U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrived in Victoria Harbor March 20 for a port visit in Hong Kong. Blue Ridge has been regularly visiting Hong Kong since forward deploying to Yokosuka, Japan in 1979, and will take part in cultural exchanges and community service activiites with the l
Commander, Submarine Group Seven (COMSUBGRU 7) held a change of command ceremony at the Benny Decker Theater at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, March 23. Rear Adm. William R. Merz relieved Rear Adm. Stuart B. Munsch as the forty-fourth commander, Submarine Group 7, Task Force 54, and Task Force 74. Munsc
The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) is to depart on an independent deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean today. While deployed, Preble and its crew of more than 300 Sailors will conduct theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations. The m
The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) began Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) March 23, 2015. FOST is based out of naval bases in the United Kingdom (UK); it delivers operational training across all disciplines for the Royal Navy and other Navies that wish to make
The fourth ship in the series of eight Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk IV project, Yard 2095, for the Indian Navy was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, on 23 March. Two LCUs were earlier launched on March 12 and September 23, last year. The third LCU was launche
The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), March 22. Paul Hamilton is an independent ballistic missile defense (BMD) ship that will be involved in a variety of operations in U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AO
The crew of HMS Diamond have been reunited with their ship after spending months ashore while it received a multi-million pound upgrade. The Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer has undergone extensive maintenance and improvements since it returned from operations last July. Work included installation
Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and its embarked detachment of U.S. Navy Sailors, civil service mariners, and U.S., Spanish and British Marines began taking part in Exercise Obangame Express 2015, March 20. Spearhead is functioning as a platform for Nigerian and Cameroonian forces to
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) visited Goa, India, March 17-21. While in port, Paul Hamilton hosted members of the Indian press as well as Indian navy officers and Sailors on board for tours of the ship and a reception. Thomas Vajda, U.S. Consul General i
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) recovered more than 1,000 pounds of illegal narcotics while transiting the Mediterranean Sea, March 21, 2015. While conducting routine flight operations, the pilots of an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike
The Royal Australian Navy Oiler HMAS SUCCESS (OR 304) joined NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD on Monday, 23 March 2015, joining New Zealand (2014) and Ukraine (2013) as partner contributors to the operation in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. HMAS SUCCESS, commanded by Captain Justin J
MTU America Inc. is being awarded a $6,8 contract for three shipsets of propulsion system hardware and two spare marine gears for the Israeli Navy Super Dvora fast patrol boats. This contract, which will support the Israeli Navy, is a follow-on effort, which was previously performed. The contract wi
Marines assigned to Marine Recon Force Detachment enter the well deck of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) after conducting combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) raiding practice. Essex is underway participating in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Essex Amphibio
US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) hosted high-level government and military officials for a day at sea as part of the Navy’s distinguished visitor program while in Portsmouth, England, March 22, 2015. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Commander, Joint F
