Operations
US Navy’s ANTX 2018 explores “human machine interaction”
The 2018-edition of the US Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) provided a venue for industry and academia to demonstrate new navy technologies with a focus on interaction between humans and machines. Taking place at Naval Station Newport and the Narragansett Bay Test Facility (NBTF) at
After short deployment pause, USS Harry S. Truman returns to US 6th Fleet operations
US Navy aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman has resumed operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations after returning to its Norfolk home in July for a month-long deployment pause. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) initially deployed to the European theater April 11, 2018, and returned
US Cyclone-class patrol ships test Griffin missiles in Middle East
US Navy Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships from the US 5th Fleet’s Combined Task Force (CTF) 55 honed artillery skills during a Griffin Missile System (GMS) fleet firing exercise which took place between September 16 and 18 in the Middle East. Coastal patrol ships USS Firebolt (PC 10), USS Monsoon (
US Navy contracts VT Halter Marine to design, build new barracks ships
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded VT Halter Marine a $77.9 million contract to design and build a new class of barracks ships – dubbed Auxiliary Personnel Lighter – Small (APL(S)). As these craft are similar to accommodation barges used in the commercial oil and gas industry, APL(S) was d
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon deploys to Persian Gulf
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon got underway from her Portsmouth homeport on September 17 after a short, unspecified, delay. Dragon is now headed for the Persian Gulf where it is expected to spend several months an operational deployment. The destroyer is scheduled to work alongside coalition and regio
Russian IL-20 MPA shot down during Israeli attack on Syria
A Russian IL-20 maritime patrol aircraft disappeared from radar over Syria on Monday as Israeli jets carried out an attack on Syria’s Latakia province. Most recent reports say that the defense ministry acknowledged the loss of the aircraft to friendly fire. According to Interfax, the Il-20 was shot
US-only drill Valiant Shield begins off Guam
A US military exercise which will be joined by 15 surface ships and more than 160 aircraft kicked off on September 16 around the Marianas Island Range Complex and on Guam. Participants will include the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and approximately 15,000 personnel from the US Navy, A
USS Wayne E. Meyer, USS O’Kane complete homeport swap
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and USS O’Kane (DDG 77) completed homeport swaps as DDG 108 arrived in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and DDG 77 got underway for its new homeport in San Diego. O’Kane departed for San Diego after completing a seven
HMS Diamond wraps up two-month deployment
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond is on her way home after spending two months on operations in the Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. The destroyer has been activated throughout the traditionally busy summer season, as she monitored Russian naval activity twice, visited four ports and helped tra
Royal Navy’s new survey ship Magpie makes her maiden visit to Salcombe
The Royal Navy’s newest survey vessel HMS Magpie has made her maiden visit to her affiliated town of Salcombe. The 18-meter catamaran has spent three days at sea under the White Ensign for the first time as her crew get to know how the survey ship handles. A replacement for HMS Gleaner which retired
RFA Mounts Bay ready to support British overseas islands ahead of Storm Isaac
The UK’s military and the auxiliary landing ship dock RFA Mounts Bay are on standby in the Caribbean and fully prepared to assist British Overseas Territories in the path of Storm Isaac. As the storm makes its way towards the Caribbean Windward islands, an Operational Liaison and Reconnaissance Team
Japanese destroyer tests ballistic missile defense system off Hawaii
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) guided missile destroyer JS Atago (DDG-177) has successfully intercepted and destroyed a US ballistic missile in a test conducted off the coast of Kauai in Hawaii. The test was supported by JMSDF and the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in coop
Indonesian Navy fast missile boat sinks off Sorong
Indonesian Navy’s fast missile boat KRI Rencong (622) sank on Tuesday after catching fire off Sorong, West Papua. The incident occurred while the vessel was patrolling in the waters some 20 miles from the Naval Command III in Sorong, The Jakarta Post reported. The video shared by Indonesian televisi
Biennial drill Kakadu wraps up in Darwin
Australia’s largest maritime exercise has wrapped up in the Top End, following an intensive two weeks of realistic and challenging engagements from the air and the sea. This year, a total of 23 ships, 21 aircraft, a submarine and 3,000 personnel from 27 visiting nations participated in the exercise.