Training & Education
HMAS Perth, USS Houston Reforge Old Ties
On the evening of 28 February/1 March 1942, two proud ships fought together against overwhelming odds by facing the Japanese Western Java Invasion Convoy in the midst of the Sunda Strait. HMAS Perth (I) and USS Houston were both torpedoed and sank within 30 minutes of the other, consigning almost a
Mine Hunter of Royal Netherlands Navy Clears Mine in Westerschelde Shipping Lane
A mine hunter of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) detonated a heavy sea mine in the Wielingen channel, the very busy southern approach to the Westerschelde. The mine constituted a direct threat to shipping. The previous night, the Navy had received a report of a fishing cutter catching a mine-like
UK: HMS Echo Returns Home
The Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo returns to home to HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, on Thursday (16 August) after a 19 month deployment. The ship has been away for 593 days with 421 actually at sea and has sailed about 74,000 miles – 2.5 times around the equator. The ship made 24 stops [&hell
Midshipmen Embark Ticonderoga-Class Guided-Missile Cruiser USS Bunker Hill
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) hosted 12 midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) units, July 31-Aug. 15. U.S. Naval Academy and NROTC’s academic curriculums require midshipmen to complete a summer cruise pr
Luxembourg Maritime Patrol Aircraft Passes 4.000th Operational Flight Hour
On 13 August the Luxembourg Maritime Patrol Aircraft Detachment deployed in support of the EU anti-piracy operation ATALANTA passed its 4.000th operational flight hour during its 707th operational sortie in theatre. This milestone occurred when Captain SOLOMON and his crew were crossing the equator
Counter Piracy Forces Disrupt Pirated Dhows, Free Crew Taken Hostage in Gulf of Aden
Counter piracy forces from the EU Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) Operation Atalanta and NATO disrupted two pirated dhows and freed the crew taken hostage in the Gulf of Aden. On 10 August, a suspicious dhow, reportedly pirated in Bosaso – Somalia, was located off the coast of Oman by the Spanish EU
UK: Babcock Starts Work on HMS Grimsby
Babcock has started work on Sandown class minehunter HMS Grimsby, now in dock in Rosyth for a six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)). The support period is the first Sandown class refit to be undertaken under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA) Class Output Management (COM) Phase 2 arrangem
US Navy to Participate in Exercise Reliant Mermaid
The Navy will participate in the regularly scheduled Exercise Reliant Mermaid in the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 13-16. Reliant Mermaid, in its 11th iteration, is an annual search and rescue exercise designed to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of
HNLMS Rotterdam, FGS Sachsen Disrupt Pirated Dhow
After a three day hunt by NATO and EU counter piracy forces, HNLMS Rotterdam in close cooperation with EU unit FGS Sachsen, has successfully disrupted a pirated dhow. This end game took place in the coastal waters of Somalia. The crew has been freed and is in good condition. The suspected pirates wi
USS James E. Williams Transfers Mariners to Iranian Vessel in Gulf of Oman
Guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams transferred 10 Iranian mariners rescued from a burning dhow Aug. 8 to an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman Aug. 10. Members of Williams’ visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team transferred the mariners from the destroyer to an Iranian-flagged dhow
NBSD Completes Citadel Rumble 2012
Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) completed three days of annual disaster preparedness drills during Citadel Rumble 2012 (CR-12) from Aug. 7-9. CR-12 is a fully integrated response and recovery exercise designed to evaluate Navy shore-based commands and installation emergency preparedness in response to a
Japan: Amphibious Squadron 11 Deploys for Purposeful Forward Presence
Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11, which is permanently embarked aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and is forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, commenced a fall deployment of the 7th Fleet area of responsibility Aug. 10. During this deployment, PHIBRON 11’s staff includes over 120 Sailors from differe
USS Farragut Sailors Strengthen Bonds in Latvia
The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) continued to strengthen relationships with Baltic nations as it began a four-day port visit in Riga, Latvia, Aug. 4. During the port visit, Sailors played a game of basketball against members of the Latvian National Armed Forces and participated in
First Full Month Without Pirate Attacks Since ’07
The surge in Somali pirate attacks has been wiped out completely based on the figures for this month, which has been the first full month without pirate attacks since 2007, The Telegraph writes. Based on the data released by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the last attempted boarding and fi