Vessels
Spanish LPD Castilla bags lead role in hostage rescue drill
Spanish Navy’s landing platform dock ‘Castillla’ played a lead role during the country’s recent hostage rescue exercise. LPD ‘Castilla’ and elements from the Marine Corps Special Naval Warfare Force took part in exercise SOFEX 16, a simulated hostage rescue operation, in Cartagena waters, South East
US Navy’s Guam submarine squadron 15 changes command
Submarine Squadron 15 held a change of command ceremony at the U.S. Naval Base Guam on Polaris Point, June 20. Capt. David Schappert relieved Capt. Jeffrey Grimes as commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 15. Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) Rear Adm. Frederick Roegge wa
US Navy christens second ‘super-stealth’ destroyer USS Michael Monsoor
The U.S. Navy christened the newest destroyer, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) on Saturday at the General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine. The second ship in the Zumwalt-class of destroyers, DDG 1001 is named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Mi
Royal Navy patrol boat squadron puts on a show in Scotland
Eight patrol boats from the Royal Navy’s 1st Patrol Boat Squadron demonstrated their ability to sail in close formation at high speeds as they returned from the Battle of Jutland commemorations. Eight boats mustered in Leith docks for a day of combined training. The 54-tonne craft normally give stud
Gallery: First international green fuel RAS complete
Photos: Italian Navy Italian and U.S. Navy have completed the first international replenishment at sea (RAS) to involve the transfer of alternative fuel, in this case a synthetic biodiesel (Green Diesel) produced in Italy. On June 16, Italian Navy auxiliary ship Etna replenished the Arleigh Burke-cl
Photo of the day: An Admiral hovers over the water
Admirals hanging on a rope meters above water surface is not something sailors would consider a routine procedure. Italian Navy Admiral Andrea Gueglio, however, really wanted to try transferring from one ship to another via a material transport line. Having witnessed a resupply at sea conducted betw
Fincantieri beats DCNS in Qatari €4 billion shipbuilding mega contract
The Qatari Ministry of Defence has chosen the Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri over the rival French DCNS for its €4 billion euro national naval acquisition program. Fincantieri and the Qatari Ministry of Defence signed the contract for the construction of seven new units overall in Rome, Ital
Germany deploys tender, minehunter to Mediterranean Sea
German Navy tender ‘Werra’ and the minehunter ‘Datteln’ will depart their homebase in Kiel on June 20 to join the EU NAVFOR mission of saving lives and apprehending smugglers in the Mediterranean Sea. Werra, commanded by Corvette Captain Mirko Preuß and Datteln, commanded by Corvette Captain Björn F
Irish Navy rescues 111 in the Med. Recovers two deceased
Two migrants died while 111 were rescued when Irish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel LÉ Róisín located a long rubber vessel located 37 nautical miles northwest of Tripoli on June 16. The vessel’s crew started the operation early in the morning but two female migrants could not be saved, the navy said.
U.S. now hitting Daesh from two decks as USS Boxer joins strikes
Daesh positions are now being hit from two different regions as AV-8B Harriers taking off from USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Arabian Gulf joined strike aircraft operating from USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean Sea June 16. This marks the first naval aviation combat strike missions of Operation Inh
China denies spying US Navy carrier in Japanese waters
Responding to reports of a Chinese spy ship entering Japanese waters while spying on U.S. Navy aircraft carrier John C. Stennis (CVN-74), China’s Ministry of National Defense released a statement saying the Chinese warship conducted “normal navigation and training in relevant waters of the Western P
Babcock’s Appledore to build fourth Irish offshore patrol vessel
The Irish Department of Defense has awarded Babcock and its Appledore shipyard a contract to build the nation’s fourth Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel. All four vessels are built at the Appledore shipyard in North Devon at a unit price of around €54 million. The first two vessels in the
USNS Sacagawea to visit Papua New Guinea for Koa Moana 16.2
U.S. Navy’s dry cargo ship USNS Sacagawea is scheduled to visit Port Moresby from June 17 to 24 as part of Exercise Koa Moana 16.2, a bilateral exchange between the U.S Marine Corps and the Papua New Guinea Defense Force. In addition to working with Papua New Guinea, U.S. service members on the USNS
Royal Australian Navy sailor dies during shore leave in Middle East
The Australian Defence Force has confirmed a 22-year-old Royal Australian Navy sailor died in Muscat, Oman. The sailor was deployed on Operation Manitou aboard the Adelaide-class frigate HMAS Darwin. According to the Royal Australian Navy, the ship was in Muscat, Oman on a scheduled port visit and t