Australian, Japanese and US units joined forces on July 12 to sink the decommissioned ex-USS Racine (LST-1191) during a sinking exercise (SINKEX) as part of RIMPAC 2018. Live fire from aircraft, a submarine, and land assets sank the former landing ship in waters 15,000 feet deep 55 nautical miles no
The keel has been laid for the Russian Navy’s final Project 21631 small missile ship, the country’s defense ministry said. The ceremony for the corvette Stavropol was held at Zelenodolsk Shipyard on July 12, 2018. Scheduled for delivery in 2023, Stavropol is the navy’s twelfth Project 21631 (Buyan-M
The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) has returned from her first strategic deterrent mission since 2013. The submarine deployed with the Blue crew and returned to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor on July 12. Nebraska recently completed a 41-month engineered refueling overhaul (
The Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 aboard the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) carried out an air defense exercise (ADEX) in the Philippine Sea July 6-7. Milius is the most recent forward-deployed Navy vessel, havi
The crew of US Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarine USS John Warner (SSN 785) completed their maiden deployment as they returned to Norfolk on July 11. John Warner sailed over 30,000 nautical miles during the deployment and carried out missions in support of theater commanders. It also pinned “dol
The US Navy included senator John McCain (R-AZ) as the namesake of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain in a ceremony in Yokosuka, Japan, on July 11. The destroyer was originally named after senator McCain’s father and grandfather and now honors three generations of McCain
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland formally rejoined the fleet in a rededication ceremony held at Whitehill Point Jetty in the Port of Tyne on July 6. In an unusual setting because ships are usually rededicated in their home ports, the location allowed more of the ship’s affiliates to att
The US and Philippines navies started seven days of interactions as part of maritime training activity (MTA) Sama Sama at Naval Station Ernesto Ogbinar in San Fernando City, Philippines. The week-long engagement kicked off July 9 and will focus on the full spectrum of naval capabilities. Expeditiona
The US Navy has identified the sailor who died from injuries sustained in a small boat incident in the Red Sea on July 8. The sailor, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), was identified as Ensign Sarah Mitchell, 23, of Feasterville, Pennsylvania. M
The Ukraine-hosted and US Navy-led international exercise Sea Breeze kicked off in Odessa, Ukraine, on July 9. According to the Ukrainian defense ministry, a total of 19 nations are taking part in the drill which is aimed at enhancing interoperability among participating nations and strengthen regio
A US Navy sailor assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) died from injuries sustained during small boat operations on July 8. According to the US Naval Forces Central Command, the sailor was medically evacuated to a hospital in Aqaba, Jordan, and was pronounced dead at 12
US Navy destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) and command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Ukraine ahead of the start of exercise Sea Breeze 2018. Only USS Porter pulled into the Ukrainian port city of Odessa prior to the exercise. The two ships entered the Black Sea on July 6 and July
Japan is likely to send its Izumo-class helicopter carrier to the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean this year as well. The two-month deployment of the 27,000-ton JS Kaga comes as Japan aims to boost its presence in this strategically important region, Reuters reported citing two unnamed Japanese
The upgraded Block 2 Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) recently intercepted a BQM-74E aerial target in a successful flight test, the US Navy announced on July 5. This was the first ESSM flight test to utilize the new Block 2 active guidance seeker-head. ESSM Block 2 will employ both semi-active and
