Operations
US Coast Guard cutter bringing 7 tons of cocaine to Port Everglades
US Coast Guard cutter Mohawk (WMEC 913) is set to offload over 7 tons of cocaine in Port Everglades on Thursday. The cocaine was seized in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean from early June to mid-July from seven suspected smuggling vessels. In an operation on July 3, the Mohawk crew
USS Oak Hill wraps up deployment to Europe, Middle East
US Navy dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) returned to her Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story homeport on August 7, wrapping up a six-month deployment to the US 5th and US 6th Fleet areas of operations. Oak Hill departed their homeport Feb. 9 as a part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious R
UK destroyer escorts Russian cruiser-destroyer duo through the Channel
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond escorted two Russian warships as they passed through the English Channel on Tuesday. The destroyer sailed from Dover to monitor the Russian destroyer Severomorsk and cruiser Marshal Ustinov as they sailed from their Severomorsk homeport for operations in th
German Naval Yards, TKMS join forces on German MKS180 warship bid
German Naval Yards and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) – two Kiel-based shipbuilders – are joining forces to compete against a Dutch proposal for the design and construction of the German Navy’s new MKS180 ships. TKMS signed an agreement with German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK) on August 3 under which
HMS Albion wraps up Tokio visit
Royal Navy’s amphibious assault ship HMS Albion has wrapped up a five-day visit to Tokio, Japan, becoming the largest RN vessel to visit the country in a quarter of a century. The 20,000-ton ship pulled alongside on August 3 and hosted over 6000 members of the public during an open weekend. During t
HMAS Leeuwin shows off hydrographic skills in Indonesia
Royal Australian Navy’s hydrographic survey ship HMAS Leeuwin showed off its skills following a port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia. During a five-day passage from Indonesia to Port Klang, Malaysia, the crew were joined by six members of the Indonesian Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic organization
US donates 3 RHIBS, patrol boat to Bulgarian Navy
The United States have donated four new vessels to the Bulgarian Navy which will be used for the defense of the country’s coastline. The three rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBS) and one patrol boat were formally delivered to Bulgaria by the US embassy in Bulgaria in a ceremony on August 3. On the s
ESPS Castilla becomes new flagship of operation Atalanta
The EU-led counter-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia has welcomed its new flagship from the Spanish Navy. On August 6, Spain’s Galicia-class landing platform dock ESPS Castilla joined the operation Atalanta which received a new force commander on the same day. Rear Admiral Alfonso Nanclares
Italy-based USS Mount Whitney wraps up five-month patrol
US Navy Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) returned to her forward-deployed homeport of Gaeta, Italy, after five months of operations. Mount Whitney departed Gaeta Feb. 27, to conduct naval operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations in Europe and Africa. “It’
Eventful Rim of the Pacific 2018 comes to a close
The US Navy-hosted international maritime exercise Rim of the Pacific concluded August 2 after 30 days of exercises and maneuvers in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. A total of 25 nations, 46 surface ships, five submarines, 17 land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,00
US Navy approves MUOS for expanded operational use
The US Navy announced Thursday that its next-generation narrowband satellite communication system was ready for expanded operational use by US Strategic Command. The authorization paves the way for Navy and Marine Corps early-adopter commands to use the system on deployment as early as this fall, pr
In a first, Chinese PLA Navy ship to join Australian biennial drill Kakadu
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy will be sending a warship to Australian waters where it will take part for the first time in the international, biennial exercise Kakadu. Australia has invited China to join the drill in an effort to ease tensions between the two countries, intensified by Ch
Germany sends FGS Lübeck to SNMG2
German Navy’s frigate Lübeck will soon become part of the NATO’s Standing Nato Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) in the Aegean Sea, the navy said. The Bremen-class frigate will depart her homeport of Wilhelmshaven on August 6, 2018, in order to join the group. Lübeck has been preparing for this deployment si
USCGC Alex Haley returns from Japan, Asia Pacific tour
Following a 90-day deployment, the US Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley returned to Kodiak on August 1, patrolling more than 18,000 nautical miles throughout the Pacific Ocean, including transits through the Aleutian Islands, Tokyo Bay and the Sea of Japan. Alex Haley’s crew departed its homeport on May