Operations
US Navy P-8A aircraft joins search and rescue efforts after East China Sea tanker collision
The US Navy deployed a P-8A maritime reconnaissance aircraft to help search for survivors of a collision between two commercial ships in the East China Sea on January 6. The aircraft searched for 32 crew who went missing after Iranian oil tanker MV Sanchi collided with Chinese grain ship CF Crystal.
USS America pulls into Guam for first port call of 2018
Seven months into her maiden operational deployment, US Navy amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) entered Guam on January 7 for a scheduled port visit. As the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands, Guam is the home to one of the US N
US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson starting 2018 deployment
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and its carrier strike group will be the first to deploy in 2018, getting underway from San Diego on January 5. The strike group’s 6,000 sailors will deploy aboard four ships, including aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and the guided-missile
Australian frigate makes second major drug haul in a week
The crew of Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga seized 3.5 tons of narcotics on January 3, days after making a record 8-ton hashish interception on December 27-29. During the latest operation, HMAS Warramunga seized illicit narcotics during a night-time operation in the Arabian Sea with he
US cruiser USS Lake Champlain deploying from San Diego
US Navy cruiser USS Lake Champlain is getting underway from Naval Base San Diego on January 4 to start a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser will deploy as part of the Carl Vinson Strike Group. Lake Champlain completed a six-month deplo
Patria contracts Saab for Finnish Navy Squadron 2000 mid-life upgrade program
Finland’s Patria has contracted Swedish defense contractor Saab for work on the Finnish Navy Squadron 2000 mid-life upgrade program. The contract awarded to Saab is worth SEK 960 million (approx. US$117.7 million) with deliveries set to start in 2018. According to Patria, the total value of the upgr
Indian Navy Mig-29K crashes at Goa airport, pilot ejects
An Indian Navy Mig-29K aircraft went off runway during a take off at Goa airport on January 3, an Indian Navy spokesperson confirmed. The aircraft’s trainee pilot managed to eject before the aircraft crashed and caught fire. The incident caused delays in civilian arrivals and departures at the Goa a
Dutch frigate nabs 1,600kg of cocaine on New Year’s Eve
Dutch Navy frigate HNLMS Van Speijk intercepted 1,600 kilos of cocaine during a New Year’s Eve operation in the Caribbean region. The drugs were discovered on a Tanzanian flagged merchant ship en route to the Dominican Republic. An embarked NH-90 detected the suspicious ship prompting a US Coast Law
Australian frigate HMAS Warramunga seizes eight tons of hashish in Arabian Sea
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga seized almost eight tons of hashish and 69 kilograms of heroin from three separate vessels in the Arabian Sea over a course of two days. The crew of Warramunga seized the drugs in an operation spanning between December 27 and 29, 2017. According to the A
Report: Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean definitely sold to Brazil
UK helicopter carrier HMS Ocean has reportedly been bought by Brazil. The purchase was confirmed by Brazilian defense minister Raul Jungmann, according to UK Defence Journal. Brazil is reportedly paying £84 million for the UK helicopter carrier which recently returned from her final deployment as a
USS Wasp stops in Hawaii en route to new Japan homeport
US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) pulled into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on December 28 for a final port call en route to her new homeport of Sasebo, Japan. Wasp departed Norfolk, Virginia, August 30, but was diverted to the Caribbean in the wake of hurricanes Irma and
Oldest Los Angeles-class submarine USS Bremerton makes final visit to Yokosuka
The oldest of US Navy’s Los Angeles-class attack submarines, the USS Bremerton (SSN 698), arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, December 22 for a final visit during its Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment. “I think it’s important for Bremerton to make one last visit to Yokosuka,” said Cmdr. Travis Zettel,
Immature technologies could endanger Columbia-class schedule, costs, GAO warns
The US Navy’s next generation of ballistic missile submarines could encounter cost overruns and unexpected delays caused by new and under-tested technologies, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has warned. GAO noted that additional development and testing on several Columbia-class subma
13 Royal Navy vessels and a submarine are deployed over the holidays
The Royal Navy will have a total of 13 vessels and one of its four Vanguard-class submarines on deployment overseas and in home waters over the holiday season, according to the Royal Navy. What is missing from the list of deployed assets are any major warships as no frigates or destroyers are curren