The Navy’s DDG 51 modernization program has met two key milestones Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced Dec. 22. The milestones involve the successful installation and testing of the new Aegis baseline 9 combat system on two DDG 51 destroyers, and a hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E) mod
The guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) rescued six stranded fishermen set adrift in the western Caribbean Sea when their ship experienced engine trouble on Feb. 21. The all-Colombian crew was stranded aboard their fishing vessel DELTA 1 when their diesel engine suffered a catastrophic fail
The future USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), launched from the Austal USA shipyard Feb. 25, marking an important production milestone for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. The ship is named after former United States Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. LCS 10 will be the 16th U.S. naval ship to be named f
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado Feb. 26. At the ceremony, Cmdr. Bobby E. Brown relieved Cmdr. Jason E. Rimmer as the commanding officer of the “Scorpions” of HSL-49. Rimmer, a native of Sherman, Texas,
The Wasp-class amphibious-assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) conducted an ammunition on-load Feb. 9-12 while underway in the Pacific Ocean. The ship took on more than 1,000 pallets of ordnance by helicopter during the four-day evolution in preparation for an upcoming deployment. Essex has not conducted
DRS Technologies’ Canadian subsidiary will be providing tactical integrated communications systems to the New Zealand Ministry of Defense for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC-class frigates. This subcontract was awarded to DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. in support of a communications modernization c
An SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter landed aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) during night flight operations. The helicopter, assigned to The Immortals of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 60, conducted the operation on February 24, while it was in the Caribbean Sea. Ka
HMAS Sydney (IV) entered Sydney Heads for the final time as a Royal Australian Navy ship this morning, before being welcomed alongside Garden Island by former sailors, officers and support staff. The Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate is scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of the year to ma
HMS Kent made history this week when she became the first British warship to sail into the Persian Gulf as part of a joint UK/French carrier strike group. At 42,000 tonnes the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle is the pride of the French Navy and on her current deployment she is being escorte
The Head of the Royal Swedish Navy, Rear Admiral Jan Thörnqvist, has paid a visit to the UK, strengthening bonds between the two maritime nations. Adm Thörnqvist visited Clyde, Devonport and Portsmouth Naval Bases as well as Navy Command Headquarters. At HM Naval Base Clyde the Admiral was given an
Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) celebrated the 220th birthday of the United States Navy’s Supply Corps aboard the Abraham Lincoln’s Floating Accommodation Facility on Feb. 23. The Supply Corps assists with nearly almost every aspect of a ship’s dail
Littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) practiced the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) with the People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s Jiangkai II frigate Hengshui (FFG 572), Feb. 23, enhancing the professional maritime relationship between 7th Fleet and the PLA(N). Fort Worth and Hengshui w
The crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk while on patrol off of Winchester Bay, terminated the voyage of a fishing vessel for safety gear concerns found during an at-sea boarding Monday. The three member crew, fishing for crab, aboard the 39-foot vessel Dusky was safely escorted to Winchester
Five U.S. Navy ships concluded a two-week independent deployer certification exercise (IDCERTEX) off the coast of Southern California and Hawaii Feb. 20. The exercise provided a multi-ship environment to train and certify independent deployers in surface warfare, air defense, maritime interception o
