The Republic of Korea Navy decommissioned ROKN ship Pyeongtaek (ATS-27), the last U.S. ship transferred to the ROK Navy, on December 28. Former USS Beaufort (ATS-2), an Edenton-class salvage and rescue ship, joined the U.S. Fleet in 1972 and served 24-years in the Indo-Asia-Pacific before being deco
Initiating the first step in a process to construct six new Batch III frigates South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed an initial 16.6 billion KRW ($13.7M) with Hyundai Heavy Industries on December 27. The contract will see the shipbuilder start planing and design work
The Italian Navy’s Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carabiniere left the Italian port of La Spezia for an ‘Italian industry showcase’ deployment to Australia and Southeast Asia. ITS Carabiniere is a FREMM frigate built for the Italian Navy by Fincantieri within the framework of an Italo-French cooperatio
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain arrived in Puerto Princesa, the Philippines for a brief port call on December 24. During the visit, the McCain crew will participate in a series of community service projects and sporting events. The visit comes months after
China’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, started blue water drills on Saturday, heading towards the West Pacific with a carrier task group. Chinese state media reported that this was the carrier’s first “distant seas” deployment. According to China’s Xinhua news agency, the Liaoning and other s
After 12 years of idleness in port, U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) deployed this year for a busy 2016. After six months underway, the ship is now set to return to Norfolk on December 24. Once there, Wasp will undergo a planned maintenance availability that is expected to be fin
A junior U.S. Navy officer embarked on a Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy ship as part of the newly created Combined Edge junior officer exchange program, December 21-23. Combined Edge was formed to improve combined warfighting integration between the U.S. and ROK navies by allowing U.S. Navy officers t
The South Korean defense procurement agency announced December 21 that it has ordered two new frigates to be built for its navy. The frigates were ordered three months ahead of the schedule with the aim of safeguarding and boosting local shipbuilding industry, the agency said. South Korea’s Defense
U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757) docked at the Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan on December 22. The port visit is part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol. “Alexandria departed the shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire a little over one year ago,” said Cmdr. Todd San
Indian shipbuilder Goa Shipyard Limited launched the second offshore patrol vessel for Sri Lanka at its shipyard on December 15. The 105-meter advance offshore patrol vessel (AOPV) was unslipped during a ceremony attended by High Commissioner of Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka and a number Sri Lank
Pentagon’s press secretary confirmed that the People’s Liberation Army-Navy returned the U.S. Navy’s glider unmanned underwater vehicle near the location where it had been unlawfully seized on December 15. Chinese Navy vessel 510 returned returned the glider to USS Mustin (DDG 89) in international w
China will return an underwater drone it ‘stole’ from the USNS Bowditch, a civilian U.S. Navy oceanographic survey ship which was operating in the South China Sea, the Pentagon said on Thursday. “Through direct engagement with Chinese authorities, we have secured an understanding that the Chinese wi
U.S. Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm Bill Moran, visited Singapore Dec 12-13 to reaffirm the U.S. Navy’s strong partnership and ties with the Republic of Singapore Armed Forces. During the two-day visit, Moran met with the Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy, Rear Admiral Lai Chung Han, visi
Russian and Indian Navy ships will be taking part in a wide range of drills in the Bay of Bengal from December 14 to 21, the Indian press office announced. In existence since 2003, this will be the 9th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise dubbed Indra Navy. The primary aim of the exercise will
