US Navy’s “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7 became the first helicopter squadron in the Northeast to fire an HSC Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) from an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter during a live-fire exercise Aug. 17. The exercise marked the start of the HSC-7
When USS Simpson (FFG 56) decommissions at the end of September, the U.S. Navy will be left with only one active frigate on the books. Simpson, the last active Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is being prepared for inactivation as she takes a sabbatical from active service prior to being sold thro
US Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Jonathan Greenert, visited the crew of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego Aug. 17. After serving for seven years as the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan,
US Navy’s Guided missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) held a change of command ceremony on board Naval Base San Diego, Aug. 14. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Mikael A. Rockstad turned over command of the guided missile destroyer to Cmdr. Abigail A. Hutchins. Dewey recently completed a 10-month-deploym
The crew on board the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) put on hard hats and safety goggles to commence a Chief of Naval Operations planned incremental availability (PIA) period, Aug. 14, just two months after returning to its homeport in San Diego following a near 10-month deployment. Accor
The crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) reached the 50 percent completion marker ahead of schedule for the Chief of Naval Operation’s phased maintenance availability (PMA) at its home port of Naval Base San Diego Aug. 5. Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center Rear Adm.
Vice Adm. Nora Tyson, walked through eight rainbow sideboys Aug. 12, exiting USS John C. Stennis’ (CVN 74) flight deck and commencing her first visit to the ship as commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet. Tyson observed how the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG) crew was performing during composite tr
US Navy’s USS Coronado (LCS 4) successfully tracked and neutralized both single and multiple fast inshore attack craft during live-fire testing off the coast of California July 18-22. The ship’s crew and embarked surface warfare (SUW) mission package (MP) detachment conducted test events using the s
The US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton returned to its homeport of Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California, after a 114-day Joint Interagency Task Force South counter drug patrol, Wednesday, to reunite with family members and loved ones. While underway, on June 16 and July 18, Stratton seized two sepa
The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a contract to overhaul and upgrade Mk 45 systems on U.S. Navy Destroyer Class (DDG) ships. The initial contract of approximately $80 million includes the upgrade of six guns to the Mod 4 configuration, with an option for four additional guns expected to be exerc
A landing craft air cushion (LCAC) transfers Marines and their equipment off of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). The operation was conducted while the vessel was carrying out operation in the Atlantic Ocean on August 5. The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th Marine Exped
An F/A-18C “Hornet” from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, the “Gladiators”, caught fire on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) last night while parked forward of the island during refueling. The fire was immediately extinguished by the ship’s flight deck firefighti
USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), operated by Military Sealift Command, arrived in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during Southern Partnership Station-Joint High Speed Vessel 2015 (SPS-JHSV 15), Aug. 11. During the visit, Sailors and civil service mariners assigned to USNS Spearhead will also participate
Naval, aviation and ground forces from the United States, Japan, Mexico and New Zealand are scheduled to participate in Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015 off the coast and ashore in Southern California from August 31 to September 9. Dawn Blitz 2015 (DB15) is a multinational amphibious exercise designed to tr
