Austal USA’s order backlog has grown by approximately US$681.7 million as a result of two additional Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract options being exercised by the United States Navy. The contract options fund construction of the LCS 14 and LCS 16, the fifth and sixth ships in the 10-ship block
In early February, the Falkland Islands Patrol ship HMS Clyde had a change of commanding officer. On Monday 11 February 2013 patrol ship HMS Clyde went through a pivotal moment in any ship’s life as her Commanding Officer handed over the reins of command to his relief. After bringing the ship alongs
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) transited the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Arabian Gulf for the ship’s first time, March 1. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway in the region. At its widest, the strait spans 21 miles, and offers the only sea
The “Black Aces” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 are conducting daily flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). By providing direct air support to coalition forces on the ground in Afghanistan, fli
The Indian Navy’s major annual exercise TROPEX (Theatre level Readiness and Operational Exercise), concluded on 01 Mar 2013 after more than a month of manoeuvres, weapon firings and tactical evaluation. TROPEX was a theatre level exercise, conducted on the Western Seaboard, aimed to assess the opera
The warrior spear was passed to a new commanding officer at a change of command ceremony for the Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, March 1. Cmdr. Stephen G. Mack, commanding officer of Hawaii, was relieved by Cmdr. William A. Patterson. The ceremony’s g
The Navy’s first littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) departed her homeport of San Diego to venture out to the Asia-Pacific region on its maiden deployment March 1. Making good on a pledge made initially by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the 2011 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Fr
First Naval Construction Division (1NCD), the headquarters organization for the Navy Seabees, began a realignment initiative designed to improve efficiency by eliminating a headquarters layer, March 1. 1NCD will merge with Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) and subsequently disestablish 1NCD.
Navy Region Southwest Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) conducted emergency response training in correlation with exercise Citadel Shield Feb. 28, 2013. Citadel Shield is an annual anti-terrorism exercise conducted Navy-wide by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) and Commander, Navy Installatio
After navigating the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb strait, ESPS Rayo joined EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta on Tuesday 26 February. Having completed her first patrol in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Spanish warship is currently alongside Djibouti, together with EU
The Navy’s first mobile landing platform ship, USNS Montford Point (T-MLP 1), was christened at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, March 2. Owned and operated by Military Sealift Command, Montford Point was christened by its sponsor, Alexis “Jackie” Bolden, the wife of current NASA A
Russia Plans to Rearm BSF Russia has announced plans to rearm its Black Sea Fleet and has asked Ukraine to settle the issues regarding the planned deliveries of new weapons to the naval force, Ukraine’s defense minister said on Saturday. Italy: NATO Allies Participate in Proud Manta 2013 Exercise Pr
Submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) arrived in Sepangar Bay for the first of several port visits over the next month with the mission to perform remote operational commitments to her partners in the region, Feb 28. During this visit, Frank Cable will facilitate a series of military to military
In September last year I announced the renaming of two Divisions at the Recruit School to honour sailors. This was the first step towards better recognising our sailors who have distinguished themselves during their service. Today, on Navy’s 112th birthday, we are taking the next step; the remaining
