Operations
UK: Destroyer HMS Dragon Watches over Her Brood
All five of the Royal Navy’s Gulf warships joined forces for the rare chance to patrol the same waters simultaneously. Destroyer HMS Dragon – based in Portsmouth and on her maiden deployment – linked up with Her Majesty’s Ships Ramsey, Shoreham, Quorn and Atherstone for collective training off Bahra
USA: Amphibious Squadron 4 Changes Command
Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4 held a change of command ceremony aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Aug. 13. Capt. James P. Cody relieved Capt. John B. Skillman as commander of PHIBRON 4 while the ship was underway in the Gulf of Aden. Cody previously served as the PHIBRON 4 d
Pirates Move Naham 3 to Somali Shoreline
Earlier yesterday, Thursday 22 September, a Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft from EU Naval Force overflew the pirate controlled fishing vessel FV Naham 3 and observed that the vessel had moved from its sea anchorage to a Somali beach in the Galmudug region. Armed men have been sighted on board FV Na
USS Freedom’s LCS Crew 101 Completes First Underway Period
USS Freedom’s (LCS 1) LCS Crew 101 completed its first underway period since the mid-deployment crew swap, Aug. 19. The two-week workup gave crew members an opportunity to integrate and conduct operational checks in communications, weapons and damage control. Crew 101 also conducted focused training
USS Providence Welcomes New Commander
Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Aug. 21. Cmdr. Anthony “Tony” S. Grayson relieved Cmdr. Michael G. Quan during the ceremony. The keynote speaker, Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, director,
USS Albuquerque Returns from Deployment
Friends and family of Sailors aboard the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) welcomed home Albuquerque’s crew Aug. 21 following a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific. The deployment supported the nation’s Maritime Strategy, which includes maritime security, fo
HMS Dragon, US Fighter Jets Join Forces in the Gulf
A Royal Navy warship and RAF Typhoons have put their skills and technology to the test during a joint exercise. The aircraft joined HMS Dragon and US fighter jets in a training exercise to detect, classify and monitor contacts on the sea’s surface in the challenging conditions of the Gulf. The Type
HMAS Newcastle Holds Two RAS Operations
HMAS Newcastle has conducted two Replenishment At Sea (RAS) operations in two weeks with one of the world’s biggest combat supply vessels in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). Newcastle received fuel on both occasions from the United States Naval Ship USNS Rainier allowing the Australian war
USA: DC-3 Survey Plane Makes Stop at 4th Fleet HQ
A DC-3 coastal survey airplane from Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) visited 4th Fleet headquarters Aug. 20 for a capabilities demonstration prior to a scheduled deployment to the Caribbean Sea and Central America. The DC-3 collects oceanographic and hydrographic data from the world’s oceans a
US Navy Sailors, Divers Find, Salvage Downed F-16C Aircraft
Navy Sailors and Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, embarked aboard the Navy’s rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (T-ARS-51), found and salvaged a downed F-16 aircraft off the coast of Virginia, Aug. 6-20. The downed aircraft was one of two F-16 fighter jets from the 113th Wing, D.
Victorian Prepares to Take HMAS Melbourne to Middle East
Able Seaman Electronics Technician Peteris Kains had never dreamt that he would one day deploy to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) as part of the international campaign against terrorism, let alone in a ship named after his home state’s capital city. That’s exactly what AB Kains will do thi
UK: RNAS Couldrose Crews Get New MK2 Helicopter
The first five next-generation Merlins have been handed over to crews at Culdrose to prepare the souped-up helicopter for front-line duties. The innards of the Mk1 has been ripped out and replaced in a £750m upgrade of the Merlin fleet to ensure it stays one step ahead of our foes until the end of t
US Navy Purchases 6 New Iver AUVs from OceanServer Technology
OceanServer Technology announced that it has received purchase orders for 6 new Iver AUVs across 3 different contracts. The vehicles will be utilized by 4 different Navy directorates for a variety of defense related applications. All 6 systems have or will be delivered within the next few months. Th
USA Harry S. Truman CSG Enters 5th Fleet
Ships and embarked squadrons from Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) entered U.S. 5th Fleet’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) Aug. 18, after completing a routine transit through the Suez Canal. “Our Sailors and Marines executed a safe and professional transit through the Suez Canal and we a