The UK Royal Navy has seized an £8.5m haul of heroin after a raid on a suspect vessel in the northern Arabian Sea. Nearly 60 kilograms of the drug was seized by sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Somerset, the Plymouth-based Type 23 Frigate, who intercepted the fishing boat in Royal Navy fast boat
BAE Systems yesterday handed over the third of three new warships to the Royal Navy of Oman. Al Rasikh is a 99 metre corvette designed, built and delivered as part of Project Khareef. The Interim Acceptance ceremony was attended by dignitaries from both Oman and the UK who witnessed the ship’s cre
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 frocked three Sailors to their new pay-grade during a ceremony held in the foc’sle aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), May 28. Frocked Sailors receive the right to wear the insignia and assume the responsibilities of their next pay grade but d
Sailors aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) participated in the 147th annual Memorial Day parade held at the Gettysburg National Cemetery May 25. The ship’s ceremonial color guard traveled from their homeport in Florida to their namesake city in Pennsylvania to carry the colors fo
The flagship of the Royal Navy, HMS Bulwark, has sailed into Greenwich, in support of activities for the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines. The 18,500 tonne Landing Platform Dock came alongside at Greenwich yesterday and now begins a packed programme of events. Her Commanding Officer, Captain
Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) held a change of command ceremony, May 27 with more than 300 Sailors, families, members of the local Korean community, and military leaders from the Republic of Korea navy in attendance. Cmdr. Michael Weatherford relieved Cmdr. Quinn Skinner as commander.
U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) along with embarked 7th Fleet staff, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 and Marines from Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific departed Jakarta after completing a three-day port visit May 28. While in port, Sailors and Marines hosted Indonesian mi
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) transiting the Black Sea on May 24. The cruiser entered the Black Sea on May 23. Vella Gulf is deployed in a multi-mission role in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility to contribute to regional maritime security and to suppor
Boeing has delivered the fourth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to the Indian Navy on schedule, fulfilling the first half of a contract for eight aircraft. The aircraft departed from Boeing Field in Seattle and arrived May 21 at Naval Air Station Rajali, where it joined three P-8Is currently undergo
The 20th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series began with an opening ceremony on Sattahip Naval Base, on May 20th. Over the next eight days, sailors and marines will participate in CARAT Thailand 2014, the first of nine bilateral exercise phases with the armed fo
The first ever Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ship to serve as the primary mission platform for the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s annual humanitarian and disaster response-focused mission arrived at Commander Fleet Activities, Yokosuka to on-load supplies and a multinational crew. The Osumi-Clas
The oceanic patrol vessel (BAM in its Spanish initials) ‘Relámpago’, currently participating in the European-led counter-piracy operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean, has provided medical assistance to a ‘dhow’-type fishing boat off the coast of Somalia. The ‘Relámpago’ carried out a friendly a
Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) held a change of command and retirement ceremony on board Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va. May 23. Capt. Bill McKinley became the fifth commanding officer of CSCS when he relieved Capt. Don Schmieley. Schmieley had been CSCS’ commanding officer since Ap
The US Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), carrying 1,000 marines, has sailed into the Mediterranean Sea and could be used for evacuation of American personnel from Libya, writes the Associated Press. The warship will remain in the region as a precautionary measure, but w
