Vessels
Multinational maritime drill SEACAT kicks off in Singapore
A nine-nation maritime domain awareness exercise kicked off in Singapore on August 27. Named Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT), the exercise is aimed at developing a common understanding of what is going on in the maritime environment and how best to operate as an effective unified ma
Wasp ARG meets with JMSDF in Philippine Sea
Ships from the US Navy’s Wasp amphibious ready group (ARG) met up with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) amphibious transport dock ship JS Osumi (LST 4001) in the Philippine Sea for maneuvers on August 26. During a passing exercise, multiple ships sail in formation to practice communications
US Navy formally re-establishes 2nd Fleet
The US Navy re-established the 2nd Fleet in a ceremony (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Aug. 24. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson presided over the ceremony aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis will be in charge of ships,
US Navy pays tribute to late navy veteran John S. McCain
Highest ranking US Navy officials released statements Aug. 25 on the death of Senator and Navy veteran John S. McCain III who died from brain cancer Aug. 25 at age 81. Richard V. Spencer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and the commanding officer of USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), Cmdr.
Denmark wants to deploy a frigate with France’s carrier strike group in 2019
Denmark’s defense ministry announced on Friday it’s intention to deploy one of its frigates to France where it would join the French Navy aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle for exercises in early 2019. Early 2019 is when the Marine Nationale’s sole aircraft carrier is expected to make a return to
Raytheon gets $60m to deliver torpedoes to Taiwan, US Navy
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon a $60 million contract modification for work on the delivery of torpedoes and related support services for the navies of the US and Taiwan. Half of the purchases under the contract are reserved for Taiwan, while 47 percent is for the US Navy with
German frigate FGS Bayern nearing homeport after Aegean deployment
German Navy frigate FGS Bayern is set to return to her Wilhelmshaven homeport on Saturday after four months of operations in the Aegean Sea. In total, the ship spent over five months underway as part of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2), sailing 27,500 nautical miles. Bayern is returning to W
USS Anchorage pulls into Sri Lanka on Western Pacific deployment
US Navy’s amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) arrived in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, on August 24 as part of her Western Pacific deployment. The ship got underway from San Diego early July to operate as part of the Essex amphibious ready group together with amphibious assault ship USS Essex
US Navy calls of search for missing USS Lake Erie sailor
The US Navy has called off the search for a sailor who was reported missing from cruiser USS Lake Erie on August 19. Navy and Coast Guard assets suspended search and rescue operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean at sunset, August 22, after an extensive four-day search. “My thoughts and prayers are
US Navy accepts delivery of two Freedom-variant littoral combat ships
The US Navy received the future USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and USS Wichita (LCS 13) in a ceremony at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin on August 22. Sioux City and Wichita, respectively, are the 14th and 15th littoral combat ships (LCSs) to be delivered to the Navy and the sixth an
Top Gun sequel begins filming aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
Film crews from Paramount and Bruckheimer Films are aboard the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln this week shooting footage for the sequel to the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, the navy has confirmed. Naval Air Force Atlantic spokesperson Cmdr. Dave Hecht confirmed this saying that no ac
US Coast Guard receives 30th fast response cutter
The US Coast Guard has accepted delivery of its 30th fast response cutter, the future USCGC Robert Ward. The FRC was accepted by the Coast Guard in Key West, Florida, on Aug. 21, and will be the second FRC stationed in San Pedro, California. The cutter’s namesake, Robert Ward, was a seaman first cla
Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018 returns to Australia
Ships deployed as part of the Royal Australian Navy’s annual maritime task group Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018 (IPE18) have returned to Australia following a three-month deployment to the Pacific. HMAS Adelaide docked in Townsville on August 23 to return embarked soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal
UK F-35B pilots make final preparations ahead of carrier trials
A team of four F-35B test pilots are making final preparations for taking their aircraft aboard Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth next month. Two specially-modified F-35Bs and four pilots – Mr Wilson from BAE, the RN’s Cdr Nathan Gray, Sqn Ldr Andy Edgell and a US Marine Corps aviator