USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) received the fleet’s highest recognition for superior operational performance and excellence in safety during an awards ceremony in the ship’s hangar bay, May 16. Adm. John C. Harvey, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF), Rear Adm. Ted N. Branch, commander, Naval Air Fo
Guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) conducted a change of command, while operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, May 9. Cmdr. Dwayne Ducommun relieved Cmdr. Chris Alexander as the commanding officer of Sampson during a ceremony held at sea. During Alexander’s 20-month tenu
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to its homeport of Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka May 16, after completing sea trials. Sea trials is the testing phase of a U.S. Navy warship designed to measure a vessel’s performance and general seaworthiness. During th
The amphibious assault vessel USS Essex crashed with USNS Yukon oil tanker yesterday, while returning to San Diego, after completing 12 years as the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in Sasebo, Japan, the Sacramento Bee reported. As confirmed by a spokesman for the 3rd
EADS North America has delivered the fourth and final Airbus Military CN235-300 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) to be supplied to the Mexican Navy under a U.S. Coast Guard managed foreign military sales agreement. The Coast Guard employs the CN235-300 in the HC-144A Ocean Sentry configuration for a r
Sailors assigned to guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) participated in a multinational training exercise aboard the Hellenic navy training ship Aris at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center (NMIOTC) in support of exercise Phoenix Express 2012 (PE12) in Souda Bay, Crete,
Naval representatives from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and the United States gathered in the Ricardo Palma auditorium at the Peruvian naval base to officially recognize the beginning of UNITAS Pacific (PAC) at an opening ceremony in Callao, Peru, May 14. Leaders from each country’s navy t
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced on May 15 that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $133.7 million, cost-plus-fixed-fee advance procurement contract modification from the U.S. Navy to provide long lead time materials for LPD 27, the 11th amphibious transport dock of the San Anton
The 2012 Sailors of the Year took time May 14 to discuss how the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative is designed to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, maintain the resiliency of the force, and to hone the most combat effective force. Vital pieces of that force are the four outstand
After weeks of preparation, the Japan-based, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington’s (CVN 73) Engineering department successfully tested one of the most critical fire fighting systems May 12-13. Crew members conducted a test of the ship’s countermeasure washdown system, which also help
The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS North Carolina (SSN 777) arrived at Subic Bay May 13, as part of its Western Pacific deployment. With a crew of 133, North Carolina has conducted a series of missions showcasing the latest capabilities of the submarine force. “The crew is proud of our rec
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) arrived in Callao, Peru, in preparation for UNITAS Pacific 53-12, May 12. Sailors lined the rails in their dress whites while Underwood announced her arrival with a 40mm saluting battery as it entered the channel to the port city. While in
Sailors of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 returned to the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) May 11. Vinson is currently transiting to her homeport in San Diego following a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Mid
Sailors from High-Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 and members from the Naval Forces Europe band “Topside” joined efforts in entertaining children at Institut National Supérieur des Arts et de l’Action Culturelle, and the Centre Pilote pour la Petite Enfance, May 10. More than 100 students and adults at b
