Sailors and Marines assigned to dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) pulled into Cairns, Australia for a routine port visit, Aug. 15. “I’m very excited to be in Cairns,” said Fireman Recruit Daniel W. Sistare. “The people [in Australia] are very welcoming.” The visit followed Germantown’s compl
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Newcastle has completed a week-long maritime security patrol in the Arabian Gulf. Assigned to the multi-national Combined Task Force 152 (CTF 152), Newcastle patrolled the gulf looking for signs of terrorist activity and destabilising activity. Newcastle’s Boardin
On August 6th, after passing through the Suez Canal, navigating the Red Sea and crossing the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, the Spanish warship ESPS Meteoro has been integrated into the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. The ESPS Meteoro is the first of a series of four mod
Secretary of the U.S. Navy Ray Mabus announced on August 16th that the next Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS Indianapolis. USS Indianapolis, designated LCS 17, will be the fourth ship to bear the name. The previous Indianapolis is best known for its role in World War II,
Yesterday Commander Task Force 465, Commodore Peter Lenselink, visited Commander Task Force 508, Commodore Henning Amundsen, on board HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN to discuss ongoing counter-piracy operations. Combined Task Force 465 is the European Union Naval Force, which executes counter piracy Operation
On 14 August, whilst in Djibouti the FGS Augsburg handed over the German commitment to the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to FGS Niedersachsen. The handover was presided over by Captain Stefan Pauly, Branch Head of Maritime Operations from the Joint Forces Operatio
More than 3,000 U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) docked at Garden Island, Sydney today for a four day port visit. While in town the ship will be hosted by the crew of NUSHIP Canberra. During their visit, the sailors and the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) wi
The Royal Australian Navy has successfully conducted the world’s first firing of a “war shot” MU90 Lightweight Torpedo, Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO CSC RAN announced today. ANZAC Class Frigate HMAS Stuart fired the explosive warhead against a specially designed target in the East Austr
Sri Lanka Navy brought all the Australia-bound persons rescued in the deep seas of Southern Sri Lanka safely ashore on 12th August 2013. They were intercepted by Sri Lanka Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Samudura with the assistance of two fast naval patrol craft attached to the Southern Naval C
Pacific Partnership 2013 concluded its final mission port, the Solomon Islands, Aug. 13. U.S. Navy forces were joined by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regional partners that included Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and New Zealand wit
Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program, Austal hosted the keel-laying ceremony on August 14th for the third vessel, Cape Nelson, one of eight 56-metre patrol boats that Austal is designing, building and supporting for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Servi
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) arrived in Sydney for a port visit, Aug. 14. “The Sailors for the first time in a while have a chance to go to a port where they felt like they’re home,” said Lassen’s Command Master Chief Jason Haka. “Australia is one of our close
On Monday, 12 August 2013, the Dutch frigate HNLMS VAN SPEIJK concluded more than two months deployment in support of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD and began her voyage back to the Netherlands. VAN SPEIJK joined OCEAN SHIELD just days before Commodore Henning Amundsen took command of
Earlier this week, the Maltese Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team (MSDEBT) on board the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ship Johan de Witt conducted a fast-rope exercise. They fast-roped from one of the two Cougar helicopters embarked on the Dutch warship. The Johan de Witt is currently the flagship of
