USS Makin Island (LHD 8) completed its Mid-Cycle Inspection (MCI) April 24.Naval sea commands undergo MCI approximately once every two-to-three years to assess the material condition of the ship between Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspections, which occur every five years. “Makin Islan
The forward deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) departed the Black Sea, April 24. Donald Cook’s presence was an example of the U.S. Navy’s commitment to enhancing interoperability at sea, serving as a cornerstone of NATO’s military strength, while demonstrating the U.S. and
The forward deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) participated in a bilateral underway engagement with ships from the Romanian Navy in the Black Sea, April 23. “The exercise was aimed at improving maritime capabilit
The U.S. Navy’s Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132 “Scorpions” participated in Exercise Max Thunder, a bilateral aerial training exercise for U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) military aircrews and maintainers April 23 at Gwangju Air Base. Exercise Max Thunder is conducted annually to enhance bil
Exercise Obangame Express 2014, the multinational maritime exercise in the Gulf of Guinea, concluded April 23. Obangame Express, which began April 16, provided African, European and Atlantic partner naval forces the opportunity to work together, refine tactics, and improve cooperation in order to
Joint, high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) arrived in Libreville, Gabon, for a port visit, April 23. The port visit serves to continue U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa’s efforts to work with African partners to strengthen maritime partnerships throughout Africa. “For the past few months, we’v
In partnership with the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Navy deployed the second-generation Standard Missile-3 Block IB made by Raytheon Company for the first time, initiating the second phase of the Phased Adaptive Approach. “The SM-3 Block IB’s completion of initial operational testing last yea
The US Navy’s Personnel assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group 10 and Cameroonian Rapid Intervention Battalion conduct a simulated boarding of the joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) during exercise Obangame Express 2014. Obangame Express, now in its fourth year, is designed to improv
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), homeported in Mayport, Fla., will enter the Black Sea April 22 to promote peace and stability in the region. The U.S. Navy routinely operates ships in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law. Taylor’s mi
A mission off the coast of South Devon, England has surveyed two U.S. Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs) that were torpedoed and sunk during the D-Day rehearsal Exercise Tiger on April 28, 1944. Using state-of-the-art autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology to collect data from the wreckage site, the
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), homeported in Mayport, Fla., successfully completed post-repair sea trials, April 21. Taylor was operating in the Black Sea when she ran aground in Samsun, Turkey, Feb. 12, damaging the ship’s propeller hub assembly. Taylor was towed to Na
U.S., European, South American and African naval forces concluded two days of in-port familiarization drills at the Nigerian navy’s Joint Maritime Security Training Center, April 17. The evolutions were part of Obangame Express, a Gulf of Guinea-based multinational maritime exercise designed to im
USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) Christened The christening ceremony of the first Zumwalt-class destroyer, the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), took place at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard located in Bath, Maine on 12 April, 2014. Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Ray Mabus, and other honored guests attended the
Whilst conducting counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa different nations from different task forces often meet. In this case the US supply ship USNS Joshua Humphreys from Task Force 53 provided two flagships with fuel. FGS Brandenburg flagship of the EU Naval Force Somalia Operation At
