More than 40 tonnes of drugs, 170 tonnes of home-made bombs and 150 insurgents have been seized thanks to the Royal UK Navy’s eyes in the skies of Afghanistan. In five years of unbroken commitment to the Allied cause on the ground, Sea Kings of the Airborne Surveillance and Control force – normall
USS Ross (DDG 71) departed its Norfolk homeport June 3 on her way to Rota, Spain, as the second of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to be forward deployed there. To enhance the security of the European region, two additional ballistic missile defense (BMD)-capable destroyers – US
Thirteen nations are scheduled to participate in the 42nd annual joint exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2014, set for June 6-21, in the Baltic Sea. BALTOPS aims to enhance multinational maritime capabilities and interoperability, while improving involvement in the larger Baltic region theater
Midshipmen received valuable firsthand training aboard U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway May 30. During a three-week shipboard training experience, midshipmen were given the opportunity to conn George Washington during a fueling-at-sea with
BAE Systems has announced new design contracts for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, which will play a vital role in the programme to deliver the Royal Navy’s next generation surface warship. Six Design Development Agreements have been awarded covering key areas such as propulsion, ventilation and e
The Dutch submarine HNLMS Bruinvis and the German U 31 fired exercise torpedoes at each other on May 29. The submarines had been exercising together for the last two days, supported by the Dutch torpedo training ship HNLMS Mercuur. Firing torpedoes The exercise had been organised at short notice a
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) prepares to come alongside the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) to conduct a replenishment-at-sea. Kidd is on patrol with the George Washington Carrier Strike Group in support of r
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) arrived in Constanta, Romania for a scheduled port visit, June 3. Vella Gulf’s presence in Romania reaffirms the United States’ commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and partners, while working toward mutual goals of p
A Royal UK Navy helicopter went to the aid of three people – a father and his two children – stranded on a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) after the craft’s engine failed. The RIB had been sailing from Northern Ireland’s Rathlin Island to Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay, approximately 20 nautical mile
Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc., Norfolk, Virginia, is being awarded a $13,2 million firm-fixed price contract, for docking phased maintenance availability to include drydocking, hull plating replacement, propulsion engine removal and habitability onboard USS Zephyr (PC 8). This contract includes options
Southeast Regional Maintenance Center, Mayport, Florida, has awarded a not-to-exceed $23,2 million undefinitized contract action for continuous maintenance availability to include structural damage and aluminum welding onboard USS Hue City (CG 66) to Earl Industries L.L.C. This effort on USS Hue C
Supervisor of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair, Groton, Connecticut has awarded Electric Boat Corp. a $13,2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to the previously awarded contract for procurement of Common Missile Compartment material. The contractor will be purchasing various long lead time
Representatives from Japan, the United States, New Zealand, Britain, the Netherlands and Australia attended a commemorative service at Garden Island, Sydney, last week, to mark the 72nd anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Kuttabul. Assistant Minister of Defence, the Hon Stuart Robert MP and Commodo
First Lady Michelle Obama’s initials were welded onto a metal plate as Sailors from Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Illinois (SSN 786) looked on during a keel-laying ceremony for the new Virginia-class submarine, June 2. Obama joined Navy leaders, shipyard personnel and crew families in celebrating t
