug. 7-8. SMASHEX is a table top exercise to test procedures and practices required in the very unlikely event of a submarine se
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
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
USS Lassen Docks in Melbourne, Australia The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) arrived in Melbourne for a port visit, Aug. 7. During the port visit Lassen will be involved in several community engagement projects including a visit to an after school program and a socce
Members of Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) from the U.S. and Royal New Zealand Navy traded places for seven days, switching ships and returning to their respective vessels prior to the end of the PP13 mission’s completion, Aug 5. The Sailors from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LS
Without fanfare, HMAS Ballarat departed Fleet Base East early on 5 August 2013 to conduct some additional warfare training before commencing a three month South East Asian and Operation RESOLUTE deployment, following almost a month of intense Unit Readiness Workups. The deployment is a milestone for
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) arrived in Melbourne for a port visit, Aug. 7. During the port visit Lassen will be involved in several community engagement projects including a visit to an after school program and a soccer game with the local community. Sailors
Two Australian Defence Force (ADF) reserve officers represented Australia in a country first at NATO’s annual Young Reserve Officer Workshop 2013 (YROW 13) in Brno, Czech Republic 27 July – 2 August 2013. Working alongside 47 representatives from over 30 NATO member or partner nations, Royal Austral
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules has arrived at Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, to support Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) activities as part of Operation LANDSCAPE. Approximately 60 ADF personnel assigned to Joint Task Force 638 have been deployed or have already directl
The Dutch Landing Platform Dock HNLMS Johan de Witt joined the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta on 6 August 2013. For the next 4 months, Johan de Witt will be the EU Naval Force flagship, hosting the Force Commander, Commodore Peter Lenselink, and his multinational staff on bo
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) departed Brisbane, Australia following a five-day, goodwill port visit, Aug. 3. The city of Brisbane welcomed more than 5,000 George Washington Sailors into its shops, restaurants, schools and parks to experience Austra
