The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 held an aerial change-of-command ceremony in the skies above aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), Aug. 16. Cmdr. Marcus Lopez relieved Cmdr. Daniel Sullivan as commanding officer. During the ceremony, Sullivan and Lopez flew F/A-18F Super Ho
Guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) held a change of command ceremony at sea in the Gulf of Aden, Aug. 16. Cmdr. Christopher D. Stone relieved Cmdr. Michael E. Hutchens as Churchill’s commanding officer in a ceremony held on the destroyer’s flight deck. Hutchens assumed comman
Sailors from guided-missile destroyer USS O’Kane (DDG 77) are assisting the crew of guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) to recover from damage sustained in a collision with a large Japanese-owned merchant vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, Aug. 12. Porter transited under its own power to Jeb
Guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) assisted a United States-flagged sailing vessel in the Western Caribbean Sea Aug. 14. Carr discovered the U.S. flagged sailing vessel “Bob” which failed to answer calls on the bridge-to-bridge radio. Sailors from Carr manned the rigid hull inflatable boat to
The commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) officially concluded the annual 2012 PANAMAX exercise Aug. 16 at Naval Station Mayport, Fla. Rear Adm. Sinclair Harris along with Brazilian Rear Adm. Wilson Pereira de Lima Filho concluded the exercise in which more
Navy helicopters teamed with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection units Aug. 15 to conduct aerial firefighting against several wildfires in eastern San Diego County. At CALFIRE’s request for immediate response support, the Navy is providing three firefighting helicopters equipped wi
Norfolk-based frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) retrieved 1,250 pounds of cocaine while being resupplied by an air drop at sea during Operation Martillo, Aug. 15. A long range P-3 patrol aircraft from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) decreased altitude, passed close to the ship and dropped a single
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 held an aerial change of command ceremony in the skies above the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Aug. 15. Capt. Robert D. Boyer relieved Capt. Jeffrey L. Trent as Commander. During the ceremony, Boyer flew in an F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the Thunderbolts of Marine
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) hosted 12 midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) units, July 31-Aug. 15. U.S. Naval Academy and NROTC’s academic curriculums require midshipmen to complete a summer cruise pr
USS Carr (FFG 52) conducted an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) while deployed to the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Martillo, Aug. 13. Typically ships assigned to the Fourth Fleet area of responsibility must go off station to conduct a brief stop for fuel in p
The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) and Navy Total Force/Manpower, Personnel, Education and Training (MPT&E) fleet master chief visited aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Aug. 14 as the ship continued its historic 25th and final deployment. Adm. Mark Ferguson and Fleet Master Chief (SW/A
Guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) departed Tallinn, Estonia, following a three-day port visit, Aug. 11. During the visit, Sailors participated in community engagement projects and experienced Estonia’s rich culture. “We were excited about Farragut’s visit,” said Michelle Schohn, public
Guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams transferred 10 Iranian mariners rescued from a burning dhow Aug. 8 to an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman Aug. 10. Members of Williams’ visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team transferred the mariners from the destroyer to an Iranian-flagged dhow
Adm. Mark Ferguson, vice chief of naval operations (VCNO), visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)(Ike) for a two-day visit highlighted by an all hands call and meetings with leadership, Aug. 12-13. As part of the visit, the VCNO, and Navy Total Force/Manpower, Pe
