Operations
Amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima deploys to Europe and Middle East
US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) got underway from Naval Station Mayport, Florida, on February 7 to lead a three-ship group on a deployment to Europe and Middle East. With more than 2,500 sailors and marines aboard, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) will spend the next six months as the lea
Turkish minehunter finds historic mine in Black Sea
A Turkish Navy minehunter deployed to NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) discovered a historic mine during routine training in the Black Sea on February 7. According to NATO Maritime Command, minehunter TCG Akcay discovered the mine using her mine hunting sonar to scan the sea
BAE Systems gets $34M for USS Pearl Harbor overhaul
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair a $34.1 million contract for the overhaul of USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52). The contract will see BAE Systems perform a selected restricted availability which will include a combination of maintenance, modernization, and repa
US-Japan amphibious drill Iron Fist concludes off California
US Marines and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force concluded exercise Iron Fist 2018 off the coast of Southern California, February 7. US Navy’s Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) Rushmore provided both an amphibious and air platform for US Marine Corps and Japanese Ground
Pakistan Navy frigate seizes 5 tonnes of hashish in Arabian Sea
Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Aslat seized 5 tonnes of hashish in the Arabian Sea on February 6, continuing a success-streak of the international Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. With this latest seizure, CTF 150 has confiscated over $1 billion USD of narcotics since December 2017. PNS Aslat was conductin
US destroyers Dewey and Sterett get underway for “up-gunned” Expeditionary Strike Group deployment in Indo Pacific
US Navy destroyers USS Dewey (DDG 105) and USS Sterett (DDG 104) got underway from their San Diego homeport on February 6 to start a deployment to the Indo-Pacific region which will see them work together with the F-35B ready USS Wasp. The two destroyers will be supporting an expeditionary strike gr
HMS Albion sets sail for NATO deployment
HMS Albion, the Royal Navy’s recently refurbished amphibious assault ship, deployed on Tuesday to become flagsip of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). The ship sailed from Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth and will operate in the Mediterranean for five months. Captain Tim Neild, HMS Albion com
US Navy’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer completes acceptance trials
Future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), the US Navy’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer, completed acceptance trials on February 1, the US Naval Sea Systems Command announced The US Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey reviewed the ship and its crew during a series of demonstrations both pier side and
Australian frigate tops AU$1B in drug interdictions
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga carried out another successful drug interdiction operation on February 1, bringing the total value of drugs seized by the crew since November 2017 to over AU$1 billion. The latest operation took place in the Western Indian Ocean and resulted in the seizu
Fincantieri launches eighth Italian FREMM frigate Antonio Marceglia
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri launched the Italian Navy’s eighth FREMM frigate ‘Antonio Marceglia’ (F-597) at its Riva Trigoso shipyard in Genoa on February 3. The eighth of a series of 10 FREMM vessels was launched during a ceremony attended by Italian defense minister Roberta Pinotti and, on beh
Harry S. Truman carrier strike group begins final pre-deployment exercise
US Navy ships centered around the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group (HST CSG) got underway on February 1 to start the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), their final pre-deployment exercise. COMPTUEX is an intensive, month-long drilldesigned to fully integrate units of HST CSG, while tes
HMS Ocean on farewell visit to Portsmouth
The soon-to-be-decommissioned Royal Navy fleet flagship HMS Ocean arrived at Portsmouth Naval Base on February 2 on a farewell visit. The helicopter carrier and assault ship arrived just after dawn to pay a visit to the city before returning to her homeport of Devonport, Plymouth for the final time
French frigate Chevalier Paul wraps up counter-Daesh operations with USS Theodore Rossevelt
French Navy air-defense frigate FS Chevalier Paul has concluded three weeks of counter-Daesh operations in the Persian Gulf with the US carrier strike group centered around aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. During her time with the carrier strike group, Chevalier Paul provided air defense for
Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Albion deploying for first time in seven years
After spending four years in mothballs and another two undergoing a £90m refit, the Royal Navy’s amphibious assault ship HMS Albion is deploying early next week to become the flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2. “It is a huge privilege for us to fly the flag of the NATO task group commander