The catapult was ready for launch. The F/A-18E Super Hornet pilot saluted and the aircraft propelled off the flight deck, into the sky. It was a process Capt. Stuart Baker had repeated countless times throughout his 25 years in the U.S. Navy, but today his landing would be different. Today, his land
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 successfully completed flight deck certification Dec. 12 in the Pacific Ocean, after a 16-month Docking Planned Incremental Availability period. Representatives from each CVW9 squadron embarked Stennis Dec. 5 to
U.S. 6th Fleet officially welcomed its new commander at Naval Support Activity Naples Capodichino in Naples, Italy, Dec. 14. Vice Adm. James G. Foggo III officially assumed command of U.S. 6th Fleet from Vice Adm. Phil Davidson. Davidson will take the reins of U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk. D
U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), along with members of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, began exercise Red Reef 15 Dec. 7 in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Red Reef is a biennial, bilateral exercise between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Ar
The US Navy’s newest submarine squadron stood up Dec. 15 at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 21 replaces the Commander, Task Force (CTF) 54 detachment as the organization charged with supporting submarines forward-deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U
Representatives of more than 20 Navy and Marine Corps commands met Dec. 9-11 at Naval Station Mayport to plan for Southern Partnership Station-Joint High Speed Vessel (SPS-JHSV) 2015, a four-month deployment that will focus on subject-matter expert exchanges with partner nations. U.S. Naval Forces S
BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair is being awarded a $15,2 million firm-fixed-price contract for a 60-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry docking of USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9). Work will include: clean and gas free tanks, voids, cofferdams, and spaces; deck non-
The guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) is moored pierside at Marathi NATO Pier Facility in Souda Bay, Greece. Oscar Austin, homeported in Norfolk, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and
Lockheed Martin Corp., Mission Systems and Training, is being awarded a $235,3 million firm-fixed-price contract for MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) electronic and mechanical modules and related equipment. The MK 41 VLS provides a missile launching system for CG 47 and DDG 51 class surface com
The US Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued four people whose boat caught fire off the coast of Murrells Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach, Sunday. Rescued were two men and two women. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received the initial report over VHF Channel 16 at approximately 11 a.
Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101) received approximately 120 supply pallets during a replenishment-at-sea, Dec. 02. The pallets were received via vertical replenishment (VERTREP) between the Gridley and Military Sealift Command Fleet Replenishment Oile
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) departed Salalah after a four-day port visit, Dec. 3. While in port, Sailors from Dewey were able to enjoy liberty and partake in various Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) sponsored events. There were many tours offered in Sala
The U.S. Navy completed tests on the GhostSwimmer unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLC-FS), Dec. 11. GhostSwimmer is the latest in a series of science-fiction-turned-reality projects developed by the chief of naval operations’ Rapid Innovation
U.S. Navy frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) returned from its final deployment Dec. 12, where it operated in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR). The ship will begin to make preparations for decommissioning after 30 years of service. During this final dep
