The Navy bade farewell to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) after more than 28 years of service during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Everett, Oct. 31. The ceremony featured former USS Ford commanding officers, plankowners and family of the ship’s na
Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Navy successfully completed the first flight of the next-generation MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif. At 12:05 p.m. the MQ-8C Fire Scout took off and flew for seven minutes in restricted airspace to validat
HMS Illustrious has had to fend off a succession of attacks from Omani jets off the coast of Oman during the opening stages of the last major exercise by the UK’s amphibious task group east of Suez. The veteran warship was expected not just to thwart the attackers, but put Royal Marines ashore on th
Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit 11 departed San Diego October 26 to begin their deployment to Bahrain to assume command of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 56.1. CTF 56.1 is responsible for coordinating underwater mine countermeasures, expeditionary salvage, the counter-improvi
“A milestone”. This is how Brigadier General Dick Swijgman, Flag Officer Caribbean, described the seizure of 1,450 kilogrammes of cocaine by the CARIB guard ship HNLMS Amsterdam, earlier this week. The drugs represent a market value of over € 40 million. “This last drug haul brings the total of drug
The United States and New Zealand announced on Monday a resumption of military-to-military contacts as part of expanded defense cooperation that will see the first visit by a New Zealand naval vessel to an American port in more than three decades. The announcement followed a meeting at the Pentagon
The Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG), currently deployed on Cougar 13, has successfully completed a six day exercise, Omani Cougar, with the Royal Omani Armed Forces. The maritime exercise tested the full integration of the Royal Navy and Royal Navy of Oman by conducting conventional ma
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with embarked Carrier Strike Group 11, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and Destroyer Squadron 23 arrived in Naples, Italy for a port visit, Oct. 30. The visit allows Nimitz Strike Group Sailors and Marines the chance to experience the local culture and cust
HMAS Choules has completed its mission at Manus Island and heads home today, 31 October 2013. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO, CSC, RAN said HMAS Choules provided maritime support to Department of Immigration and Border Protection efforts to increase the capacity of the facilities on Manus
Two of the Royal Australian Navy’s Coastal Hydrographic Survey ships have recently returned to their homeport of Cairns, having completed a survey of Dawson Strait, Papua New Guinea. The two ships, Mermaid and Paluma, commenced vital survey work in August to assist mariners in the safe passage and n
Hundreds of friends and family members gathered at Naval Base San Diego Oct. 29 to welcome home the crew of guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) following a seven-month deployment that included regional security, theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations. The ship and cre
Army and RAF personnel have been getting their sea legs on board HMS Richmond while on her patrol of the South Atlantic. The Yorkshire Regiment and 230 Squadron RAF are affiliated to the Portsmouth-based Type-23 frigate and seven personnel were given the opportunity to stay on board and experience l
Members from Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) as well as commercial shipping industry representatives came together for exercise Lucky Mariner 14-1, Oct. 27. Lucky Mariner is a biannual U.S. Navy, coalition, and commercial shipping e
Guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) returned to San Diego Oct. 29 following the completion of an extended deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR). Deployed since April 3, the ship and her crew of more than 325 Sailors conducted operations with the USS Nimitz (
