Training & Education
German frigate FGS Brandenburg concludes NATO SNMG2 deployment
German Navy frigate FGS Brandenburg is on her way home after spending six months as the lead ship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 in the Aegean Sea. Brandenburg is set to return to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven on September 8 after an eventful deployment. The frigate’s mission was to lead a NATO
HMS Diamond sails for nine-month operational deployment
Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond has sailed from Portsmouth Naval Base for a nine-month operational deployment. She will be taking over the Navy’s long-standing commitment to the region from HMS Monmouth, a Type 23 frigate based in Plymouth. She is the second Type 45 destroyer to sail on operational d
ESPS Rayo conducts LMCB training during port visit to Djibouti
On Wednesday 30th August, during her port visit to Djibouti, EU Naval Force warship ESPS Rayo conducted Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training in support of the Djiboutian Coast Guard. The training began with a briefing on board ESPS Rayo for the Djiboutian Coast Guard personnel. This was
USS Porter exits Black Sea
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed the Black Sea, Sept. 1, after conducting maritime security operations and theater security engagements with allies and partners. “Our time in the Black Sea provided the opportunity to continue working closely with NATO all
USS Bonhomme Richard leaves Melbourne, Australia
The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 3, concluding a scheduled six-day port visit. Melbourne is Bonhomme Richard’s third Australian port visit during the current routine deployment as part of the U.S. – Australian biennial, bilateral exercise
Singapore, US Navy conclude inaugural exercise Pacific Griffin
The navies of Republic of Singapore and the United States wrapped up the first iteration of a new exercise which took place between August 19 and September 2. With the training space available in the waters off Guam, exercise Pacific Griffin provided the RSN with the opportunity to join the US Navy
HMS Chiddingfold arrives in Portsmouth
Families and friends of sailors who have been on operations in the Gulf for eight months welcomed back their loved ones as they returned to Portsmouth Naval Base. Royal Navy minehunter HMS Chiddingfold returned to her home port on September 1st, following three years in the Gulf. Her 47-strong ship’
Australian Navy sends six-ship fleet on Indo-Pacific mission
A fleet of six Royal Australian Navy ships got underway from Sydney on September 4 for a series of drills in the Indo-Pacific region. Running through November 26, the deployment is being referred to as the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017 and will see the ships work together with a number of regional nav
USS Columbus returns home
The crew of Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbus (SSN 762) was welcomed home by friends and family awaiting their return at the historic submarine piers on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Sept. 1. Columbus successfully completed a six-month Western Pacific deployment while conducting
Theodore Roosevelt completes final pre-deployment certification
Ships from the carrier strike group centered around the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt completed the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), the final work-up phase and certification event prior to deployment scheduled later this year. COMPTUEX evaluated the strike group’s deployment r
US Navy improving methods of recruiting UAV operators
The US Navy must spend over $1 million to train a single aircraft pilot and finding new, more effective ways of selecting candidates is an imperative for the service. Naval pilots of manned aircraft must pass the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB)—a rigorous intellectual exercise that evaluates
Australian government funds Cairns Marine Precinct upgrades
The Australian government is providing AUD$24 million in funds for upgrades in the Cairns Marine Precinct. Australian minister for defense industry Christopher Pyne said agreements have been signed with Norship Marine, BSE Cairns Slipways and Tropical Reef Shipyard to undertake a variety of works to
Singapore, Indonesian Navy conclude mine-countermeasure drill in Batam
Republic of Singapore Navy and Indonesian Navy ships concluded several days of mine countermeasure drill in Batam, Indonesia. The 17th edition of the exercise took place between August 22 and 26. This year’s joint MINEX saw the participation of more than 300 personnel from the RSN and the TNI-AL. Th
USS Ashland arrives in Guam for mid-deployment repairs
The US Navy’s amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) arrived in Guam on August 29 to undergo mid-deployment repairs. The scheduled voyage repair availability (VRAV) comes four months into Ashland’s multi-month deployment in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The ship will undergo important upk