The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) departed Naval Station Norfolk April 22, for an independent deployment in support of ballistic missile defense, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 4th, 5th, and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. McFaul w
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Jerrod Essway, from San Diego, walks through aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) after checking an AFFF distribution nozzle on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The warship conducted a test of its countermeasures wash down sy
In yet another operation to disrupt a smuggling attempt, the French Navy’s frigate Germinal (F735) seized 220 kg of cocaine. The operation, triggered as part of an investigation by the DNRED of Fort-de-France, was conducted on April 17 off the Antilles. The drug was on its way from Guyana to an unkn
The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) conduct maneuverers during a strait transit exercise. The drills were conducted in the Pacific Ocean on April 16. Essex is underway participating in a certificatio
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr. visited USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (GHWB) Sailors to observe flight operations and tour the Navy’s last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean April 17. Winnefeld flew aboard GHWB in a C-2A Greyhound and met with
Capt. Francis X. Castellano relieved Capt. Robert D. Katz as commanding officer of guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) during a change-of-command ceremony, April 17. Katz commanded Vella Gulf during a six-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. While deployed, Vella Gulf
It’s game time! The Planned Incremental Availability, or PIA, is finally over and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and her crew will take to the high seas with an unprecedented level of readiness. Since completing RIMPAC in July 2014, Ronald Reagan’s time and energy has been spent preparing for what’s on
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 held a change of command ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station, April 17. Rear Adm. Victorino G. Mercado was relieved by Rear Adm. Bret C. Batchelder as commander, Carrier Strike Group 8, which includes the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. Mercado assumed command of CSG
Officials from the U.S. and Canada welcomed back a U.S. Coast Guard cutter with more than 28,000 pounds of cocaine on Thursday as allied forces set record drug seizure rates in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Royal Canadian Navy ships have seized more cocaine in the last six mo
US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus recently announced that the next Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS St. Louis. The future USS St. Louis, designated LCS 19, will be the seventh ship to bear the name. The first St. Louis, a sloop of war, was launched in 1828. It spent the
NOAA: USS Independence Wreck “Amazingly Intact” NOAA, working with private industry partners and the U.S. Navy, has confirmed the location and condition of the USS Independence, the lead ship of its class of light aircraft carriers that were critical during the American naval offensive in the Pacifi
U.S. Navy frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) returned to Naval Base San Diego, April 17 from its final deployment, where it operated in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet and U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. During the seven-month deployment, Gary, the embarked “Scorpions” of Helicopter
Three out of four Royal Canadian Navy vessels will receive a final salute from their current and former sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen on their respective coasts this spring and summer. On September 19, 2014, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), announced the
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Whitehorse and Nanaimo returned to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, B.C., after a deployment on Operation Caribbe. The combined efforts of Whitehorse and Nanaimo during this operation aided the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the interception of more than 5,800
