Training & Education
USS Blue Ridge Completes Sea Trials
U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) completed three days of sea trials Nov. 16, after extensive training, a planned maintenance period and a successful light off assessment. According to Blue Ridge Damage Control Assistant Lt. Jerry Belmonte, the crew was fully engaged in preparation
RSN, RAN Conduct Bilateral Maritime Exercise
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) conducted a bilateral maritime exercise, Singaroo, from 14 to 17 November 2011. Hosted by Singapore, this year’s exercise was the 15th in the series held since 1995. The exercise comprised a shore phase with operations planning
USA: Lockheed Martin Signs Contract for CG 57, DDG 51 Class Ships
Lockheed Martin, Mission Systems and Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded a $21,036,485 cost-plus-fixed-fee with performance incentives, cost-plus-award-fee, and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-5103) to exercise options for procurement of fiscal 20
Black Sea Fleet Frigate Smetlivy Completes Visit to Italian Port Augusta
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) frigate Smetlivy has completed formal visit to Italian port Augusta after participation in the IONIEX 2011 Russian-Italian joint exercise. During the visit, BSF servicemen held protocol meetings with local authorities and representatives of Sicily autonomous naval command. Prio
Ukraine: Black Sea Fleet Paid Honors to WW2 Veteran Capt Nikolai Krustalev
Memorial events in honor of WW2 veteran Capt Nikolai Krustalev took place in Malo-Sdovoye, Sevastopol region; 70 years ago Khrustalev died after the first “fire ram” in Black Sea Fleet (BSF) naval aviation’s history. On Nov 5, 1941 twenty airplanes of 11-th air wing took off Baidary airfield to atta
Russia: Northern Fleet Surface Ships Complete over 50 pct of Fleet’s Training Activities
In 2011, crews of Northern Fleet (NF) surface ships have completed over 50% of the fleet’s training activities. In total, NF surface ships have spent 870 days at sea. Twenty six NF surface ships took the sea in this training year. The crews have performed over 400 qualification drills, including 6 c
Russia: CF Receives New Project 705B Harbor Tug RB-10
In accordance with state rearmament program, Caspian Flotilla (CF) received new Project 705B harbor tug RB-10 developed by JSC Vympel Design Bureau (Nizhny Novgorod) and built by Astrakhan Shipyard, affiliate of JSC Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center. First tug of this project joined Caspian Flotilla in
USS Blue Ridge Completes LOA
U.S. 7th Fleet Command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) completed a two-day Light Off Assessment (LOA) Nov. 9-10 in Yokosuka, Japan. The evolution, assessed by Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 with the assistance of Afloat Training Group Western Pacific (ATGWP), checked the ship’s ability to safely op
UK: Babcock Delivers Upgraded HMS Kent
Type 23 frigate HMS Kent has left Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard to start sea trials, with a number of significant upgrades following a successful refit by Babcock. The demanding and tightly scheduled project has seen HMS Kentreceive more than 20 upgrades, as well as undergoing a full programme of deep m
PF Task Unit Completes Visit to Canadian Port Vancouver
Pacific Fleet (PF) task unit led by Guard missile cruiser Varyag on Nov 12 has completed visit to Canadian port Vancouver and set a course for Vladivostok. The visit was held in Nov 8-12. According to Capt 1 rank Sergei Zhuga, “Canadians showed attention and hospitality. We were welcomed very warmly
FGS KOELN Escorts Released Yemeni Dhow
On 11 November, the Yemeni dhow AL JABAL was handed-over by the Commanding Officer of the FGS KOELN to the Yemen Coast Guard for return to its owner after it had been stolen to be used as a pirate mother-ship. The dhow had been taken by a group of Somali pirates and was detected in […]
USA: Subordinate Units of Expeditionary Strike Group 3 Conduct Exercise Brilliant Tern
Subordinate units of Expeditionary Strike Group 3 conducted Exercise Brilliant Tern off USNS Bob Hope at Naval Base San Diego and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Nov. 9-10. This two-day exercise was designed as a proof-of-concept, first-of-its-kind exercise honing core maritime pre-position force (M
Guided-Missile Cruiser USS Philippine Sea Completes Black Sea Deployment
Guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) departed the 6th Fleet area of operations Nov. 11 after its scheduled Black Sea deployment, concluding three weeks serving as goodwill ambassadors of the U.S. During the deployment, Philippine Sea made scheduled port visits to Bulgaria, Georgia, Turk
EU Navfor Returns Failed Pirates to Somalia
On 8 November, following detection by EU NAVFOR warships and aircraft working in close cooperation in the Somali Basin, the Yemen registered dhow, AL JABAL, which had been stolen for use as a pirate mother-ship, was stopped by the FGS KOELN. A group of 19 Somali men were onboard and surrendered to t