Vessels
Thai Navy contracts BMT for work on new midget submarine
The Royal Thai Navy has contracted engineering and risk management consultancy company BMT a contract to support the Royal Thai Navy’s (RTN) new midget submarine program. From its offices in Bath, UK, BMT will recommend submarine-specific engineering management best practice to help the RTN minimize
Construction begins on amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA-8)
US shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries started fabrication of the future amphibious assault ship USS Bougainville (LHA 8) at its Pascagoula shipyard on October 15. LHA 8 is the second ship named in honor of the Bougainville Island campaign in World War II and is scheduled to be delivered in 20
EUNAVFOR trains with Chinese Navy in Djibouti
EU NAVFOR personnel joined the Chinese PLA(N) (Peoples Liberation Army) Navy for the first combined exercise at China’s new military base in Djibouti. The crew of ITS Federico Martinengo and members of the Chinese PLA(N) based in Djibouti conducted a medical evacuation exercise after EUNAVFOR person
Tasmania turns down retired frigate gift
Former Australian Navy frigate ex-HMAS Darwin will not be turned into a dive wreck off the coast of Tasmania as the island state’s government decided not to accept the Commonwealth’s gift. While the frigate was offered for scuttling off the East Coast for free, the Tasmanian government figured out i
Kearsarge ARG completes live-fire missile exercise
US Navy ships assigned to the Kearsarge amphibious ready group (ARG) completed a live-fire missile exercise (MISSILEX) on October 14. Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) fired one RIM-7P missile from the NATO Sea Sparrow missile launcher and successfully engaged a target simulat
Iwo Jima ESG ships enter European waters ahead of NATO drill Trident Juncture
Ships assigned to the US Navy’s Iwo Jima expeditionary strike group (IWOESG) have entered the US 6th Fleet area of operations as part of a deployment in support of NATO exercise Trident Juncture 18. The strike group will join the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group and US 6th Fleet flagship USS Mou
Pakistan commissions fleet tanker PNS Moawin
The Pakistan Navy commissioned its new fleet tanker PNS Moawin in a ceremony on October 16. PNS Moawin was commissioned after being launched in August 2016 and starting trials in May this year. The 158-meter tanker was built by Pakistan’s Karachi Shipyard under a design provided by Turkey’s STM. Acc
Brazil shortlists four bidders for Tamandare corvette project
The Brazilian Navy has shortlisted four teams to advance to the next phase of the tendering process for the construction of its new Tamandare-class corvettes. The shortlist was originally expected to be announced by August with a final decision on the winning consortium coming two months later. This
Australia’s ASC announces further job cuts as AWD destroyer project wraps up
Australian shipbuilder ASC said it is cutting up to 63 jobs as work on the Royal Australian Navy’s Air Warfare Destroyers comes to a close. ASC is currently in the process of delivering ‘Sydney’ – the final of three destroyers in the class and the company said it was reducing the shipbuilding workfo
Gerard Butler promotes new submarine movie at the Pentagon
Hollywood actor Gerard Butler visited the Pentagon on Tuesday for a press briefing about a new submarine movie produced in collaboration with the US Navy. Butler plays the commander of the fictional attack sub USS Arkansas in the movie “Hunter-Killer,” due out this week. The movie posits an operatio
RFA Lyme Bay joins Anglo-Omani drill Saif Sareea 3
Royal Fleet Auxiliary amphibious support ship RFA Lyme Bay has arrived at the port of Duqm in Oman to join the Anglo-Omani exercise Saif Sareea 3. The 16,000-ton ship sailed 5,000 miles from Falmouth to Duqm, where Britain has permanent facilities to support naval operations in the region. The port
Attack submarine USS Newport News returns from 7-month deployment
US Navy’s Los Angeles fast-attack submarine USS Newport News (SSN 750) wrapped up a seven-month deployment, returning to Naval Station Norfolk on October 13. The submarine and her crew operated in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, visiting UK submarine base HMNB Clyde at Faslane several times dur
Royal Navy starts F-35B rolling vertical landing trials
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was at the center of an important milestone for the F-35 program as an F-35B performed the first ever shipborne rolling vertical landing (SRVL) British test pilot Peter Wilson conducted the landing this weekend. Previously the jets have conducted only
Canadian ships to join US-Japanese drill Keen Sword for first time ever
Two Royal Canadian Navy ships will be joining US and Japan Self Defense Force units for exercise Keen Sword which is scheduled to start on October 29. According to the US Navy, this will be the first time Canadian Navy ships are taking part in the maritime portion of the exercise. While the US Navy