Bottlenose dolphins from the US Navy’s Marine Mammal Systems Program (MMSP) took part in dynamic mine countermeasure (MCM) training during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in Southern California. The dolphins are based at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific on Naval Base Point Lom
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) has rescued five mariners stranded in shallow water near Hawaii’s Niihau island. The five mariners issued a distress call from their 36-foot vessel on July 27. Two MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters assigned to the “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat S
US and Egyptian Navy personnel started exercise Eagle Response 18 at the Red Sea Naval Base in Egypt on July 24. Eagle Response 18 is an explosive ordnance disposal and diving exercise the US Navy undertakes with the Egyptian Naval Force and other participating nations to enhance interoperability an
Belgian Navy command and support ship BNS Godetia assumed the role of NATO Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) flagship on July 22, taking over from Dutch submarine support ship HNLMS Mercuur (A900). Despite having 780,000 nautical miles on the clock, Godetia brings a wealth of capabilit
Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude and La Fayette-class frigate FS Surcouf wrapped up the French Navy’s annual Jeanne D’Arc mission returning to naval base Toulon on July 19. The two ships got underway in late February and sailed a total of 26,500 nautical miles over a period of 145 days.
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS St. John’s returned to her homeport in Halifax on July 23 after spending six months deployed to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). Joining SNMG1 on January 18, 2018, the frigate contributed to NATO operations as part of the Canadian operation Reassurance. Duri
The Bulgarian-hosted international maritime exercise Breeze 2018 concluded in the Black Sea on July 20. Units from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey, United States and NATO’s Allied Maritime Command took part in a week of drills. During the sea phase of the exercise,
Enterprise spent the year as flagship of SNMCMG2
US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and ships from its carrier strike group returned to Yokosuka, Japan, on July 24, after three months of operations. During the three months, Ronald Reagan was joined by Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54
A fire broke out late Sunday aboard the logistic support ship Vulcano which is under construction at Fincantieri’s Mugiano shipyard in La Spezia. According to Italian media reports, the fire broke out around 22:30, local time, and originated in the ship’s engine room. The Italian National Firefighte
The Australian P-8A Poseidon aircraft has achieved another milestone successfully firing its first Harpoon anti-ship missile during exercise RIMPAC 18 off Hawaii. The ATM-84J Harpoon missile was launched from the aircraft to sink its target, decommissioned US Navy ship USS Racine. Australian defense
Ships of the US Navy’s Harry S. Truman carrier strike group (HSTCSG) returned to Naval Station (NS) Norfolk on July 21 after a shortened three-month deployment. Some 6,500 sailors from aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and strike group ships USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 5
After concluding two weeks of exercises with the Finnish and Swedish Navy in the Baltic Sea, Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose visited Stockholm for a few days’ break. The Devonport-based frigate joined Swedish and Finnish vessels for Baltic Cross, the first exercise involving the three navi
Another retired US Navy ship has been sunk in a live-fire event conducted during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. This time, it was the decommissioned frigate USS McClusky (FFG 41) which was sunk on July 19 in waters 15,000 feet deep, 55 nautical miles north of Kauai, Hawaii. Unlike with th
