Operations
US Navy launches ocean research task force
The U.S. Navy is establishing a task force that will focus solely on ocean science, the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy announced on March 24. Named Task Force Ocean, the unit is part of an effort to further assess the state of ocean science in the Navy, which encompasses its oceanographic i
Dutch, Royal Navy ship in refueling maneuver in the Caribbean
Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Wave Knight was leaving the Dutch Antilles territory of Curacao recently when she completed a replenishment at sea (RAS) in the Caribbean Sea with the Royal Netherlands Navy’s multi-purpose frigate, HNLMS Van Amstel. The maneuver was a return to basics for Wave Knight as
Royal Navy flagship returns from six-month deployment
Royal Navy’s current flagship, HMS Ocean, wrapped up an eventful six-month deployment to the Middle East and returned to HMNB Devonport, Plymouth on March 24. During her deployment, HMS Ocean became the first UK warship to lead the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force (CTF) 50 in the Arabi
Royal Navy’s oldest warship prepares for marathon deployment
Despite being the oldest operational ship in the Royal Navy with 36 years of service, minehunter HMS Ledbury is preparing to embark on a three-year deployment to the Persian Gulf. To prove she and her 45-strong ship’s company are ready for the 7,300-mile sea journey from Portsmouth to Bahrain, home
Two US Navy submarines return home from deployments
Two U.S. Navy submarines wrapped up their deployments and returned to their homeports in two different submarine bases on March 23. One of them, the guided missile submarine USS Ohio, spent two years away from her home at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. Since its departure in December 2014, Ohio was forwa
US Navy guided missile cruiser wraps up 212-day deployment
After spending some seven months operating independently in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, U.S. Navy’s guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) is set to return home on March 24. The Ticonderoga-class cruiser will return to Pearl Harbor after starting its deployment together with guided missile destroy
Spanish frigate Cristobal Colon arrives in Sydney
Spanish Navy’s Aegis-equipped frigate Cristobal Colon arrived in Sydney on Friday as part of her role in preparing Australian Navy sailors for the operation of Australia’s first Aegis destroyer Hobart. The frigate was escorted into Sydney Harbour by Royal Australian Navy ships Darwin, Melbourne and
Panama receives interceptor vessels from the Netherlands
Panama’s National Air and Naval Service has received four Damen-built Interceptor 1102 vessels that will be used in the Caribbean Sea. The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, christened all four vessels in a ceremony held on 6 February 2017. Coinciding with the vessel handover, SENAN also signe
US Coast Guard offloads $44.5M worth of cocaine following two interdictions
The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded approximately 1,300 kilograms of cocaine on two separate locations following at sea interdictions in international waters near Puerto Rico. 929 kilograms of cocaine was offloaded Tuesday in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and another 400 kilograms of cocaine Sunday in S
US Navy announces commissioning date for new destroyer
The U.S. Navy announced on Tuesday that the new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, pre-commissioning unit John Finn (DDG 113) will be commissioned July 15 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. John Finn is the 63rd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the first of the DDG 51 Flight IIA
Malaysian Navy LCS torpedo launcher systems pass factory acceptance trials
Torpedo launcher systems for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s six Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) have passed factory acceptance trials, British defense company Sea announced. The company said it worked with Kuala Lumpur-based project engineering managers Budi Axis Sdn Bhd to achieve acceptance of the first we
USS America completes its first mid-cycle inspection
The crew of the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) completed their first mid-cycle inspection (MCI) on March 17, in preparation for deployment later this year. MCI is a four-day readiness inspection that takes place every 2 1/2 years. The inspection is conducted by the Board of
Royal Navy cadets start Easter deployment on HMS Example
Royal Navy officer cadets and sub-lieutenants joined the regular ship’s company of patrol boat HMS Example for a six-week deployment which will take students to Hamburg and back. The P2000 has begun her Easter deployment, giving undergraduates from Northumbria Universities an extended insight into l
US Navy destroyer makes second Arabian Sea drug bust in five days
U.S. Navy destroyer USS Laboon made its second drug bust in five days, seizing 500 kg of hashish in the Arabian Sea on March 17. In the previous interception from March 13, Laboon intercepted a small stateless dhow in the international waters of the Arabian Sea, seizing 270 kg of heroin. Another shi