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
Capt. Francis X. Castellano relieved Capt. Robert D. Katz as commanding officer of guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) during a change-of-command ceremony, April 17. Katz commanded Vella Gulf during a six-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. While deployed, Vella Gulf
It’s game time! The Planned Incremental Availability, or PIA, is finally over and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and her crew will take to the high seas with an unprecedented level of readiness. Since completing RIMPAC in July 2014, Ronald Reagan’s time and energy has been spent preparing for what’s on
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 held a change of command ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station, April 17. Rear Adm. Victorino G. Mercado was relieved by Rear Adm. Bret C. Batchelder as commander, Carrier Strike Group 8, which includes the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. Mercado assumed command of CSG
Officials from the U.S. and Canada welcomed back a U.S. Coast Guard cutter with more than 28,000 pounds of cocaine on Thursday as allied forces set record drug seizure rates in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Royal Canadian Navy ships have seized more cocaine in the last six mo
US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus recently announced that the next Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS St. Louis. The future USS St. Louis, designated LCS 19, will be the seventh ship to bear the name. The first St. Louis, a sloop of war, was launched in 1828. It spent the
U.S. Navy frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) returned to Naval Base San Diego, April 17 from its final deployment, where it operated in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet and U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. During the seven-month deployment, Gary, the embarked “Scorpions” of Helicopter
Three out of four Royal Canadian Navy vessels will receive a final salute from their current and former sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen on their respective coasts this spring and summer. On September 19, 2014, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), announced the
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Whitehorse and Nanaimo returned to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, B.C., after a deployment on Operation Caribbe. The combined efforts of Whitehorse and Nanaimo during this operation aided the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the interception of more than 5,800
The officers and crew of the mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM 10) completed a material inspection with a grade of 87% given by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), March 16-19. During the inspection, the crew performed multiple demonstrations for the INSURV inspectors in ord
