Vessels
New Zealand’s littoral warfare unit hosts US Third Fleet Commander during RIMPAC
The New Zealand Defence Force’s Littoral Warfare Unit (LWU) hosted the Commander of the US 3rd Fleet, Vice Admiral (VADM) Nora Tyson, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii on July 13. The LWU is the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) specialist unit comprising divers, hydrographers and mine counter m
RIMPAC 2016: Tabletop exercise gathers US, Chinese submarine rescuers
Some 50 submarine officers and civilian contractors from seven countries worked together in a Rim of the Pacific 2016 submarine rescue tabletop exercise held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, July 12. The tabletop exercise preceded a practical submarine rescue exercise conducted by the U.S. and Chi
US Navy minehunter arrives in Japan ahead of mine countermeasure drill
The U.S. Navy’s Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) arrived in Hakodate, Japan, July 14 for a port visit before the crew makes its way to the annual Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCMEX) 2JA. The Patriot crew will share the Hakodate port visit with their Japan Maritime Self-D
US Navy destroyer returns from European ballistic missile defense patrol
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, July 12 after finishing its fourth forward-deployed patrol in support of ballistic missile defense of Europe. Donald Cook began its fourth patrol March 14, and participated in sev
Taiwan backs China by sending frigate to South China Sea following international ruling
Taiwan has sent a stealth frigate to patrol the Spratly Islands region in the South China Sea following the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in the maritime jurisdiction case brought against China by the Philippines. A Kangding-class frigate was sent to the region on July 13 with Taiwanese Pres
US Navy’s most expensive ship ever delayed again
Delivery of the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has once again been delayed as the ship will not be delivered to the navy before November 2016. Back in April 2016, it was said the ship would be ready for delivery by September 2016. The U.S. Navy did not specify why exactly [&h
VIDEO: US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli receives deckhouse
Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries has shared a video of a deckhouse being installed on the amphibious assault ship Tripoli (LHA 7). This deckhouse installation on Tripoli was no small feat, according to Premo Sabbatini, LHA 7 program director. “The deckhouse is compri
ECA Group sells first Towsca & Seascan under mine countermeasure contract
French defense and security contractor ECA Group was recently awarded a new export contract for the delivery of three mine counter measure unmanned systems to an undisclosed customer. This contract, around €10 million, includes the supply of three Inspector Mk2 unmanned surface vehicles (USV). These
Royal Navy air squadron picks commercial drones for operations
Royal Navy’s 700X Naval Air Squadron have taken delivery of their first Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) mini unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The navy explained this move with the fact that these systems presented a cheap but able “eye in the sky” capability, meaning they may have utility in the Royal
Navantia signs platform design services contract with Australia
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia signed a new contract with the Australian Capabilty and Sustainement Group (CASG) to provide platform design services for Australian Navy vessels. This contract will allow Navantia’s Australian division to provide engineering and technical assistance for the Australian a
Ike carrier enters U.S. 5th Fleet
U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), together with its carrier strike group (Ike CSG), entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, July 8. The carrier, accompanied by embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) and guided-missile cruiser
HMS Tyne supports festival on namesake river
Royal Navy’s River-class offshore patrol vessel (RCOPV) HMS Tyne has spent 4 days in North Shields (7-11 Jul) supporting the Mouth of the Tyne Festival on her Namesake river. The Portsmouth-based ship completed a maintenance period in her home port and finished engineering trials prior to transiting
USS Key West arrives at Fleet Activities Yokosuka
Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a routine visit as part of its deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific, July 12. This visit strengthens the already positive alliance between the U.S. and Japan through the crew’s interaction with the Japa
Lincoln sailors conclude CVN 74 deployment
Twenty-four Sailors assigned to aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) returned home July 7, following their six-month deployment aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Lincoln is currently months away from completing a refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding. The Sai