Sailors and marines aboard the U.S. Navy’s Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) arrived in Port Moresby, April 15, for a theater security cooperation (TSC) engagement with the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF). During the visit, U.S. marines and sailors are training alon
Canada has concluded a five-month period of commanding the Bahrain-headquartered Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) and handed over duties to France. This was Canada’s third command of the multinational maritime security and counter-terrorism task force located in the greater Middle East region. The
U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) returned to the fleet on April 7 after completing a maintenance period that will allow her to complete her remaining scheduled deployments before being retired. The submarine started her pre-inactivation restricted availability (PIRA)
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded BAE Systems Land & Armaments a $40 million contract ordering more Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS) canisters for its guided missile cruisers and destroyers. The contract modification also includes orders for ally navy platforms. Mk 41 VLS is used to l
The U.S. Navy wants to increase the anti-air warfare capabilities of the future frigate and is looking at having more than the current two hull designs for consideration, according to several media reports. The new plans would break away from previous ones that included simply up-gunning and up-sizi
The U.S. Navy is joining forces with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to refit and modernize up to five of the Yard Patrol (YP) 676 class training craft. Work will be performed at the USCG Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, and will allow the midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) to continue training onb
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair a $19.4 million contract to perform post shakedown availability (PSA) work on the U.S. Navy’s two new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. The contract will see BAE Systems perform maintenance and eventual rep
U.S. Navy’s Maritime Prepositioning Force ships USNS Pililaau (T-AK 304) and USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008) recently tested their skills in deploying the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS), a floating pier-like causeway system. The INLS is a sea state three (SS3) capable system comprised
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned its newest fast response cutter John McCormick during an April 12 ceremony at the Alaskan Ketchikan Base. Built under the Coast Guard’s Sentinel-class FRC program, the CGC John McCormick is the first of six fast response cutters that will homeport in Alaska and the
The U.S. Navy’s Sterett-Dewey surface action group (Sterett-Dewey SAG) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, April 11, for the first stop of the group’s Western Pacific deployment. The group is composed of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105) who
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ships might join the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson for naval drills as the group of ships centered around the aircraft carrier heads for the Korean Peninsula. Japan would dispatch its destroyers when the U.S. ships enter the East China Sea, Reuters re
The U.S. Navy’s MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter completed the initial testing phase aboard a littoral combat ship returning from USS Montgomery (LCS-8) on April 11. The Fire Scout test team along with USS Montgomery sailors conducted dynamic interface testing to verify the MQ-8C launch and reco
The U.S.-led humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission Pacific Partnership 2017 has arrived in Malaysia. Embarked aboard Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4), servicemen arrived in Port Klang on April 8. The arrival marks Malaysia’s 1
U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) wrapped up a four-day visit to Hong Kong setting sail from port on April 11. The visit allowed nearly 2,500 sailors and marines assigned to the ship and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit the opportunity to experience Hong Kong’s cult
