Airborne Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, the Zappers, landed its squadron’s first operational EA-18G Growler on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), July 18. The Growler, a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, replaced the EA-6B Prowler as the primary electronic warfare strike ai
From 4 to 13 July , the EU Naval Force – Operation Atalanta (EU NAVFOR) provided protection to a ship chartered for AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) supplies. The German frigate Bremen and the French frigate Guépratte took turns to carry out this mission, from the south Red Sea to Mogadishu
The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future Al Basrah (OSV 401), the first of two 60-meter offshore support vessels procured on behalf of the Iraqi navy, from prime contractor RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames LLC of Tampa, Fla., July 16. The new vessel will conduct maritime security operations in the Nor
HMS Diamond has taken her place among the international naval effort determined to stamp out criminal activity on the seas east of Suez. The state-of-the-art destroyer has relieved her sister HMS Daring as the latest Royal Navy warship serving with the 26-nation Combined Maritime Forces, sailing in
Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) completed its largest Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) July 15, returning USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) to the fleet after 470,000 man-days of maintenance. Nimitz-class aircraft carriers have a set maintenance plan which must be adhered to in order for thes
Royal Navy warship HMS Tyne will go alongside Western Quay in North Shields this Friday for the start of a five-day visit to her affiliate region. The ship’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Dan Thomas, will host several receptions on board the ship for local and regional dignitaries, to cem
The guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) took on 250,000 gallons of alternative fuel, a 50/50 blend of advanced biofuel and traditional petroleum-based fuel, from the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) as part of the Great Green Fleet demonstration during Rim of the Pa
On 17 and 18 July, the Djiboutian navy and the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) French frigate Guépratte, will participate in the joint surveillance operation “7 Brothers” in international waters near the Islands of Seven Brothers and the Bab El Mandeb strait. With a new operational center and a network o
The Flying Tigers, normally based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Helston, sent two of their Merlin helicopters and 55 personnel to take part in Exercise Dynamic Mongoose, a newly-established NATO Anti-Submarine Warfare exercise in the Norwegian Sea. Operating from Sola Airbase, Stavanger in
Active duty and reserve Sailors from Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 9 look to retest their skills as a cohesive organization in a Unit Level Training and Readiness Assessment (ULTRA) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 exercise July 21. During ULTRA, Maritime Expeditionary Secu
On 15 July, EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) German frigate Bremen organised an exchange of experience with the Piracy information-sharing centre (ISC) in Mombasa. This centre is one of three under the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the West
HNLMS Rotterdam, the amphibious transport ship, left Den Helder to take part in the counterpiracy operation Ocean Shield. Once in Somali waters, the 320-strong crew will be joined by the staff of the NATO squadron, led by Dutch Commodore Ben Bekkering. Commodore Bekkering has overall command of the
Zyvex Technologies, the world’s first molecular nanotechnology company, yesterday announced the global launch of the LRV-17. The advanced Long Range Vessel is designed for fuel efficiency and rough sea stabilization with a sprint speed over 40 knots and a range of over 1,500 nautical miles, more tha
Minister of Defence Hillen is making it cheaper for shipping companies to deploy marines on board merchant ships passing through waters off the coast of Somalia. These military personnel protect vulnerable vessels from pirates in Vessel Protection Detachments (VPDs). The Dutch shippers’ organisation
