The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a helicopter support contract worth £580 million to AgustaWestland, sustaining more than 1,000 jobs across the UK. The deal, worth over half a billion pounds, will provide maintenance support to the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 and Mk3 helicopters over the next five
For various reasons, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) has not deployed since 2004. But after a highly successful combat systems ship qualification trial (CSSQT), Wasp has sent a clear, concise, and concussive message to the fleet: She is back in the fight. After completion of a successfu
US Navy’s USS Germantown (LSD 42) organized and conducted a successful beach cleanup in order to give back to the local community. On March 21, over 80 sailors volunteered their Saturday morning to help clean up Shirahama Beach. The event aimed to improve community relations and demonstrate that USS
Embarked Navy personnel conduct a small-arms weapons familiarization course utilizing the M-240B machine gun on March 23, 2015. The operation was conducted aboard the Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) in the Gulf of Guinea. Spearhead is on a scheduled deploym
The Spanish Navy’s patrol vessel ‘Vigía’ P-73 recently took part in a search and rescue operation in the Alboran Sea. In collaboration with the Spanish Maritime Safety Agency, the Navy rescued 26 immigrants who started their journey from the coast east of Melilla, Morocco. While Vigía was conducting
Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and its embarked detachment of U.S. Navy Sailors, civil service mariners, Cameroonian military personnel and U.S., Spanish and British Marines wrapped up their participation in Exercise Obangame Express 2015, March 25. Spearhead is on a scheduled deplo
The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer was awarded the 2014 Battle Effectiveness (Battle “E”) Award for Commander, Amphibious Squadron 1. The announcement was made via naval message from Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific. In addition to the 2014 award, Boxer also was the recipient in 2011, 2012
Personnel and ships from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and U.S. Navy Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) from Japan led by Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 kicked off Multi-Sail 2015, March 22, in Guam. Multi-Sail is an annual DESRON 15 led exercise that is designed to assess combat syste
Sailors and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) recently completed amphibious integration training (AIT) and certification exercises (CERTEX). AIT is the first and essential step toward preparing for CERTEX. I
The crew of the Russian Navy’s future Sovershenny corvette completed training at the Naval Joint Centre in Saint-Petersburg. Among the lectures and exercises undertaken, the Sailors studied the ship structure and practiced working as a team using simulators. The crew is currently preparing for sea o
Sailors and aircraft from U.S. Navy 7th Fleet departed Langkawi, March 21, at the conclusion of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2015 with a deeper understanding of regional nations. LIMA, a biennial event held in Malaysia since 1991, has now become a premier desti
The biggest Japanese warship since the WWII was delivered to Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force. The vessel, named Izumo, represents the latest move in Japan’s expansion of naval capabilities. Reuters quoted Gen Nakatani, Japan’s Minister of Defense, as saying that “the vessel can serve in a wide r
Boarding teams from five Gulf of Guinea countries are using the German navy frigate FGS Brandenburg (F215) to enhance their abilities to complete visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations during Exercise Obangame Express 2015, from March 19 to 27, 2015. After boarding the ship, the boarding
An SH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Ghostriders of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 lands aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71). The operation was undertaken in the Mediterranean Sea on March 21. Ross is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of res
