Vessels
Ronald Reagan strike group ships hone air defense skills in Philippine Sea
The Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 aboard the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) carried out an air defense exercise (ADEX) in the Philippine Sea July 6-7. Milius is the most recent forward-deployed Navy vessel, havi
RIMPAC mine warfare operations kick off in SOCAL
Commander Task Force (CTF) 177 kicked off the Southern California (SOCAL) portion of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) with mine warfare training operations which run from June 27 to August 2. CTF 177 is comprised of 26 units with approximately 1,100 personnel representing the United States, Australia
Romanian Navy deploys two ships to NATO operations in Black Sea
The Romanian Navy has deployed a frigate and a minesweeper to join two separate NATO maritime groups for operations in the Black Sea. Frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand and Musca-class minesweeper Lt. Lupu Dinescu got underway from the naval base in Constanta on July 11 and will spend the rest of the mont
Attack submarine USS John Warner returns from first deployment
The crew of US Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarine USS John Warner (SSN 785) completed their maiden deployment as they returned to Norfolk on July 11. John Warner sailed over 30,000 nautical miles during the deployment and carried out missions in support of theater commanders. It also pinned “dol
US Navy’s second Zumwalt destroyer blew its gas turbine during acceptance trials: USNI News
The US Navy’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) will need a new main turbine engine after turbine blades were damaged during the ship’s acceptance trials. According to a USNI News report: Michael Monsoor will have to receive the new MT30 engine at the Bath Iron Works shipyard
HMS Argyll visits Egypt en route to Asia
Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll has arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, as part of her nine-month deployment to the Persian Gulf and Asia Pacific which started on June 18. The Type 23 frigate is currently visiting the Alexandria naval base to facilitate discussions between senior Egyptian and UK naval offic
US Navy adds senator John McCain as destroyer namesake
The US Navy included senator John McCain (R-AZ) as the namesake of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain in a ceremony in Yokosuka, Japan, on July 11. The destroyer was originally named after senator McCain’s father and grandfather and now honors three generations of McCain
Danish support ship HDMS Esbern Snare becomes new SNMG1 flagship
Royal Danish Navy support ship HDMS Esbern Snare became the new flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), taking over from fellow Danish warship HDMS Niels Juel. The change of command ceremony took place in Frederikshavn, Denmark, on July 10 and further saw Commodore Carsten Fjord-Larsen
HMS Northumberland formally rejoins the fleet in rededication ceremony
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland formally rejoined the fleet in a rededication ceremony held at Whitehill Point Jetty in the Port of Tyne on July 6. In an unusual setting because ships are usually rededicated in their home ports, the location allowed more of the ship’s affiliates to att
Dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall on Southern Seas 2018 deployment
US Navy’s Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) departed Virginia in late June to start the Southern Seas 2018 deployment which will see the ship and its crew operate in Latin America and the Caribbean. The ship got underway from Joint Expeditionary Base Little
Royal Australian Navy welcomes new Chief of Navy
The Royal Australian Navy has welcomed a new Chief of Navy as Vice Admiral Tim Barrett was relieved by Vice Admiral Michael Noonan in a handover ceremony at Blamey Square in Canberra. VADM Barrett told the gathering, his time as Chief has seen significant change to the RAN, thanks to hard work and d
USS Harry S. Truman wraps up drills with French Naval Aviation
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) completed a weeklong joint exercise known as French Air Defense week on July 6 and is continuing its deployment in the Atlantic. The exercise saw aircraft from Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) conducting integrated flight operations with French Naval
US 7th Fleet helps Sri Lanka Navy find missing fishermen
A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft assigned to US 7th Fleet helped the Sri Lanka Navy locate a missing fishing vessel July 10, after joining search efforts. The P-8A Poseidon from the “Pelicans” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 flew out of Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia. The 40-foot vessel and
US Navy seeking proposals for close-range armed UAVs
The US Navy is seeking proposals for small and medium close-range armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in a request for information released on July 6. The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division is eyeing potential procurement of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) UAVs that could carry smal