Sydney was abuzz on Saturday, 13 July with the arrival of United States Navy, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) docking at Garden Island, Sydney for a port visit. The command ship of the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet, the Blue Ridge with her 52 officers and 790 enlisted personnel, arrived in Sydney ahead of her schedul
U.S. and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sailors from the George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG) began their portion of Talisman Saber 2013 off the northeast coast of Australia, July 15. Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 is a biennial training activity aimed at improving Australian and U.S. combat re
Exercise TALISMAN SABER 2013 has commenced, with more than 28,000 soldiers, sailors, air men and women taking to the sea, land and sky in northern Australia. TALISMAN SABER is a biennial training activity jointly sponsored by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Joint Operations Command and the US Pac
Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, along with members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), embarked the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), the flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), for the joint-force exerci
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed Brisbane, Australia after a four-day port visit. During the visit, Sailors and Marines participated in community relations projects, a friendly Rugby match with the local West Brisbane Bulldogs club team, and multiple
Following several weeks of intense training, in trying environmental conditions, HMAS Melbourne fought valiantly for Mission Readiness as she prepared her forthcoming deployment. Inclement weather, a condensed time frame for the training program and adjacent Fleet activities created some unique chal
US Navy Delivers Final 35-Meter Patrol Boat to Iraqi Navy The U.S. Navy delivered the final 35-meter patrol boat (PB 312) to the Iraqi navy at the Umm Qasr naval facility July 5th, after successfully completing reactivation in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia Eyes 30 Mark V Patrol Boats The Defense Security Co
A new helicopter to be used by both the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army has been inducted into the Australian Defence Force Fleet during a commissioning ceremony at HMAS Albatross, near Nowra, NSW. The ceremony also marked the formal induction of 808 Squadron to operate the new MRH 90 Taip
More than 27,000 U.S. and Australian personnel are converging in Australia and the Coral Sea in preparation for the amphibious exercise Talisman Saber 2013, to be held off the coast of Australia July 15 through Aug. 6. Talisman Saber is a U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)-sponsored exercise that trains f
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Brisbane Australia July 9, for a scheduled port visit. The Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is in Australia to participate in the biennial combined-join
HMAS Newcastle has combined with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) warship Mianyang to search for survivors of a damaged fishing trawler in Middle Eastern waters. Newcastle and Mianyang worked together to conduct a search and rescue operation in the Indian Ocean, 350 nautical miles
The U.S 7th Fleet flagship and staff completed an event-filled six day port visit in Darwin, Australia, with a ceremonial celebration on board flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) July 4. The celebration was two-fold, celebrating Australia’s Territory Day on July 1, as well as America’s Independence Day
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on July 1, 2013 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of up to 100 MK 54 All-Up-Round Torpedoes and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $ 83 million. The Government of Australi
Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are playing a vital role as key contributors to Pacific Partnership, a United States-sponsored humanitarian and civic assistance mission to help improve the lives of people in the Pacific Region. This year, Pacific Partnership will deliver medical, dental, ve
