As part of a Naval Sea Systems Command effort to improve surface ship maintenance and modernization, NAVSEA fully analyzed surface ship maintenance and modernization needs to better plan the scope and duration of all 44 shipyard availabilities planned for fiscal year 2015. This marks the first tim
The third of a total of four 125 class frigates for the German Navy was laid down on June 4 at the Hamburg site of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, a company of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions. The keel laying ceremony, attended by representatives from politics, defense and industry, marks an import
The British Armed Forces are to take part in three additional exercises in the Baltic region as part of a series of measures taken to support and reassure NATO allies in Eastern Europe. The Armed Forces’ participation in these exercises is a public demonstration of the UK’s continuing commitment t
A Royal UK Navy minehunter has been working alongside NATO forces in the Mediterranean to practise hunting and destroying mines as part of an international task force. HMS Blyth exercised her skills as part of Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) which is made up of ships from the
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Osumi-Class JS Kunisaki (LST 4003), carrying a multinational crew of U.S., Australian and Japanese personnel arrived in Da Nang June 6 for Pacific Partnership 2014, beginning nine days of collaborative medical and engineering activities with the people o
Twenty-three Royal Australian Navy personnel have been awarded honours and awards in the 2014 Queens Birthday Honours List. The distinguished group of officers and sailors were awarded the honours and awards for their outstanding performance in duties ranging from operational service, support to o
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus visited sailors and Military Sealift Command (MSC) civil service mariners attached to the U.S. 6th Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), June 7. The SECNAV’s visit included a tour of Mount Whitney, a chief pinning ceremony and an all-ha
The Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships USS Pioneer (MCM 9) and USS Chief (MCM 14) were loaded onto an ocean-going heavy lift ship as final preparations were made to get underway for their new homeport in Sasebo, Japan May 31. Pioneer and Chief will be part of forward deployed naval forces (FD
In a training evolution to be conducted as part of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2014 exercise series, U.S. Navy divers, assisted by personnel from the Indonesian navy, will survey the World War II wreck of the cruiser USS Houston (CA 30) in June. The purpose of the mission
Four NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1) arrived in Karlskrona on Thursday, 5 June 2014, for a scheduled port visit and pre-sail conference in advance of the annual BALTOPS exercise. SNMCMG1 is visiting the port as part of the Group’s deployment to the Ba
The NATO counter-piracy flagship ESPS Cristobal Colon helped to provide specialised training to the Royal Omani Navy in the port of Salalah. On Sunday, 1 June 2014, Captain Amor Humaid Al Zakwani, Commander of the Royal Oman Navy Southern Area, accompanied by several other officers from the Fast P
Thousands of people from across the UK descended on Southsea in Portsmouth for the 70th anniversary commemorations of D Day. Veterans were given pride of place at a special Drumhead ceremony near the war memorial with 144 members of all three Services on parade as a ceremonial guard of honour as w
NATO Defence Ministers on Tuesday (3 June) decided to extend NATO’s counter-piracy operation Ocean Shield until the end of 2016. Since August 2009, NATO ships have patrolled the waters off the Horn of Africa as part of Operation Ocean Shield. Their mission is to contribute to international efforts
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) welcomed aboard U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel during a scheduled port visit to Constanta, Romania, June 5. Vella Gulf’s presence in Romania reaffirms the United States’ commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and
