Vessels
Govan-based firm marks century of providing periscopes to Royal Navy
One hundred years ago, on the 31st August 1917, the Glaswegian engineering and optical firm Barr and Stroud delivered periscope to the Armstrong-Whitworth yard in Wallsend. Since that date, the Silent Service has looked nowhere else for the apparatus which give its boats their eyes beneath the waves
USS Columbus returns home
The crew of Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbus (SSN 762) was welcomed home by friends and family awaiting their return at the historic submarine piers on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Sept. 1. Columbus successfully completed a six-month Western Pacific deployment while conducting
UK sending Type 23 frigate to Japan next year
As the UK and Japan defense ministries are stepping up their cooperation in response to the unprecedented threat posed by North Korea, the Royal Navy is sending a Type 23 frigate to Japan. In December 2018, HMS Argyll is set to be sent to the region. UK troops exercising jointly with their Japanese
Lockheed Martin starting low rate production of CH-53K King Stallion helicopters
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 1 contract to build two production CH-53K King Stallion helicopters. Under the $303,974,406 million contract, Sikorsky will deliver two production aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps in 2020 along wit
Australian Maritime College setting up new base in Sydney
The Australian Maritime College is expanding its scope with the establishment of a new study center at Sydney’s Darling Harbour. The College will deliver two postgraduate maritime degrees from its waterfront base at the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) from February 2018, with plans for a
USS John C. Stennis underway for flight deck certification
After completing its planned incremental availability (PIA), US Navy aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) got underway from Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton to complete its flight deck certification and other training on September 1. Flight deck certification is a key milestone for the aircraft
Theodore Roosevelt completes final pre-deployment certification
Ships from the carrier strike group centered around the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt completed the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), the final work-up phase and certification event prior to deployment scheduled later this year. COMPTUEX evaluated the strike group’s deployment r
US Navy improving methods of recruiting UAV operators
The US Navy must spend over $1 million to train a single aircraft pilot and finding new, more effective ways of selecting candidates is an imperative for the service. Naval pilots of manned aircraft must pass the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB)—a rigorous intellectual exercise that evaluates
UKMOD makes chief submarine, aircraft carrier appointments
The UK defense ministry on Thursday announced the appointment of Vice Admiral Sir Simon Lister as managing director of the organisation delivering the UK’s new aircraft carriers. Admiral Lister will take a sabbatical from his Royal Navy career to lead the Aircraft Carrier Alliance’s (ACA) continued
GE turbines to power new US Navy, Coast Guard ships
GE’s Marine Solutions will be providing its LM2500 family of aeroderivative marine gas turbines to power two newbuild surface combatants for United States Navy and Coast Guard programs. Two LM2500+ gas turbines will power Bougainville (LHA 8), the US Navy’s newest multi-purpose amphibious assault sh
Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Forth starts first sea trials
The lead ship of the Royal Navy’s offshore patrol vessels, the HMS Forth, started sea trials on Wednesday sailing down River Clyde for the first time. HMS Forth leads a class of five follow-on River-class vessels which will act as the RN’s eyes and ears around the UK, help to safeguard fishing stock
Australian government funds Cairns Marine Precinct upgrades
The Australian government is providing AUD$24 million in funds for upgrades in the Cairns Marine Precinct. Australian minister for defense industry Christopher Pyne said agreements have been signed with Norship Marine, BSE Cairns Slipways and Tropical Reef Shipyard to undertake a variety of works to
HHI contracts Servowatch for new Philippine Navy frigate deliveries
UK-based supplier of integrated ship control systems Servowatch recently announced it has been contracted by Hyundai Heavy Industries to deliver its IPMS for the Philippine Navy’s Future Frigate program. The integrated platform management system (IPMS) will be integrated into the frigates at Hyundai
USS Wasp gets underway for new forward-deployed homeport in Japan
US amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) got underway from Norfolk on August 30 heading for Sasebo, Japan, where she will become the forward-deployed flagship of the amphibious force of the U.S. 7th Fleet. The shift will introduce an F-35B Joint Strike Fighter-capable amphibious assault ship to t