Operations
USS New Orleans arrives in Sri Lanka
The USS New Orleans (LPD 18) with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka for a port visit, July 24. The ship and embarked MEU are in Sri Lanka to increase bilateral ties with the Sri Lankan navy and exchange best practices on humanitarian assistance/disaster reli
US Navy destroyers wrap up visit to Darwin
Two of the three U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers that form the 3rd Fleet Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) departed Darwin, Australia, July 20 after a routine port visit. Prior to pulling into port, guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Momsen (DDG 92), along with se
US Coast Guard cutter becomes Philippine Navy frigate
The Philippine Navy has received a third U.S. Coast Guard cutter and christened it as the BRP Andres Bonifacio Philippine Navy frigate before a ceremonial crew swap on July 21. The Coast Guard Base Alameda authorized the transfer of the decommissioned Coast Guard cutter to the Philippine Navy as par
US Navy carries out third LRASM Missile test
The U.S. Navy has recently carried out a successful controlled flight test of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) surface-launch variant from the Self Defense Test Ship at Pt. Mugu Sea Range, California. According to Lockheed Martin, the company responsible for integration and testing, the test
Canada launches final Arctic survey for continental shelf extension
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announced the launch of Canada’s 2016 Arctic expedition to collect important scientific information to support Canada’s submission on the extended continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean on July 21. The 2016 survey is intended to be the final
US Coast Guard seizes $100 million worth of cocaine
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert returned to its homeport after a record seizure of cocaine and apprehension of smugglers during its 53-day counter-drug patrol that spanned 12,500 miles in the Eastern Pacific. Alert interdicted four “go-fast” boats carrying 2,977 kilograms of cocaine (3.3 tons) valued
GD to carry out USS Oak Hill phased maintenance availability
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics NASSCO a $42 million cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for the repair and alteration for the USS Oak Hill (LSD-51). Under the contract, the shipbuilder is to provide ship repair services including engine replacement/repairs,
Royal Navy nuclear submarine collides with merchant vessel off Gibraltar
HMS Ambush, a nuclear-powered Astute-class submarine, collided with a merchant vessel off Gibraltar on July 20, the Royal Navy confirmed in a statement. According to the Navy, the submarine suffered some external damage but there is “absolutely no damage” to her nuclear plant and no member of the sh
RIMPAC 2016: Another frigate sunk. USS Coronado fires first Harpoon
Navy ships participating in RIMPAC 2016 sunk another ex-warship off Hawaii on July 19. Live fire from ships and aircraft sank the decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate USS Crommelin (FFG 37) 55 nautical miles north of Kauai, Hawaii. Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Calgary (
Lithuanian minehunter LNS Skalvis joins NATO mine countermeasure group
LNS Skalvis (M53), a Lithuanian Navy minehunter arrived in Kiel, Germany, last weekend to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1). The Lithuanian ship will take part in SNMCMG1 activities and exercises in the Baltic and the North Seas until December. Eight ships from Belgium,
20,000 lives saved in Mediterranean by operation Sophia vessels
Spanish frigate ESPS Reina Sofia and British survey vessel HMS Ocean saved 719 lives on July 19, thereby bringing the number of migrants saved by operation Sophia vessels in the Mediterranean Sea to over 20,000 since the mission started in June 2015. The latest rescue operations started after severa
CVN 77 begins fast cruise in preparation for deployment
U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) began its fast cruise July 18 in preparation to leave Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The beginning of fast cruise marks the end of GHWB’s 13-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) which began June 2015. During fast cruise the crew will operate
RFA Wave Knight on patrol duties in the Caribbean
After taking over the Atlantic patrol tasking (North) from from the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Mersey, RFA Wave Knight has begun her duties of reassuring the overseas territories and if required, providing humanitarian and disaster relief during the hurricane season. Wave Knight’s first port of ca
German Navy’s first F125 frigate reaches new home
FGS Baden-Württemberg, the first of four German Navy F 125 frigates, was transferred from the Hamburg shipyard to her new port in the Wilhelmshaven navy base on July 18. Eight ships had streamers flying topmast high to welcome the latest “family member” entering the base with manned rails and ship h