Vessels
CVN 68 earns 13 Battle “E” departmental awards
Thirteen departments aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) earned departmental awards March 29 as part of the Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet Battle Effectiveness (Battle “E”) and Departmental Awards Competition despite spending nine months of 2016 in the shipyard. The competiti
USS Ross starts fifth FDNF patrol
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain to begin its fifth scheduled forward-deployed patrol in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe April 3. Ross’s patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations serves to bolster relati
Navy chiefs on USS Nimitz celebrate 124th CPO birthday
Navy chiefs aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) celebrated the birthday of chief petty officers with a series of events throughout the ship, April 1. Events took place on the flight deck, hangar bays and mess decks. They included a group photo, birthday cake cutting, a bike marathon and
IWTC San Diego continues EW training modernization
Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) San Diego wrapped up the pilot for the Electronic Warfare (EW) Applications (Advanced) Course March 31. The latest pilot course, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training’s (CIWT) EW training modernization effort, provides senior cryptologic t
HMAS Success celebrates Harmony Day
Navy people come from all walks of life, bringing different perspectives and traditions to the modern service – a fact not lost on many on 21 March – Harmony Day. The day aims to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity, emphasising inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging. Like many Navy shi
U.S., Republic of Korea navies team up for MCM portion of Foal Eagle
U.S. mine countermeasures, surface and expeditionary assets and counterparts from the Republic of Korea navy wrapped up the mine countermeasures portion of the bilateral exercise Foal Eagle March 29. Foal Eagle is a series of joint and combined field training exercises conducted by Combined Forces C
Somali pirates hijack another ship, demand ransom
Somali pirates hijacked a small boat with a crew of 11 Indian sailors off the coast of Somalia and are demanding ransom for their release, The Associated Press reported on Monday. According to AP, who cited Graeme Gibbon Brooks of Dryad Maritime, the vessel was heading from Dubai to Bosaso, Somalia
US Navy’s Spain-based destroyers complete final live fire tests of SeaRAM CIWS
Two of four forward deployed U.S. Navy destroyers used live missiles from their new SeaRAM close-in weapons systems to intercept drones that mimicked anti-ship cruise missiles. On March 30, USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and USS Ross (DDG 71) took turns intercepting missiles in the Gulf of Cadiz on Spain’
Babcock becomes Royal Navy system support partner under £360m deal
UK defense contractor Babcock has been selected to become marine systems support partner (MSSP) for the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth-class (QEC) aircraft carriers and Type 45 destroyers. The company said it was selected as preferred bidder for all four elements of a Ministry of Defence program t
First Tide-class tanker reaches UK waters
RFA Tidespring, the lead ship of the new Tide-class tankers built for Great Britain by the South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, arrived in the UK on April 2. Tidespring started her journey from South Korea in February after being officially accepted by the UK Ministry o
US Coast Guard cutter seizes 5 tons of cocaine on maiden patrol
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter James seized five tons of cocaine on its maiden voyage and patrol as a coast guard ship. The crew of the CGC James returned home to Charleston, South Carolina, on March 31 following a 60-day, multi-mission patrol. During its maiden voyage, James’ crew contributed to the i
HMAS Darwin sails one last time from Fleet Base West
Royal Australian Navy’s oldest warship HMAS Darwin departed Fleet Base West after what will probably be the frigate’s final visit before being decommissioned later this year. HMAS Darwin slipped from the wharf at Fleet Base West and set sail for Sydney recently, signalling the end of the warship’s l
BAE Systems gets UK F-35B maintenance contract
The U.S. Department of Defense last week awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth more than £80m (US$102.2m) to deliver the initial training, engineering, maintenance and logistics support for the UK’s F-35 Lightning II fleet over a three year period. Lockheed Martin has sub-contracted work worth £4
Ike hosts midshipmen for glimpse of life at sea
The crew of the U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) hosted midshipmen from the Naval Academy during their recent underway for a sustainment exercise. The midshipmen were brought aboard Ike for an extensive tour of the aircraft carrier conducting flight o