Huntington Ingalls Industries’ fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter (NSC), James (WMSL 754), has successfully completed her acceptance trials. The Ingalls-built NSC spent two full days in the Gulf of Mexico proving the ship’s systems. With the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) on bo
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) returned home to Naval Station Norfolk May 4 completing a seven-month independent deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Mitscher deployed Sept. 22, 2014 to the Central Arabian Gulf with stops in the Mediterrane
US Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma, a 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter, returned to its homeport at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Sunday after a 63-day patrol conducting operations and training in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. While on patrol, the Tahoma crew worked with the Helicopter Interdicti
Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Iroquois officially concluded its service on Friday, May 1, in a paying-off ceremony at HMC Dockyard in Halifax, receiving a farewell salute from current and former sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen. Commissioned on July 29, 1972, Iroquois sailed with the RCN’s Atlant
Military Sealift Command hospital ship, USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), departed Guatemala May 1 after completing a nine-day mission stop in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15). CP-15 mission personnel worked alongside Guatemalan counterparts, local volunteers and civilian professionals to provide me
Prior to its arrival at Naval Station Rota, Spain, the US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) conducted a live-fire exercise aboard the vessel. Sailors used a 240mm machine gun during the exercise conducted on April 27, while the vessel was sailing in the Atlantic Ocean. USS Porter a
Helicopters roared to life on the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) as crew members went to work qualifying and passing the Afloat Training Group (ATG) Pacific Aviation Readiness Qualification (ARQ) 1.4 Bravo, April 23. The crew demonstrated proficiency in fl
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary forces are scheduled to participate in exercise Culebra Koa (CK15) in the Hawaii Operating Area May 18-21, 2015. CK15 is a U.S. Pacific Fleet training exercise designed to demonstrate and increase joint proficiency in expeditionary operations. The exercise wi
The officers and crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) welcomed a congressional delegation (CODEL) led by U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) for a ship tour, April 18. Cmdr. Bryant Trost, Shoup’s commanding officer, led the tour which consisted of a combat systems equipment room, com
The officers and crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) provided a ship’s tour and brief on the Navy’s important role in ballistic missile defense (BMD) to a high ranking U.S. State Department official, April 17. Dr. Amanda Sloat, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau
The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) departed Naval Station Norfolk April 22, for an independent deployment in support of ballistic missile defense, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 4th, 5th, and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. McFaul w
In yet another operation to disrupt a smuggling attempt, the French Navy’s frigate Germinal (F735) seized 220 kg of cocaine. The operation, triggered as part of an investigation by the DNRED of Fort-de-France, was conducted on April 17 off the Antilles. The drug was on its way from Guyana to an unkn
The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Belize City April 19. This marks the completion of the first mission stop for Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15). Continuing Promise is a collaborative effort with partner nations to conduct civil-military operations including h
The “Scorpions” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49 hosted a welcome home ceremony for Detachment 4 at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) April 17 following the detachment’s seven-month deployment aboard USS Gary (FFG 51) to the U.S. 4th and 3rd Fleet areas of operation. HSM-49 Detac
