Vessels
HMS Queen Elizabeth afloat after first docking period, ready for final round of trials
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is afloat again after completing its first docking and maintenance period at Babcock’s Rosyth site. After the planned six-week work package was successfully delivered, the aircraft carrier departed Rosyth through the specially designed roller-fender sy
US guided-missile submarine Michigan returns from 30-month deployment
US Navy’s Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) returned home to the Pacific Northwest on May 13, after spending almost three years forward-deployed in the Western Pacific. Since its departure in December 2016, Michigan was forward-deployed to Guam, where it conducted surveilla
Baltic Sea mine warfare drill Open Spirit concludes in Lithuania
The Lithuanian-led historical ordnance disposal operation Open Spirit 2019 concluded on May 16 after two weeks of maneuvers. Open Spirit is an international maritime operation led on a rotating basis by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The Lithuanian Navy led the operation in 2019 in coordination with
Canada, France achieve supersonic firsts during missile defense drill off Scotland
The 9-nation live-fire integrated air and missile defense exercise Formidable Shield 2019 concluded at the UK defense ministry’s Hebrides Range off Scotland on May 19. The US-led drill helped allies hone interoperability in defending against missiles but it also saw Canadian and French Navy ships ac
HMS Albion deploys for Baltic Sea task group deployment
Royal Navy amphibious transport dock HMS Albion has deployed to the Baltic Sea where it will lead a multinational task group as part of a UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). All three service branches of the UK armed forces will take part in the first JEF maritime deployment, which started as HM
John C. Stennis strike group destroyers return to San Diego
US Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Stockdale (DDG 106) returned to their San Diego homeport after operations with the John C. Stennis carrier strike group in the Asia Pacific and Middle East. The destroyers, including detachments from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron
UK approves Type 26 frigate engine contract for GE’s Rugby site
The UK defense ministry has approved an engine order for the second batch of Royal Navy Type 26 frigates, securing the immediate future of the General Electric’s Rugby site. The contract is important because GE had previously announced the site’s closure with its work being moved to Nancy in France
US approves sale of torpedoes, SM-2 missiles to Canada, Republic of Korea
The US State Department has approved sales of MK 54 lightweight torpedoes to the Royal Canadian Navy and SM-2 Block IIIB Standard missiles to the Republic of Korea Navy. The potential sale of lightweight torpedoes to Canada would be worth an estimated $387 million. A total 425 MK 54 lightweight torp
First Australian frigate to complete AMCAP upgrade tests stability
The first Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate to undergo the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade has completed the inclining experiment at Henderson Shipyard, Western Australia to test stability. HMAS Arunta underwent the test after more than a year out of the water as p
Sikorsky to build 12 Marines CH-53K helicopters under $1.3B contract
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Sikorsky a $1.3 billion contract for the construction and delivery of 12 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the US Marine Corps. The low rate initial production (LRIP) Lots 2 and 3 contract was awarded on May 17. The most powerful helicopter in the Depa
USS Abraham Lincoln links up with USS Kearsarge in Arabian Sea
Two US Navy groups operate in US 5th Fleet AOP in show of force amid Iran tensions.
HMS Queen Elizabeth CO relieved over “misuse of official car”
Captain Nick Cooke-Priest, the commanding officer of Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has been relieved of his duties. The navy confirmed that he has been reassigned to a new role without providing a specific reason. UK media outlets, however, widely report that the reason for Cooke-P
Damen launches first Pakistan Navy OPV in Romania
The first of two Pakistan Navy offshore patrol vessels (OPV) was launched in Galata, Romania, the Pakistan Navy announced on May 17. The ship was launched after starting construction in a keel-laying ceremony in April 2018. While the navy refers to them as corvettes, the two vessels built by Dutch s
USS John C. Stennis wraps up 7-month deployment, arrives in Norfolk
US Navy aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis arrived in Norfolk on May 16, concluding a seven-month deployment which started from Bremerton, Washington. Nearly 5,000 sailors of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3, led by Capt. Randy Peck, are now in Virginia, after deploying in October of last year. CSG-3,