Vessels
USS Little Rock enters service
US Navy littoral combat ship USS Little Rock officially entered service following a commissioning ceremony on the Buffalo River on December 16. Little Rock (LCS 9) is the navy’s fifth Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), designed and built by Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
Ravestein delivers another caisson to Royal Navy
Dutch steel-construction manufacturer Ravestein has delivered a new caisson to the UK Royal Navy for installation at Portsmouth Naval Base. With the new caisson in place, the naval base has reopened the former “14” dry dock for the first time since 2002. Reopening this dock takes the base capability
RFA Mounts Bay stops in Bermuda
Taking a break from her Atlantic patrol duties, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay stopped in Bermuda on December 15 for a three day visit. The ship has been deployed to the region to provide humanitarian and disaster relief for the UK’s Caribbean overseas territories and Bermuda. This year RFA Mounts
Lockheed Martin gets $135m contract for Aegis Baseline 9 deliveries to Japan
The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a $135.8 contract for work on the development and integration of the Aegis Baseline 9 systems for Japan Maritime Self Defense Force destroyers. The Baseline 9/BMD 5.1 variant is referred to as J7 for Japanese destroyers. The contract award
Peruvian Navy starts construction of second Makassar-class LPD ‘Paita’
The Peruvian Navy officially marked the beginning of construction works on its second Makassar-class landing platform dock (LPD) ‘Paita’ with a keel-laying ceremony on December 14. The ceremony took place at the SIMA shipyard in Calao and was led by Peruvian defense minister Jorge Nieto Montesinos.
New Zealand Navy decommissions HMNZS Endeavour after 30-year service
The Royal New Zealand Navy has decommissioned its tanker HMNZS Endeavour after almost 30 years of service. The decommissioning ceremony took place at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland on December 30. HMNZS Endeavour flew her white ensign for the last time earlier this month as she entered Auckland Ha
South Korea completes new 5,200-ton submarine rescue ship design
South Korea has completed the design phase of a new 5,200-ton submarine rescue ship, the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on December 15. The project of developing a new submarine rescue ship, dubbed ASR-II, was initiated in November 2015 together with South Kore
Australian Navy holds 2017 Ceremonial Divisions
HMAS Canberra, one of the two biggest ships in the Royal Australian Navy, on Friday hosted a grand ceremony which saw 1,500 officers and sailors take part in the Australian Fleet’s 2017 Ceremonial Divisions. Sydney Harbour provided the backdrop as personnel from East based ships and shore establishm
German, US Navy EOD units wrap up joint drills
US Navy sailors from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 12 joined their German Navy counterparts for two weeks of EOD training missions at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Nov. 27 through Dec. 11. EODMU 12 and their German counterparts conducted training evolutions
USS Abraham Lincoln completes first F-35C qualifications
US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) has qualified the first nine F-35C Lightning II pilots during its underway period. The Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) Carrier Qualifications were successfully completed between December 7 and 11. Along with Abraham Lincoln, the “
HMAS Sirius returns from Indo-Pacific Endeavour deployment
Royal Australian Navy replenishment ship HMAS Sirius returned to Fleet Base West on December 15, concluding her Indo-Pacific Endeavour deployment. The ship’s crew of 73 returned home after four months at sea. Commanding officer, Commander Michael Oborn said that their recent mission focused on enhan
US Navy to live stream Little Rock (LCS 9) commissioning ceremony
The US Navy is set to commission littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) in a ceremony on Saturday, December 16, at the Canalside waterfront in Buffalo, New York. The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship is the 10th LCS to enter the fleet and the fifth of the Freedom-variant design. Little Rock
USS Key West home from Western Pacific tasking
US Navy’s Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722) returned to Apra Harbor, Guam, on December 15, after four months of operations in the Western Pacific. Key West, under the command of Cmdr. J. Grady Hill, is returning from the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility, where the crew par
General Dynamics gets $16m contract for USS Pinckney overhaul
The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding (NASCO) a $16.3 million contract for the maintenance and repairs of Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Pinckne (DDG 91). Under the contract, NASCO is to perform what is referred to as a selected restricted availability which wil