Operations
Chilean submarine CS Simpson arrives in San Diego for DESI drills
Chilean Navy’s diesel-electric submarine CS Simpson (SS 21) arrived at Naval Base Point Loma on June 26 as part of the Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) program. Hosted by Commander, Submarine Squadron 11 (CSS-11), the submarine and its crew will spend the next three months in San Diego, c
Royal Navy hands over command of SNMG2 to Dutch Navy
NATO’s Standing Maritime Group changed command in a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 30. Commodore Mike Utley OBE formally handed over command of the SNMG2 to his Dutch counterpart Commodore Boudewijn G.F.M. Boots. This marked the end of a yearlong UK commitment leading SNMG2. Rear Admiral Jame
USS Harry S. Truman on operations with French Air Force in the Atlantic
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has departed the Mediterranean Sea after three months of operations and is currently working with the French Air Force in The Atlantic Ocean. From July 2 to 6, embarked aircraft from Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) are conducting integrated flight operations
Kearsarge ARG completes first east coast SWATT
The US Navy amphibious ready group led by Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) returned to homeport on June 28, after completing the Navy’s first East Coast ARG Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise. SWATT is led by mentors and warfare tactics instructors (W
Brazilian Navy’s 2nd upgraded Super Lynx helicopter completes maiden flight
The Brazilian Navy’s second upgraded Super Lynx helicopter has performed its maiden flight from Yeovil, UK. The maiden flight started from the headquarters of Leonardo Marconi Westland (LMW) and was completed on June 21, 2018, the navy said in a statement. The N-4004 aircraft, the second of the eigh
Polish Navy to receive ORP Slazak in 2019, 18 years after keel-laying ceremony
The Polish defense ministry announced on June 29 that it has awarded PGZ a contract to complete outfitting works and all trials on the offshore patrol vessel ‘Ślązak’ and subsequently deliver it to the Polish Navy. According to the announcement, Ślązak is set to start trials in July 2018 while the d
Brazilian Navy commissions helicopter carrier Atlântico (A 140)
The Brazilian Navy commissioned its new helicopter carrier Atlântico (A 140) in a ceremony at the UK naval base in Devonport on June 29. Atlântico, formerly known as HMS Ocean, was bought by Brazil after the Royal Navy decommissioned it after 20 years of service. PHM Atlântico (A 140), PHM standing
MBDA opens new UK plant
European missile manufacturer MBDA has opened a new facility in Bolton, Great Britain, in a ceremony attended by UK defense secretary Gavin Williamson. During the ceremony, the defense secretary unveiled a plaque to mark the completion of five years of work and £50 million worth of investment into t
Attack submarine USS Oklahoma City returns to Guam
US Navy’s Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) returned to its homeport of Apra Harbor, Guam on June 29. Oklahoma City is returning from a four-month deployment to Indo-Pacific, where the crew executed the Chief of Naval Operations’ Maritime Strategy, supporting national se
Royal Navy commissions new survey ship HMS Magpie
The Royal Navy’s newest survey ship has been formally welcomed into the naval family in her home of Devonport. The commissioning ceremony for the new ship, named HMS Magpie, was held on June 28, 2018. Among the attendees was the Duke of Edinburgh, who was in charge of the previous Magpie between 195
Northrop Grumman boosts AQS-24B minehunting UAV with SeeTrack
Northrop Grumman and SeeByte have teamed up to incorporate mine hunting sensor data collected by the AQS-24B autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) into the SeeTrack system to enhance its autonomous target recognition (ATR) capability. “The merging of the unmanned surface vessel-based AQS-24B with the
RFA Mounts Bay helping British territories prepare for Caribbean storm season
After concluding international exercise Tradewinds 2018, Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay is touring British territories in the Caribbean region to help them prepare for this year’s storm season. The 2017 storm season was among the worst in recent memory with a succession of hurricanes batterin
US, Royal Navy test mine warfare forces in Persian Gulf
Mine countermeasure assets from the US and Royal Navy teamed up recently to test their skills during a major exercise in the Persian Gulf. The Royal Navy’s entire presence in the Middle East was engaged in Mine Countermeasures Exercise 18-2, designed to see how the navies of Britain and the USA can
Polish, US Navy partner for first cooperative hydrographic survey
The US Naval Oceanography’s Fleet Survey Team (FST) and Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center (NOMWC) recently joined the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise for an opportunity to develop interoperability with European allies in mine countermeasure operations. FST and the Hydrographic Support Squa