Operations
ESPS Rayo Trains with Djiboutian Navy and Coast Guard
The Spanish Oceanic Patrol Vessel ESPS Rayo, as part of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta, has taken advantage of her second port visit in Djibouti to conduct training on 20 and 21 March 2013 with the Djiboutian Navy and Coast Guard. The Boarding Team of ESPS Rayo and Spani
IMO to Assist in Implementation of West & Central Africa Piracy Code
IMO has pledged its support to assist in the implementation of a new Code of Conduct concerning the prevention and repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa, which has been adopted at a Ministerial meeting in Cotonou, Benin. The Code i
USS Farragut Gets Battle ‘E’ Award
USS Farragut (DDG 99) Sailors painted four “E”s on the ship’s bridge while moored in Funchal, Portugal, March 20, in recognition of the command recently being awarded the Battle “E” for 2012. The award recognizes the crew for displaying excellence in maritime warfare, engineering, survivability; and
USNS Montford Point Successfully Completes Builder’s Sea Trials
The Navy’s first Mobile Landing Platform, USNS Montford Point (MLP 1), successfully completed builder’s sea trials on March 20, in San Diego, Calif. MLP 1 was constructed by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO). “This first-of-class ship performed very well during builder’s
USS Klakring Decommissioned after Nearly 30 Years of Service
After nearly 30 years of Naval service, friends, family and service members gathered at Naval Station Mayport to bid farewell to the Oliver Perry class Frigate USS Klakring (FFG 42) March 22nd, during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Mayport. With the ships’ company manning the rails, Cap
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Hosts Family Reunion at Sea
Two Sailors assigned to USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) were reunited with family aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during a cross-deck between the two ships March 23. The Eisenhower is relieving the Stennis after a 7-month deployment to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Sinc
Senegal: Exercise SE-13 Success for HMS Argyll
A Plymouth based frigate has played a starring role in a maritime security exercise off the coast of West Africa. Whilst on deployment on Atlantic Patrol Task (South) reassurance duties, the Type 23 frigate, HMS Argyll, has successfully completed the multi-national exercise, Saharan Express, off the
USS Rentz, Jefferson City Deployments Cancelled
U.S. Pacific Fleet formally notified several Navy commands March that the Secretary of Defense approved cancellations of their upcoming deployments. The April deployments of the San Diego-based USS Rentz (FFG 46) and USS Jefferson City (SSN 759) have been cancelled due to budget limitations imposed
Australian, Thai Navies Exercise Joint War-Fighting Skills
The Royal Australian Navy, supported by the Royal Australian Air Force, has conducted a highly successful maritime exercise with the Royal Thai Navy; demonstrating yet again how well the two nations can operate effectively together. The Australian Anzac Class Frigate HMAS Parramatta travelled to Tha
USA: JCSCSG Concludes Its Support of Operation Enduring Freedom
The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG) concluded its support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), March 22, after providing nearly four months of air and tactical support to allied troops on the ground in Afghanistan. The final mission, carried out by pilots from embarked Carrier Air Wing
UK: HMS Kent to Leave Portsmouth on Monday
Portsmouth based Type 23 frigate – HMS Kent – leaves Portsmouth on Monday (25/3) for a six-month deployment focussing on counter piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. HMS Kent will continue the Royal Navy’s long-term presence East of Suez as she replaces HMS Northumberland currently on station. The
UK: BAE Systems Hands Over HMS Duncan
HMS Duncan, the sixth and final of the UK’s sophisticated, new class of Type 45 Destroyers, has been formally handed over to the Royal Navy by shipbuilder BAE Systems, the MOD announced today The 7,500 tonne vessel, armed with the world-leading Sea Viper missile defence system, sailed to her new hom
Estonian Vessel Protection Detachment Operating on French Vessel
Some contributing nations support the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta with specialised assets to counter piracy off the Horn of Africa. Estonia supports Operation Atalanta with a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) on board the French frigate FS Courbet. VPDs are ready to emba
USS Kearsarge Conducts Burial at Sea
USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) conducted a burial at sea for 11 Sailors, one Marine and one civilian, March 19. Burials at sea are a long-standing tradition in the Navy, in which the cremated remains of Sailors, Marines and family members are committed to the sea while the ship is underway. Among the Sailors