Vessels
Australian frigate deploys to Middle East
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga departed Fleet Base East at Garden Island, Sydney for nine months of maritime security operations in the Middle East. The frigate and her crew of 190 were farewelled by Australian defense minister, Senator Marise Payne, and the Chief of Navy, Vice Admira
Mechanical issue delays USS Iwo Jima’s departure for storm relief
US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) was prevented from sailing out for potential storm Nate relief operations after a mechanical issue tied it to port. The ship was expected to get underway on October 7, together with amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), but was d
Virginia-class submarine USS Washington enters service
The US Navy has commissioned USS Washington (SSN 787) – its 14th Virginia-class submarine – in a ceremony on Saturday. The commissioning ceremony took place on board Naval Station Norfolk. Submarine’s sponsor Elisabeth Mabus, daughter of the 75th Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, gave the order to “m
Romanian frigate joins NATO operation Sea Guardian
The Romanian Navy has deployed its flagship frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 for a month of joint operations and exercises. The former Royal Navy Type 22 departed Constanta, Romania, on October 6 and will integrate into the NATO task group for operation Sea Guardian.
USS America on maiden visit to Israel
In another first on its maiden deployment, the US Navy’s America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) arrived in Eilat, Israel, for a port visit on October 5. The flagship of the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is on its first ever visit to the country. “The marines and sailors hav
USNS Comfort departs San Juan after assessing situation
The US Military Sealift Command ship USNS Comfort has departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is now underway standing ready for additional mission assignments. Comfort is currently underway and expected to arrive and provide medical services in the Aricibo-Manati region. While in San Juan, the hospital
USS Sampson joins Theodore Roosevelt CSG from Everett
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) got underway from Naval Station Everett on October 3 to join aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on deployment. Sampson is assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, which has spent the past year preparing for deployment. CSG 9 completed a
Russian Navy to receive navalized Pantsir-ME weapon system soon
The Russian Navy will soon receive the first batch of the Pantsir-ME naval missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapon systems, the weapon manufacturer said recently. Alexander Denisov, general director of the High Precision Complex holding company, which includes Pantsir-ME manufacturer KBP, told jo
Watch Virginia submarine ‘Washington’ pull into Norfolk for commissioning
The US Navy has shared a video of the Virginia-class submarine Washington (SSN 787) entering Naval Station Norfolk after completing her final set of trials. The video was shared ahead of the submarine’s commissioning ceremony which is set to take place on October 7 in Norfolk. The future Washington
US Navy decides to repair USS John S. McCain in Japan
Instead of transporting the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) to the US for repairs, the US Navy has decided to repair the ship in Yokosuka, Japan. The navy estimates that the destroyer did not suffer as much damage as the USS Fitzgerald – which will be transported back to the US
Finnish-Estonian drill Baltic Shield underway off Finland
Mine countermeasure ships from the navies of Finland and Estonia met up on October 2 for four days of bilateral drills as part of exercise Baltic Shield 2017. The exercise is hosted by the 4th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron of the Coastal Fleet and is taking place in Finland, in the Archipelago Sea.
Australia brings in Leonardo for submarine information management software upgrade
The Australian defense department has contracted Leonardo to deliver its information management software for the upgrade of the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class submarine fleet. The contract, called ‘Submarine Communication Information Exchange Management’ (SCIEM), is part of Australia’s Projec
Tug worker strike could impede Royal Navy vessel movement, union warns
A potential strike of tug boat crews could disrupt the movement of Royal Navy vessels in five UK ports, workers union Unite has warned. The tug boat crews are deciding whether to go on strike after their call for a pay rise had been rejected. Voting papers for strike action will start being delivere
Dutch, Royal Navy perform ‘easiest RAS ever’
A Dutch and a Royal Navy ship recently completed what was termed by the Royal Navy as “the easiest RAS ever”, as support vessel RFA Mounts Bay took on fuel from Dutch ship HNLMS Karel Doorman in the Caribbean. A difficult – potentially dangerous – manoeuvre it’s typically performed mid-Ocean between