Vessels
After Indonesia, CARAT kicks off in Malaysia
The US and Royal Malaysian navies commenced the 24th iteration of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) on Kota Belud Marine Base in Malaysia on August 10. CARAT exercises focus on the full spectrum of naval capabilities and are designed to strengthen the close partnership between both n
Royal Navy frigate wraps up seven-month Asia Pacific deployment
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland returned to her homeport at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport on August 10, concluding a seven-month deployment to the Asia-Pacific. Sutherland and her crew got underway on January 9, becoming the first Royal Navy vessel to operate in Asia Pacific in rece
Italian police seizes 20 tons of hashish from research ship
Italian authorities have found 20 tons of hashish after intercepting a Panama-flagged research ship, the country’s law enforcement agency said. On 9 August, Italian police units intercepted research ship Remus in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship was taken to Palermo in Sicily for further investigatio
Mexico buying Evolved Seasparrow missiles for new Sigma corvette
Mexico is buying an 8-cell MK56 VLS launcher and Evolved Seasparrow Missiles (ESSM) for its new Sigma corvette, a US Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement has said. According to the statement, The US State Department approved a possible sale of six Evolved Seasparrow tactical missiles (ESSM)
ASC nets Australian Navy submariner training contract extension
The Australian defense department has awarded ASC Pty Ltd a contract extension to continue to deliver training services for submariners serving aboard the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarines. Australian defense minister Marise Payne said the contract ensures all submarine crews will hav
Iwo Jima ARG ships return from deployment to Europe, Middle East
After dropping off the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in North Carolina, nearly 1,200 sailors aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) entered their homeport of Mayport, Florida, on August 9. USS Iwo Jima returned from a six-month deployment to the US 5th and US 6t
Guam hosts US, Australian personnel for EOD training
US Navy sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 teamed up with Australian Army personnel to begin the biennial unit level training event, Pyrocrab, on US Naval Base Guam August 6. The training focuses on building closer relationships be
US Navy reviewing impact of faulty welding on Columbia-class construction schedule
While the first of the US Navy’s next-generation ballistic missile submarines is still scheduled to start construction in fiscal year 2021, navy officials are assessing potential delays in the Columbia-class submarine program after faulty welding was discovered on prefabricated missile tubes. In add
Final farewell to former USS Doyle as it arrives in New Orleans
Former Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Doyle (FFG-39) has concluded her final voyage from Philadelphia to New Orleans, where she will now be disassembled and recycled by Southern Recycling, part of EMR. The 4,050-ton frigate served in the US Navy and is the last of a six-vessel contract awarde
First Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boat starts sea trials
Australian shipbuilder Austal announced it has started sea trials for the first Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB-R). The announcement was made on August 8 as part of the company’s celebration of 30 years of successfully delivering shipbuilding programs. The PPB-R program will see 21 Austal de
Former Australian frigate HMAS Darwin starting new life as dive wreck off Tasmania
The Royal Australian Navy’s decommissioned frigate ex-HMAS Darwin is to be scuttled in the waters off Tasmania to become a dive wreck, the Australian government announced August 9. Australian defense minister Marise Payne said she was pleased that the former Adelaide-class frigate would call Tasmani
US Coast Guard cutter bringing 7 tons of cocaine to Port Everglades
US Coast Guard cutter Mohawk (WMEC 913) is set to offload over 7 tons of cocaine in Port Everglades on Thursday. The cocaine was seized in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean from early June to mid-July from seven suspected smuggling vessels. In an operation on July 3, the Mohawk crew
US Navy, Australian Army jointly train at Naval Base Guam
Sailors from the US Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 and members of the Australian Army have begun the biennial unit level training at US Naval Base Guam. Pyrocrab, which kicked off on August 6, focuses on building closer relationships
USS Oak Hill wraps up deployment to Europe, Middle East
US Navy dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) returned to her Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story homeport on August 7, wrapping up a six-month deployment to the US 5th and US 6th Fleet areas of operations. Oak Hill departed their homeport Feb. 9 as a part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious R