Fleet Base West has experienced a busy first half of 2012, with both HMAS Stirling and West based Fleet Units playing host to several high profile international visitors since January. April was particularly busy with a flurry of VIP visits to the West. The first was from the United States Secretary
Hydroid, Inc., a subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime, the leading manufacturer of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), will hold an Open Enrollment Training session during the week of July 23-27, 2012, in Pocasset, MA. Training will focus on basic operations and maintenance as Hydroid’s highly-experi
More than 200 Sailors and Marines participated in a special Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) 5-kilometer run on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), April 28. The month of April was designated as SAAM, and commands throughout the Navy have been providing gene
The Head of the US Navy Supply Corps has paid a visit to HMS Raleigh to see the facilities used to train Royal Navy logisticians at the Defence Maritime Logistics School (DMLS). Rear Admiral Mark Heinrich and his senior team paid a two day visit to the Royal Navy training base in Torpoint. They were
The Navy formally transferred ownership of the historic battleship Iowa (BB 61) to the Pacific Battleship Center April 30. The transfer followed the completion of the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act regulatory requirements. The ship donation contract was sign
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMTUEX) April 30 and is deploying to Central and South America and the Caribbean in support of Southern Seas 2012. The ship participated in events for COMTUEX that simulated various situations,
USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) departed the Republic of Albania, April 27, after a scheduled port visit where the crew participated in numerous events including a reception and a community relations (COMREL) project. Gunston Hall Sailors and Marines will leave with many lasting memories of strengthened r
Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751), held a change of command ceremony aboard the submarine at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., April 27. Cmdr. Ollie Lewis was relieved by Cmdr. Jamie Biondi during the time-honored ceremony. “Commanding San Juan for over three
Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island honored and recognized the contributions of its individual augmentee (IA) Sailors at an IA appreciation event held at the Chief Petty Officers’ Club, April 26. The semi-annual NAS Whidbey Island Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) event is held each April an
USS Chicago (SSN 721) arrived in Guam April 19 where it is assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 as one of three forward-deployed submarines. Chicago replaces USS Houston (SSN 713), a fast-attack submarine that transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in January. Cmdr. Nick Tilbrook, Chicago’s co
The commander of U.S. 6th Fleet and commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO visited counterparts in the Republic of Albania, April 25. During his visit, Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe hosted a reception for U.S. and Albanian dignitaries aboard the Little Creek, Va., based amphibious dock landing sh
The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman to produce the next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopter using the Bell 407 airframe. The new variant provides greater range, endurance and payload capacity to ship commander’s intelligence-gathering efforts. According to a U.S. Department of Defense
Ten ships from 12 host nations kicked-off Saharan Express 2012, a multinational exercise in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS), at the pre-sail conference in Dakar April 23. The countries met to coordinate maritime operations prior to the exercise, which focuses on combating illicit activit
In an effort to combat against mining threats in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), personnel from Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS), Military Sealift Command and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) arrived for exercise Lucky Mariner 2012, April 15. Exercise L
