Vessels
Indian Navy commissions second landing craft utility vessel LCU L52
The Indian Navy commissioned its second landing craft utility vessel LCU L52 in a ceremony at Port Blair, on August 21. LCU L52 is the second of overall eight units in the class planned for construction. The commissioning ceremony took place almost three years after the vessel was launched in Kolkat
US destroyer USS John S. McCain collides with merchant ship near Strait of Malacca
US Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) collided with a merchant ship while underway east of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca on August 21. According to the US Navy, ten sailors are missing and five are injured after the guided-missile destroyer collided with oil tanker Alnic MC. Four of th
Southeast Asian naval drill SEACAT kicks off
A naval exercise gathering navy and coast guard officers from a number of Southeast Asian countries kicked off in Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines on August 21. In its 16th iteration, the annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise focuses on shared maritime security chall
Researchers find wreck of World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis
Billionaire and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and his researcher team have found the wreck of the famed World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis, which was lost on July 30, 1945. The cruiser was found in the Philippine Sea, more than 18,000 feet below the surface, with the number 35 on the hull as a fir
US Navy: USS Fitzgerald leadership responsible for collision
Following a thorough investigation into the June 17 collision between destroyer USS Fitzgerald and a commercial tanker, the US Navy has determined that the destroyer’s poor leadership is responsible for the collision. On August 18, the commanding officer, executive officer and command master chief o
Indian Coast Guard receives more interceptor ships from Larsen & Toubro
The Indian Coast Guard has received additional two high speed interceptor boats (C-433 and C-434) from shipbuilder Larsen & Toubro. The vessels were delivered at the company’s Kattupalli Shipyard, near Chennai, and are part of two contracts being executed by L&T for design and construction of 54 Int
China condemns US Navy challenge in South China Sea
The sail-by of a US Navy destroyer near one of China’s artificial islands built in the South China Sea “violated Chinese laws and international law and severely undermined China’s sovereignty and security”, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told media during a press conference on August 11. Sp
Thailand cleared to buy Harpoon missiles for its DW3000 frigate
The US State Department has approved the Thailand government’s request for the acquisition of RGM-84L Harpoon Block II surface launched missiles. The requested contract for the possible foreign military sale has an estimated cost of $24.9 million and has been approved by the Defense Security Coopera
US Navy makes third challenge to China’s South China Sea claims under Trump (Report)
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John S. McCain sailed within 12 miles of a Chinese artificial reef in the South China Sea on Thursday, according to Reuters. Citing unidentified officials, Reuters wrote that the USS John S. McCain sailed close to the disputed Mischief Reef in the Spratly
US Navy returning USS Fitzgerald to US for repairs
US destroyer USS Fitzgerald which was heavily damaged in a June 17 collision with a merchant vessel will be sent back from Japan to the US for repairs, the US Navy has decided. A US Navy 7th Fleet spokesperson confirmed this to Naval Today adding that the contract to transport the Arleigh Burke-clas
Forward-deployed USS Ronald Reagan wraps up three-month patrol
The US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), concluded a three-month patrol of Indo-Asia- Pacific returning to its base at Yokosuka, Japan, on August 9. During the patrol, Ronald Reagan participated in exercise Talisman Saber 2017, designed to enhance U.S.-Australian
US amphibious ship USS San Diego arrives in Vietnam
The US Navy amphibious transport dock USS San Diego (LPD 22) arrived in the Cam Ranh International Port for a routine technical stop on August 6. The ship visited Vietnam while on deployment with the America amphibious ready group whose flagship, the USS America, pulled into Singapore on the same da
US transfers custody of maritime law enforcement training center to Philippines
The U.S. embassy in Philippines transferred custody of a new joint maritime law enforcement training center (JMLETC) to the Philippine government in a ceremony on in Magarwak, Barangay Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, on August 4. The center is valued at over Php 65.4 million (approx. US$1.3 mil
USS America visits Singapore during 7th Fleet operations
The U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), currently operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations on its maiden deployment, pulled into Singapore for a visit on August 6. Sailors and marines aboard America have been conducting unit-level training in a number of warfare areas