The guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) is scheduled to be decommissioned after more than 30 years of service in a ceremony on Naval Base San Diego, Feb. 19. Commissioned on Nov. 24, 1984, Vandegrift was named after Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift, the 18th commandant of the Marine Corps. Ma
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) entered U.S. 6th Fleet’s area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe Feb. 17, 2015. While on deployment, Laboon will interact with allied and partner nations, highlighting U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Af
Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) remove cargo nets from supplies after a vertical replenishment in the Persian Gulf. USS Mitscher engaged in RAS with the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) on February 13. The vessel’s
On Tuesday 16 February, EU Naval Force Commander, Rear Admiral Jonas Haggren, hosted the Commander of the Chinese Escort Task Group 547, Rear Admiral Jiang Gouping, on board EU Naval Force Flagship, HNLMS Johan de Witt. EU Naval Force and Chinese naval commanders have met several times previously an
On Monday 16 February the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Jonas Haggren (Swedish Navy), paid a visit to the Spanish Air Force Maritime Patrol Aircraft Orion Detachment based in Djibouti. Rear Admiral Haggren was accompanied by a delegation from his multi-national Force Headquarte
The French Naval Ship (FNS) La Grandiere visited the port of Richards Bay, South Africa, from 14 to 18 February 2015. The Officer Commanding (OC) of FNS La Grandiere, Lt Cdr N. Napal paid a courtesy call to the mayor’s office to meet with the mayor, chief magistrate, police commissioner and the port
Two United States Navy patrol boats based in Bahrain have completed their first deployment with Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-terrorism and maritime security task force. For most of January and February, USS Firebolt and USS Thunderbolt operated in dir
French Navy’s Foudre-class amphibious assault ship Siroco (L9012) officially deployed on Sunday, February 8, from Mindelo, Cape Verde. This is the vessel’s tenth deployment in less than twenty years of active service. In Mindelo, the vessel was supplied with equipment necessary for cooperation missi
The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) departed on an independent deployment to the Persian Gulf and Western Pacific Ocean. The vessel is scheduled to conduct theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations. Commissioned May 27, 1995, Paul Hamilton
The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) Crew 104, Detachment 1 from the “Magicians” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35, and Surface Warfare (SUW) Mission Package Detachment 3 are scheduled to return to San Diego Feb. 18. Crew 104 and the embarked detachments completed the first
On Tuesday 10 February, Royal Netherlands Navy warship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, joined the EU Naval Force. The warship, which is a Landing Platform Dock, will be deployed in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden for three months as the EU Naval Force flagship. It will accommodate the Force Headquarters sta
A Royal Navy warship has tracked a Russian frigate off the coast of France and monitored her movement through the English Channel. HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate fitted with advanced Artisan radar, used her Lynx helicopter and sensors to locate and monitor the movement of the Russian warship as she r
Australian Navy’s HMAS Success has played a key role targeting illicit cargo smuggling routes during the recent Canadian-led Combined Task Force 150 focused Operation KLONDIKE in Middle Eastern waters. The mandate of the task force is to promote security and stability at sea by countering terrorist
HMAS Success celebrated this year’s Australia Day while deployed to Operation MANITOU, the Australian Government’s contribution to the maritime security effort in Middle Eastern waters for the Combined Maritimes Forces. The crew did their best to bring home to the other side of the globe with ship-b
