Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) arrived in White Beach, Okinawa, after completing a 10-day certification exercise (CERTEX) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in the East China Sea March 21. CERTEX is a comprehensive, complex training evolution that combines the Navy and Mari
Guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) transited the Suez Canal, March 16 completing her first deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). The ship and crew spent approximately six months in the 5th Fleet AOR promoting maritime security operations and theater security
The US Navy’s first littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS 1), arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) March 20, marking a key milestone in Freedom’s eight-month deployment to Southeast Asia. Arriving within days of 7th Fleet’s 70th anniversary March 15, Freedom follows in the wak
Iran has launched a new domestically built destroyer “Jamaran 2” in the Caspian Sea, according to Tehran Times. The launching ceremony of the ship was held on March 17 at the port city of Bandar-e Anzali, where the defense staff gathered and attended the ceremony. The Jamaran 2 is a Moudge class des
Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland has intercepted two high speed drug smuggling skiffs in the Gulf of Oman, carrying an estimated £5.4m of cannabis resin. Having identified two suspicious high speed skiffs during a routine patrol, the Plymouth-based frigate embarked on a 30 mile pursuit and inte
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) March 15. The mission of the IKE CSG is to promote maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the AOR. Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 is comprised o
HMS Dragon sailed from Portsmouth on Tuesday (March 19) on her maiden deployment, spending seven months on operations in the Middle East where she will build on the UK’s long term commitment to allies and regional partners[ in the world’s maritime centre of gravity. The Type 45 destroyer will police
The amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) conducted a burial-at-sea for eight former military members March 18. Military funerals at sea are a long tradition conducted in honor of the deceased’s dedication and faithful service to our country. “Today, we bury the dead,” said Cmdr. Gre
HMS Defender – the fifth of the Royal Navy’s powerful new Type 45 destroyers – will be formally commissioned into the fleet on Thursday (March 21). Hundreds of guests including families of the 190 ship’s company will attend a colourful ‘Christening’ ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base to mark the ship
Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted a noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) drill while underway off the coast of Okinawa March 15. NEO is the safe evacuation of American civilians and embassy o
The “Wizards” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 conducted an aerial change of command ceremony over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) March 17. Cmdr. Mike Bisbee, of Miami, Fla., relieved Cmdr. Christopher DeMay, of Farmingdale, N.Y., as commanding officer. Bisbee
The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) visited Bar, Montenegro, for a port visit March 11-14. Sailors had the opportunity to experience Montenegro’s culture and spend time engaging with the community, including sporting events with Montenegrin sailors, tours of the towns of Perast, Kotor
The director of the US Navy staff talked at the most recent Navy Now Forum March 14 in Washington, D.C., about the future of the program for the littoral combat ship (LCS), one of the Navy’s newest warship platforms. Vice Adm. Richard Hunt took advantage of the session intended to enhance the relati
After travelling 50,000 nautical miles for Operation Artemis, HMCS Regina returned home March 14. It’s been eight months since the warship sailed from Esquimalt, B.C., on a mission to keep the Arabian Sea secure. The Canadian ship was part of a multinational naval force – Combined Task Force 150 – t
