More than 200 shipmates, friends and families filled the Mayport Memorial Park March 17, to pay their respects to the fallen crew of USS Stark (FFG 31) 25 years after the frigate was struck by an Iraqi missile while deployed in the Arabian Gulf. In the early morning hours of May 17, 1987, two Iraqi
A wounded Royal Navy medic who saved the lives of four colleagues after they were seriously injured in Afghanistan by a grenade attack in 2011 received a Military Cross this week from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Despite shrapnel wounds to his leg and face, Medical Assistant (MA) Liam O’Grad
One of the Royal Navy’s most advanced warships, HMS Daring, has made an official stop in Saudi Arabia to reinforce the country’s strong relationship with the UK, Ministry of Defence announced on May 17. The Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer is on her first operational deployment in the Gulf where s
The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company a contract totaling $57.8 million to overhaul and upgrade nine Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems, and manufacture two SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense systems. The agreement also includes the purchase of 20 radar upgrade kits. “Raytheon tailors our ship self-defe
Sri Lanka Navy assisted in the transfer of the dead body of a fisherman who had died while at deep sea. The remains were brought ashore onboard a naval craft on 16th May 2012. The 58-year old fisherman had been among the crew of the multi-day fishing trawler named “Naveena 4”, which had left for [&h
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 arrived in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled port visit, May 15. Vinson is currently in transition to its homeport in San Diego following a successful six-month deployment to the Pacific an
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Eight successfully completed a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) May 17, off the East Coast of the United States from Virginia to Florida, in preparation for their scheduled combat deployment later this year. The exercise, which started April 24, was conducted by
Sailors and officers from Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Peruvian naval academy in Callao, Peru, May 15. The annual memorial ceremony was held in honor of Peruvian naval hero Adm. Miguel Grau, who was killed during a n
USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) received the fleet’s highest recognition for superior operational performance and excellence in safety during an awards ceremony in the ship’s hangar bay, May 16. Adm. John C. Harvey, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF), Rear Adm. Ted N. Branch, commander, Naval Air Fo
Guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) conducted a change of command, while operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, May 9. Cmdr. Dwayne Ducommun relieved Cmdr. Chris Alexander as the commanding officer of Sampson during a ceremony held at sea. During Alexander’s 20-month tenu
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to its homeport of Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka May 16, after completing sea trials. Sea trials is the testing phase of a U.S. Navy warship designed to measure a vessel’s performance and general seaworthiness. During th
HMAS Ballarat (Commanger Jonathan Earley) has been making waves in the South China Seas as part of the maritime component for the annual Five Power Defence Arrangement Exercise – Bersama Shield. Exercise Bersama Shield 12 (Ex BS12) saw Ballarat join forces with Malaysian Frigate KD Lekiu and Singapo
HMS Westminster smashed the actions of three pirate groups in a fortnight – sending the boats to the bottom of the Indian Ocean. The Portsmouth-based warship treated the skiffs to a Viking funeral, blasting them out of the water with her guns and those of her Merlin helicopter. With orange-red flame
Today the Republic of the Seychelles agreed to accept for prosecution 11 suspected pirates who were captured by EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) frigate HNLMS Van Amstel on Friday 11 May. The 11 suspected pirates had pirated an Iranian dhow with 17 innocent Iranian fishermen onboard at the beginning of Ma
