With a team of the Iron Duke’s Company returning to the UK prior to the end of the Ship’s deployment, an opportunity existed to use the vacant bed space to embark a small contingent of Navy reserves. Joining in Barbados they would get to spend just over 2 weeks at sea, an experience that for [&helli
More than 300 Royal Navy sailors, aircrew and Royal Marines have been supporting ongoing air strikes against ISIL forces in the Middle East as part of a US Navy carrier battle group. Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Kent, two Sea King helicopters from 849 Naval Air Squadron and support ship RFA Fort Aus
HMAS Toowoomba arrived home from a five month deployment in support of Operation MANITOU. The 191-strong ship’s company has spent 142 days assigned to the operation conducting maritime security and maritime interdiction operations as part of the multi-national Combined Maritime Forces. During an ext
USS Peleliu (LHA 5) is scheduled to return Dec. 24 to Naval Base San Diego from a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific. Upon return, the ship will make preparations to decommission in March after 34 years of service, 17 deployments and more than a million miles transited, and as the last rema
Littoral combat ships have the unique ability to be part of customizable surface warfare, mine warfare or anti-submarine warfare mission packages, providing fleet commanders significant capability and flexibility. Currently deployed to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility in support of the Indo-Asia
The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) held a mass casualty drill, Dec. 11, as the ship prepares for Spring participation in the humanitarian assistance deployment Continuing Promise 2015. During the drill, medical personnel and participants were exposed to a new level of realism as the “patients”
Efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and fight the spread of Ebola in Africa have been singled out by Royal Navy commanders as the Senior Service recognises the best ships and units of the past 12 months. More than a dozen Fleet Effectiveness Trophies are being awarded to surface ships and Roya
USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Det., (LEDET), recovered approximately 1,700 pounds of cocaine found adrift in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Central America, Dec. 2. Vandegrift found the drugs while on patrol in support of Operation Martillo. One of Vandegrift’s S
The US Navy frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) returned from its final deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans Dec. 19. During the six-month deployment, the ship and crew of more than 200 Sailors, based at Naval Station Everett and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, conducted p
Littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, Dec. 22 as part of a 16-month rotational deployment in support of the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance. The port visit is Fort Worth’s first in Southeast Asia, and also marks the first LCS visit to Indonesia, an archipelagic natio
The crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand, Dec. 22, for a port visit. The sailors will participate in a series of Community Relations (COMREL) projects during their visit. Halsey, home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and is currently on deployment
USS Vicksburg (CG 69) relieved USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) as the Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 2 flagship in the Port of Naples. Vicksburg, home-ported in Mayport, Fla., departed North America Dec. 4 on a regularly scheduled deployment to serve as the SNMG2 flagship, and support NATO tasking. The
Sri Lankan naval troops have been able rescue 180 persons during their deployment on flood relief operations in the Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura districts. 75 persons were rescued in Tabbowa, 19 persons in Pansalgodalla, 21 persons in Galenbindunuwewa, 39 persons in Rajangan
On 9 December, just prior to departing the wharf on patrol, HMAS Huon’s then Lieutenant Commander Richard Caton received a Silver Australian Defence Force Commendation for his achievements and commitment to duty during Operation RENDER SAFE 2013 and was promoted to Commander. Commander Northern Comm