U.S. Navy and Austal USA held a keel laying ceremony for the future USS Montgomery, the Navy’s eighth littoral combat ship (LCS), June 25, in Mobile, Ala. The keel-laying ceremony recognizes the first joining together of a ship’s components. While modern shipbuilding processes allow fabrication of i
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s (MEU) Aviation Combat Element (ACE), June 24. The Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st MEU will conduct joint forces operations in the 7th Fleet Area of
Amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) along with embarked Pacific Partnership 2013 personnel arrived in Noumea, New Caledonia, June 25. While in port, U.S. and partner nation service members along with non-governmental organization volunteers will get a chance to experience liberty
Guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) held a damage control (DC) competition between junior officers and the chiefs, while underway in the Mediterranean, June 23. The event, held on the flight deck, that consisted of a relay between five different events, including pipe-patching repair; de-
A new commanding officer took charge of the Blue Crew of the ballistic-missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) June 21 in a ceremony at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor’s Deterrent Park. Cmdr. James McIver relieved Cmdr. Alan Schrader. “I did everything I could in this tour to ensure that Nevada met her mis
As part of its embed with the US Navy’s 7th Fleet George Washington Carrier Strike Group, the Royal Australian guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney has exchanged officers with the American Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Preble as a means to increase understanding, and ultimately interoperability, b
Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a $28 million contract from the U.S. Navy for engineering and production planning services for surface warfare and mine countermeasures mission module components that will deploy from, and integrate with, the littoral combat ship (LCS). With this award, Nort
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) completed sea trials June 23 in preparation for its upcoming 2013 patrol. Sea trials are a series of graded evolutions that assesses the ship’s equipment status and personnel readiness for follow on at-sea training. “Ai
Eighteen midshipmen from all over the United States stepped on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) June 21. The midshipmen are expected to stay on board Nimitz for two weeks as part of a training program to experience life on board a U.S. Navy vessel. During their stay, the midshipmen wil
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, of which U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are members, approved on June 21 $11.5 million in the FY2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill that would fund an effort to consolidate the shipyard structural
Australian Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the disposal by sale of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) decommissioned ships HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla. Dr Kelly said the Navy vessels would be recycled by purchaser Southern Recycling LLC in the United States in a m
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) completed its Fiscal Year 2013 Selected Restricted Availability (SRA), June 23. SRA is scheduled for the accomplishment of ship-board repairs and alterations by industrial activities. These short, labor-intensive availa
The U.S. Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 received the Navy’s first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant aircraft from Lockheed Martin today at the squadron’s home at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-35C is a fifth generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility,
The 19th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and Malaysian Armed Forces drew to a close during a ceremony on Kuantan Naval Base June 23. During CARAT Malaysia 2013, U.S and Malaysian forces conducted a series of shore-based and
