Vessels
Los Angeles-class submarine visits Singapore
Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722) arrived in Singapore on June 1, becoming the latest in a row of U.S. Navy submarines to visit ports in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Prior to USS Key West’s visit to Singapore, the U.S. Navy announced several port calls in Japan and South Kor
USS Bonhomme Richard gets underway for patrol
U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed her forward-deployed base of Sasebo, Japan, on June 1 to start her scheduled patrol in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Bonhomme Richard and the Okinawa-based Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are scheduled for
US Navy’s last E-2Cs depart Japan after 44 years
The last of the U.S. Navy’s E-2C Hawkeyes forward-deployed to Japan departed Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi on June 1, marking the end of 44 years of service in Japan. The aircraft from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 115 “Liberty Bells” are one of the Navy’s longest-serving forward d
Another US Navy submarine makes port call in Japan
Another U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class submarine visited Japan after her sister boats previously paid three visits to Asian ports in the last couple of months. USS Olympia (SSN 717) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka May 31 for a visit as part of its deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The se
Japan, US forces meet for mine warfare talks
Personnel from the Japan Self Defense Force and the U.S. military comprising 34 different commands across ground, maritime, and air services met for bilateral amphibious and mine warfare discussions, May 22-24. The staff talks were hosted by Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s Mine Warfare Command,
USNS Fall River returns to Singapore marking Pacific Partnership conclusion
After three months of operations, personnel from this year’s Pacific Partnership mission returned to Singapore USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4) on May 31. Their return marked the conclusion of this year’s mission. Fall River departed Singapore on March 4 and served as the command platform for the Pacific P
USS Stethem concludes Western Pacific patrol
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) returned to its forward-deployed base at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, on May 28. Stethem departed Yokosuka in January to begin its 2017 patrol in the Western Pacific. “Over the past four months, our operations provide
Indian diesel-electric submarine INS Kalvari fires her first torpedo
In another step towards becoming a commissioned unit of the Indian Navy, the lead ship of a new class of submarines fired her first torpedo this month. The indigenously built INS Kalvari carried out the torpedo firing on May 26, an Indian Navy announcement said. Prior to the torpedo firings, INS Kal
Indian Navy retires INS Ganga
The Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate INS Ganga sailed under her own power one last time on May 27 as she entered the Mumbai harbor ahead of decommissioning. On May 28, Ganga was placed in the non-operational category and will likely be decommissioned before the end of the year, the Indian Navy s
CARAT 2017 kicks off in Thailand
Naval forces from the U.S. and Thailand kicked off the 23rd annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in Sattahip, Thailand, on May 29. CARAT is a major naval engagement in South and Southeast Asia and provides a regional venue to address shared maritime security priorities, enhance i
US Coast Guard cutter Morgenthau transferred to Vietnam
The U.S. Coast Guard transferred the former high endurance cutter Morgenthau to the Vietnam coast guard during a ceremony in Honolulu, on May 25. The former U.S. Coast Guard cutter will be renamed CSB 8020 and is expected to improve the Vietnam coast guard’s maritime domain awareness, increase its c
Forward-deployed USS Ashland starts Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol
The U.S. Navy’s Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) started a routine patrol departing her forward-deployed base of Sasebo, Japan, on May 26. Ashland and other amphibious ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group will embark their forward-deployed Marine
USS Ronald Reagan carrier air wing ready for operations
USS Ronald Reagan’s carrier air wing completed carrier qualifications aboard the aircraft carrier on May 22. More than 100 pilots in more than 60 aircraft from nine squadrons based out of Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Iwakuni, Japan, completed almost 700 events, including more than 200 touch and goe
India, Singapore wrap up South China Sea drill
The navies of Republic of Singapore and India concluded their bilateral maritime exercise SIMBEX on May 24. Hosted by Singapore, the exercise started on May 24 at Changi Naval Base RSS Singapura with the at sea phase taking place in the South China Sea. This year’s exercise was the 24th iteration of