Operations
USS Bonhomme Richard leaves Melbourne, Australia
The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 3, concluding a scheduled six-day port visit. Melbourne is Bonhomme Richard’s third Australian port visit during the current routine deployment as part of the U.S. – Australian biennial, bilateral exercise
USS Little Rock completes acceptance trials
The future USS Little Rock (LCS 9) successfully concluded its acceptance trial Aug. 25 after completing a series of graded in-port and underway demonstrations on the Great Lakes for the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey. The acceptance trial is the last significant milestone before delivery of t
HMS Chiddingfold arrives in Portsmouth
Families and friends of sailors who have been on operations in the Gulf for eight months welcomed back their loved ones as they returned to Portsmouth Naval Base. Royal Navy minehunter HMS Chiddingfold returned to her home port on September 1st, following three years in the Gulf. Her 47-strong ship’
Australian Navy sends six-ship fleet on Indo-Pacific mission
A fleet of six Royal Australian Navy ships got underway from Sydney on September 4 for a series of drills in the Indo-Pacific region. Running through November 26, the deployment is being referred to as the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017 and will see the ships work together with a number of regional nav
USS Columbus returns home
The crew of Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbus (SSN 762) was welcomed home by friends and family awaiting their return at the historic submarine piers on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Sept. 1. Columbus successfully completed a six-month Western Pacific deployment while conducting
USS John C. Stennis underway for flight deck certification
After completing its planned incremental availability (PIA), US Navy aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) got underway from Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton to complete its flight deck certification and other training on September 1. Flight deck certification is a key milestone for the aircraft
Theodore Roosevelt completes final pre-deployment certification
Ships from the carrier strike group centered around the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt completed the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), the final work-up phase and certification event prior to deployment scheduled later this year. COMPTUEX evaluated the strike group’s deployment r
Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Forth starts first sea trials
The lead ship of the Royal Navy’s offshore patrol vessels, the HMS Forth, started sea trials on Wednesday sailing down River Clyde for the first time. HMS Forth leads a class of five follow-on River-class vessels which will act as the RN’s eyes and ears around the UK, help to safeguard fishing stock
Australian government funds Cairns Marine Precinct upgrades
The Australian government is providing AUD$24 million in funds for upgrades in the Cairns Marine Precinct. Australian minister for defense industry Christopher Pyne said agreements have been signed with Norship Marine, BSE Cairns Slipways and Tropical Reef Shipyard to undertake a variety of works to
USS Wasp gets underway for new forward-deployed homeport in Japan
US amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) got underway from Norfolk on August 30 heading for Sasebo, Japan, where she will become the forward-deployed flagship of the amphibious force of the U.S. 7th Fleet. The shift will introduce an F-35B Joint Strike Fighter-capable amphibious assault ship to t
Works start on submarine construction yard as Naval Group opens Australia office
Naval Group, the French shipbuilder picked to build Australia’s 12 new submarines has marked the official opening of its new Australian headquarters and has started master planning studies for the design and build of the Future Submarine construction yard in Adelaide. The new Naval Group office in K
USS Ashland arrives in Guam for mid-deployment repairs
The US Navy’s amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) arrived in Guam on August 29 to undergo mid-deployment repairs. The scheduled voyage repair availability (VRAV) comes four months into Ashland’s multi-month deployment in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The ship will undergo important upk
Gulf navies hone skills during exercise Falcon Warrior
Warships from Gulf Coopertion Council (GCC) countries, crews and command staffs of Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 honed their skills during the multinational exercise Falcon Warrior. Participants carried out a variety of coordinated ship manoeuvers and boarding exercises in the Persian Gulf. Comprisi
Australian oiler stops in New Zealand on deployment’s final port call
Royal Australian Navy replenishment oiler HMAS Success and over 200 of her crew stopped in Wellington, New Zealand, recently for the final port call of their deployment. After spending weeks away at sea taking part in exercise Talisman Sabre 17, and participating in the 75th-anniversary events comme