Vessels
Australia starting upgrade of Papua New Guinea’s Lombrum Naval Base
Australia is taking further steps to improve regional maritime security with an AUD5 million upgrade of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island. Wharf and shore-based infrastructure upgrades are to be undertaken by Fletcher Morobe Constructions Limited as part of the Australian
USS California returns from six-month European deployment
Virginia-class submarine USS California (SSN 781) wrapped up a six-month deployment, returning to her Groton homeport on Friday, Sept. 21. The nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine, under the command of Cmdr. Dave Payne, California returned to her homeport of Naval Submarine Base, New London follow
Royal Navy buying Teledyne-built SEAL delivery vehicles
The US State Department has approved the sale of three SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV) MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS) to the United Kingdom. The contract is worth an estimated $90 million and includes spares, handling and test equipment, and program support. According to the statement,
US Navy concludes Middle East drills
US Navy and coalition assets completed the US 5th Fleet Theater Counter Mine and Maritime Security Exercise on September 18. As explained, the multi-faceted exercise was conducted to ensure maritime stability and security in the US Central Command area of responsibility, connecting the Mediterranean
Sailors injured in fire aboard German Navy frigate in Baltic Sea
A fire broke out aboard the German Navy frigate FGS Schleswig-Holstein while the ship was underway in the Baltic Sea on September 17. While the fire was quickly brought under control by the ship’s crew, ten sailors were injured after inhaling smoke. According to the German Navy, the fire broke out i
US Coast Guard receives seventh national security cutter Kimball
The US Coast Guard received future USCGC Kimball, its seventh national security cutter (NSC), in Pascagoula, Mississippi, September 19. Kimball is scheduled for commissioning at its Honolulu homeport in January 2019; it will be the first NSC stationed there. The cutter’s namesake, Sumner Kimball, se
US Navy to christen twenty-second littoral combat ship
The US Navy is set to christen its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Kansas City (LCS 22), on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Mobile, Alabama. At the ceremony, the principal speaker will be US Representative Emanuel Cleaver II from Missouri. Mrs. Tracy Davidson, wife of c
Smuggled cigarettes found on Italian Navy transport ship
Italian Navy transport vessel Nave Caprera was used to smuggle cigarettes on the return trip from Libya where the ship was deployed in support of an EU migrant interdiction mission. The ship reportedly returned to the Italian Navy base Brindisi with over 700 kg of cigarettes on board. This was confi
US Navy’s ANTX 2018 explores “human machine interaction”
The 2018-edition of the US Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) provided a venue for industry and academia to demonstrate new navy technologies with a focus on interaction between humans and machines. Taking place at Naval Station Newport and the Narragansett Bay Test Facility (NBTF) at
US Navy, Air Force test new shallow-water mine tech during Valiant Shield
The US Navy and US Air Force teamed up to deploy and assess an updated shallow-water mine technology during the joint-force exercise Valiant Shield. Air Force’s B-52 bombers of the 96th Bomb Squadron and the Navy’s P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft of Patrol Squadron Five (VP-5) tested the new
Royal Navy Sea Kings retire with ceremonial flypast after 49 years of service
The Royal Navy’s Sea King Mk7 helicopters officially retired from active service as two Sea Kings from 849 Naval Air Squadron performed a final, three-hour flypast on September 19. Helicopters ZE420 and ZA126 flew as far east as Teignmouth, over the wilds of Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, the northern Co
US Navy identifies sailor killed in mishap aboard carrier USS George H.W. Bush
The US Navy has identified the sailor killed aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in a flight deck mishap on Monday, September 17. Airman Apprentice Joseph Min Naglak lost his life aboard the aircraft carrier when he was struck by the turning propeller of an E-2C Hawkeye after s
HHI starts construction of second Philippine Navy frigate
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has cut first steel for the second Philippine Navy frigate at its Pohang site on Monday. The steel cutting ceremony for the second of two frigates on order took place five months after the South Korean shipbuilder started construction on the fi
Japan dispatches submarine Kuroshio to South China Sea ASW drill
A Japanese Oyashio-class submarine joined a number of other JMSDF units for an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drill in the South China Sea last week. This is reportedly the first time that Japan’s defense ministry has confirmed the participation of a submarine in a drill in the disputed South China Se