In the first week of August the Mexican Navy (Secretaria de Marina) and Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract for a fourth Damen Stan Patrol 4207. The Dutch ship design and shipbuilding company will supply the Mexican Navy with the design and material package with which ASTIMAR 1 (the Mexican Navy
Submariner, Commander Tony “Gecko” Ellis, has found new friends in far away places, during a visit to the Indian Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Tamil Nadu, India. Commander Ellis is a student at the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) in Canberra. He, and a small delegation
Amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9), with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Darwin, Australia, Aug. 22, following scheduled operations in the region. Denver’s visit to Darwin comes after a successful certification exercise (CERTEX) with the 31st MEU in the C
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed Sydney Aug. 20 after a four-day port visit. During the visit, Sailors and Marines participated in community relations projects, friendly sport events with the local teams, and multiple tours offered by Bonhomme Richar
Commander, Task Force 63/Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (CTF-63/MSCEURAF), held a change of command ceremony at Naval Support Activity Naples Aug. 21. Capt. John Rinko relieved Capt. Richard Soucie as commander. The guest speaker, Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, a
The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) is scheduled to depart Aug. 23 for a deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. The BOXARG, which includes USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), will focus on maritime security operations and theater se
All five of the Royal Navy’s Gulf warships joined forces for the rare chance to patrol the same waters simultaneously. Destroyer HMS Dragon – based in Portsmouth and on her maiden deployment – linked up with Her Majesty’s Ships Ramsey, Shoreham, Quorn and Atherstone for collective training off Bahra
Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4 held a change of command ceremony aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Aug. 13. Capt. James P. Cody relieved Capt. John B. Skillman as commander of PHIBRON 4 while the ship was underway in the Gulf of Aden. Cody previously served as the PHIBRON 4 d
Earlier yesterday, Thursday 22 September, a Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft from EU Naval Force overflew the pirate controlled fishing vessel FV Naham 3 and observed that the vessel had moved from its sea anchorage to a Somali beach in the Galmudug region. Armed men have been sighted on board FV Na
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus concluded a visit to Senegal Aug. 22, the last stop on a multi-nation visit focused on reinforcing existing partnerships with African nations. “Senegal is the backbone of the Navy and Marine Corps’ martime cooperation in West Africa,” said Mabus. “We have a strong and
Sailors assigned to Pre-commissioning Unit (PCU) America (LHA 6) joined administrators and students from Central Elementary School at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Pascagoula, Aug. 19. Over the last two weeks Sailors spent more than 200 hours rebuilding a patio damaged during Hurricane Katrina. The p
USS Freedom’s (LCS 1) LCS Crew 101 completed its first underway period since the mid-deployment crew swap, Aug. 19. The two-week workup gave crew members an opportunity to integrate and conduct operational checks in communications, weapons and damage control. Crew 101 also conducted focused training
U.S. 6th Fleet flagship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), concluded a 4-day port visit to Theoule-sur-Mer, France, after taking part in several events honoring the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Provence, Aug. 17. “This year is the 69th anniversary, and I was fortunate enough to be in southern Fra
Dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) departed Cairns, Australia after a routine port visit Aug. 15 to 19. Roughly 30 Sailors and Marines volunteered at a local hospital during the visit, playing games with patients, sharing jokes, and generally uplifting the spirits of more than 100 patients. “
