Navy Command News

Denmark on Monday sent a frigate to the Red Sea, where it will participate in a U.S.-led coalition to safeguard commercial traffic against attacks by Yemen's Houthi militants.The Iran-aligned Houthi have launched waves of exploding drones and missiles at commercial and navy vessels since Nov. 19, in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza.In response, shipping firms have since December diverted hundreds of vessels around southern Africa's Cape of Good Hope, a journey that takes 10-14 days longer and is more costly than the passage via the Red Sea and Suez Canal.Denmark…

$2 million for Suffolk County Community College to stimulate workforce training and redevelopment. At a recent meeting of the Corporate Committee of the Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States, US Navy Command Master Chief Joshua Sturgill who is Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Team Submarines, announced a $2 million grant for Advanced Manufacturing Scholarships supported by the Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base. The $2 million grant was awarded to Suffolk…

Russia's Black Sea naval forces practiced destroying enemy targets on Tuesday as Moscow bristled at the presence of two U.S. warships in the area.President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russian forces could observe the USS Mount Whitney navy command ship "through binoculars or in the crosshairs of its ... defense systems" and complained about NATO activity near Russia's borders.On Tuesday, the Black Sea fleet said its ships had rehearsed destroying enemy targets and that their air defense systems had been put on alert at its bases in Novorossiysk and on annexed Crimea…

Sunk by Japanese torpedoes near the end of World War II, heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis disappeared to the darkest depths of the Philippine Sea, where it remained undiscovered for more than 70 years. Recently a team of civilian researchers led by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen set out equipped with an arsenal of high-tech search equipment on a mission to locate the historic vessel last seen on July 30, 1945. The story of the USS Indianapolis is one of military might, heroism, tragedy, controversy and mystery.

Ten people have drowned while five are still missing after a wooden boat carrying 17 people capsized in the province of Riau Islands on Sunday morning, reports the Jakarta Post. The boat capsized in rough seas and sank off Indonesia's Bintan island, south of Singapore. The boat carried 17 persons and overturned after it departed from a port in Tanjung Pinang of Riau province, Xinhua quoted navy spokesman Admiral Edi Sucipto as saying. Bad weather was blamed for the disaster, he said. Navy command in western Indonesia undertook the evacuation just after the incident, Sucipto said. About 20 ships and 50 fishing boats have been deployed in the search. The effort was being hampered by high waves and strong currents, said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Two people were rescued.

The Royal Navy sent six Sailors, from Navy Command Headquarters in Portsmouth, England, to integrate into Wasp’s flight deck operations to prepare them for their upcoming Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Illustrious was the last carrier in British service before being decommissioned in 2014 and will soon be replaced by its advanced counterparts HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The Royal Navy stopped working with fixed wing aircraft in 2010, so the reintroduction of carriers in the British Fleet requires personnel who can safely run a flight deck. The two new carriers are expected to operate the short take-off and vertical landing variant of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, with flight trials expecting to start in 2018.

1942 - USS Tautog (SS 199) sinks Japanese submarine I-28; USS Triton (SS 201) sinks the Japanese submarine (I 64), and USS Skipjack (SS 184) sinks a Japanese army transport ship. 1943 - Destroyers USS Moffett (DD 362) and USS Jouett (DD 396) sink German submarine U 128, which was credited with sinking 12 Allied merchant vessels, including 4 American ships. 1944 - USS Gleaves (DD 423), USS Hilary P. Jones (DD 427), USS Hambleton (DD 455), USS Rodman (DD 456), USS Emmons (DD 457)…

BAE Systems announced it has signed a contract with Bangkok Dock to assist in the licensed construction of a second 90-meter Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Royal Thai Navy. Under the agreement, BAE Systems will provide engineering support and advice during construction of the vessel in Thailand. Nigel Stewart, Commercial Director, BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, said, “We’re looking forward to building and strengthening our relationship with Thailand’s shipbuilding industry.

Maritime security operations by Australian and New Zealand frigates operating in the Middle East region during the past six weeks have seized almost a tonne of narcotics worth an estimated street value of $711 million. Royal Australian Navy Guided Missile Frigate, HMAS Newcastle netted 724kg of narcotics worth an estimated $597 million. During the same operation, New Zealand ship HMNZS Te Kaha seized 257kg of narcotics worth an estimated $214 million. Patrolling as part of the Combined Maritime Forces, Combined Task Force -150, HMAS Newcastle’s Commanding Officer, Commander Dominic MacNamara said narcotics seizures denied a key source of funding to terrorist organisations.

Defense force personnel from Australia are in China for Exercise Cooperation Spirit 2014 which begins today. The exercise aims to enhance coordination and cooperation between Australia, China and New Zealand in responding to unforeseen disasters that occur in the Asia-Pacific. This year the exercise is focusing on a maritime search and rescue response involving the Australian Defense Force, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the New Zealand Defense Force. Captain Michael Harris (Royal Australian Navy), Commander of the Australian Contingent, said exercise Cooperation Spirit will enable Australia, China and New Zealand to enhance their ability to work closely together.

In the U.S. and across the globe, shipyards create solid, long-term economic stability in their regions. Ship construction and repair requires an extraordinary amount of expertise, time and resources. This work is made even more challenging because current economic pressures drive companies to reduce costs wherever possible without hindering production or quality. Having multiple shipyards in a region creates a naturally interdependent, yet highly competitive culture. This is…

SAFE Boats International (SBI) recently delivered a 65-foot Coastal Command Boat (CCB) to the U.S. Navy’s Coastal Riverine Group 1 in Coronado, California. The CCB is the first vessel of if its kind and represents the next generation of the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC)’s fleet of patrol boats and combatant craft. Its unique combination of size and agility enable it to patrol shallow littoral areas as well as deeper, open-water regions. The 65-foot CCB is an early variant of the soon to be delivered, 85-foot MKVI Patrol Boat.

The keel was put down in a ceremony at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness attended by Defence Minister Philip Dunne, and came with the news that the first 2 of the 7 Astute Class submarines, HMS Astute & HMS Ambush, are nearing completion of their extensive sea trials and have been handed over to the Royal Navy to begin to prepare for operations. The seven Astute-Class submarines are being built for the Royal Navy to replace the Trafalgar-Class submarines and have greater firepower…

Seawork 2013 (UK Port of Southampton June 25-27) attracted record numbers of commercial marine professionals, who were drawn to the exhibition to see new products, new vessels on the pontoons, demonstrations on-the-water, on stands and in the Dive Tank and hear papers from organizations including the Ministry of Defense, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the Navitus Bay Wind Park, to be constructed off England’s south coast. Over the three days, 7,327 professionals visited the exhibition, a six per cent increase on 2012. Highlights of Seawork 2013 included: the sale of three vessels by Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, including a 27m Shoalbuster off the pontoons…

Today in U.S. 1973 - First woman to hold a major Navy command, Captain Robin Lindsay Quigley assumes command of Navy Service School, San Diego, CA. 1987 - USS Stark (FFG-31) struck by Iraqi Exocet missile in Persian Gulf, killing 37 Sailors. 21 were wounded. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center website at www.history.navy.mil.

A training facility has been opened to prepare Royal Navy sailors to man the first of the Queen Elizabeth-Class carriers, due in 2016. The first of the  65,000-tonne carriers is currently being assembled at Babcock's dockyard in Rosyth, and will be able to take up to 40 aircraft; almost twice the capacity of the Invincible Class carriers. To keep up with the state-of-the-art technology on board sailors and engineers will be trained in a £1m building at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire, which has been set out in the same way as an operations room on board the new carrier.

Capt. Todd W. Cramer relieved Capt. Michael W. Byman as Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport, July 16, in a ceremony at the warfare center. Rear Adm. Thomas Wears. Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center was the guest speaker. "Captain Byman fostered an environment that valued uniqueness and diverse perspectives" said Wears. Byman, who has served as Commander of NUWC Newport since Aug. 2005, will report to the Navy's Submarine Acoustic Systems Program Office (PMS 401) in Washington D.C. He holds the distinction for serving as Commander of NUWC Newport for the longest period in the command's 141 year history. "NUWC's technical capabilities derive from the combination of the talent…

Military Sealift Command Atlantic, the Norfolk, Va.,-based U.S. Navy command responsible for Military Sealift Command ships transporting equipment, fuel, supplies and ammunition in the Western Atlantic Ocean, changed command during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk today. Capt. Samuel R. Norton assumed command of MSCLANT from outgoing commander Capt. Michael G. Graham during a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Vista Point Conference Center. Norton last served as commander of amphibious assault ship USS Nassau, which he led on its final deployment prior to decommissioning earlier this year.

“A.R.C. 20 de Julio”, joins the National Navy fleet. • 300 direct work posts and 1500 indirect work posts generated by Cotecmar through the construction of this vessel. A new milestone has been accomplished this week in Colombia’s corporate history. The delivery of the “A.R.C. 20 de Julio” vessel by Cotecmar to the Colombian Navy consolidates the reemergence of an industry that, until recently, was not too widely known in our country. It is the shipyard industry, which, by means of its endeavors in terms of scientific and technological development…

1940 - FDR announces plans to recommission 35 more destroyers. 1942 - USS Tautog (SS 199) sinks Japanese sub, I-28; while USS Triton (SS 201) sinks I-164. 1951 - Aircraft from carriers attack bridges between Wonsan and Hamhung, Korea. 1962 - Naval amphibious ready group lands Marines to guard Thailand's borders from Communist probes. 1966 - Naval Support Activity Saigon established. 1973 - First woman to hold a major Navy command, Capt. Robin Lindsay Quigley assumes command of Navy Service School, San Diego. 1987 - USS Stark (FFG 31) struck by Iraqi Exocet missile in Persian Gulf, killing 37 Sailors; 21 were wounded. 1990 - USS Roark (FF 1053) rescues 42 refugees from unseaworthy craft in South China Sea.

Sealift Logistics Command Atlantic, the Norfolk, Va.,-based U.S. Navy command responsible for operational control over Military Sealift Command vessels providing ocean transportation of equipment, fuel, supplies and ammunition in the Atlantic, changed command during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk today. Capt. Michael G. Graham assumed command of SEALOGLANT from outgoing commander, Capt. George G. Galyo, on the flight deck of fast combat support ship USNS Arctic in a 10 a.m. ceremony. Arctic, one of MSC's four fast combat support ships, transports fuel and other vital supplies to Navy warships, which allow the combatants to remain deployed for long periods of time. Galyo's next assignment is with Naval Surface Force Atlantic as its training and readiness officer.

Sealift Logistics Command Pacific, the San Diego-based U.S. Navy command responsible for operational control of Military Sealift Command ships in the Eastern Pacific, changed command during a ceremony on board fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe at Naval Station San Diego. SEALOGPAC outgoing commander, Capt. David L. Kiehl, was relieved by Capt. Jerome Hamel during the ceremony. Since assuming command of SEALOGPAC in 2007, Kiehl has overseen a wide range of operations and exercises within the command's area of responsibility, including the deployment of hospital ship USNS Mercy in support of the 2008 Pacific Partnership humanitarian mission, a 2008 Joint Logistics Over the Shore exercise and the 2008 Rim of the Pacific exercise.

1940 - FDR announces plans to recommission 35 more destroyers 1942 - USS Tautog (SS-199) sinks Japanese sub, I-28; while USS Triton (SS-201) sinks I-164 1951 - Aircraft from carriers attack bridges between Wonsan and Hamhung, Korea 1962 - Naval amphibious ready group lands Marines to guard Thailand's borders from Communist probes 1966 - Naval Support Activity Saigon established 1973 - First woman to hold a major Navy command, Captain Robin Lindsay Quigley assumes command of Navy Service School, San Diego, CA. 1987 - USS Stark (FFG-31) struck by Iraqi Exocet missile in Persian Gulf, killing 37 Sailors. 21 were wounded. 1990 - USS Roark rescues 42 refugees from unseaworthy craft in South China Sea (Source: Navy News Service)