More than 1,200 Sailors and Marines from USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), embarked 7th Fleet staff, and Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific (FASTPAC) returned to the ship’s forward-deployed port of Yokosuka, Japan on Aug. 29, completing a two and a half-month deployment throughout the Pacific Ocean. B
U.S. and Singaporean Sailors completed the at-sea portion of the 17th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore 2011 Aug. 26 following six days of underway training. The guided missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), the fast attack submarine
Sailors from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and embarked Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in a community service (COMSERV) project at the Maung Phuket Elementary School during a port visit to Phuket, Thailand Aug. 23-24. More than 100 Sailors and Mari
Vietnamese Navy received the last out of two Project Gepard 3.9 frigates purchased from Russia, reports Defense News. The ship arrived at Cam Ranh port on Aug 22, 2011. The first ship in series built by Zelenodolsk Shipyard was handed over to Vietnamese Navy in March 2011. Vietnam bought two Project
A Chinese admiral said Saturday that China is unlikely to put the refitted ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag into active service anytime soo… (mainichi) [mappress] Source: mainichi, August 22, 2011;
Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presented the Overseas Service Medal (OSM) to 101 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel at a ceremony held this afternoon, in recognition of their contributions to the international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden (GoA). Speaking at the presentation cer
Japan’s defense ministry addressed to Chinese counterparts with request to explain the Chinese Navy’s need for aircraft carriers, reports Defense News. “As an aircraft carrier, it is of a highly maneuverable and offensive nature. We want China to explain the reasons why it needs it”, said Japanese d
China opens a luxury hotel which originally is refitted ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Kiev. According to South China Morning Post, EUR 9.6 mln was spent to refit the ship. Since 2004 the ship was a part of military-oriented theme park in Tianjin; there were models of combat aircraft on the ship’s deck.
USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived in Hong Kong Aug. 12, for a port visit after supporting Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) and New Dawn in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. “We are excited to have this opportunity to visit this fine city of Hong Kong,” said Capt. Thom Burke,
The U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington arrived in international waters off the coast of southern Vietnam Saturday… (voanews) [mappress] Source: voanews, August 15, 2011;
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the United States Navy (USN) are participating in the 17th Singapore-US Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise from 15 to 29 Aug 2011. Similar to previous CARAT exercises, this year’s exercise will focus on honing conventional maritime capabil
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces recorded another significant milestone in its history with the official acceptance of the final DARUSSALAM Class Patrol Vessels, namely KDB DARULAMAN. KDB DARULAMAN is the last of the DARUSSALAM class, which have been commissioned to Luerssen Shipyard by the Government
Officers with the Royal Thai Navy’s Helicopter Anti-Surface Warfare Squadron (HS) 2 participated in a joint training exercise with USS George Washington’s (CVN 73) HS-14 Aug. 5 & 10. Both squadrons conducted anti-surface warfare (ASW) training on dipping sonar capabilities and search-and-rescue (SAR
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) departed Laem Chabang, Thailand following five days of rest and relaxation for the crew during its most recent patrol Aug. 11. “Just before we pulled into Thailand, the crew worked around the clock for 56 days at sea, so they defini
