WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Representatives Steven Palazzo and Trent Kelly, all Republicans from Mississippi, joined lawmakers from the Maine congressional delegation in a letter urging Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to include…
USCGC Reliance Returns to Homeport Following 52-day Patrol
PENSACOLA, Fla. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Reliance (WMEC-615) returned to homeport in Pensacola, Florida, Feb. 18, following a 52-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea in support of the Coast Guard 7th District. The Reliance crew supported…
NATO ASW Exercise Under Way off Sicily
MEDITERRANEAN SEA — While the NATO maritime forces have had to navigate around the rocks and shoals of the global pandemic, it has not stopped them from exercising and raising their game in looking for adversary submarines in the Mediterranean….
Navy’s CMV-22B Achieves Initial Operational Capability Designation
The Navy announced initial operational capability for the CMV-22B Osprey, confirming the platform’s operational readiness following the successful completion of its first deployment on Feb. 17, Naval Air Systems Command said Feb. 18. The aircraft was formally declared IOC on…
Coast Guard Cutter James offloads More than $1.06 Billion in Illegal Narcotics
MIAMI — Coast Guard Cutter James’ crew offloaded approximately 54,500 pounds of cocaine and 15,800 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $1.06 billion on Feb. 17 at Port Everglades, Florida, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. The ship’s…
Marine General: Exercises Don’t Pressure-Test Logistics for Real-World Operations
ARLINGTON, Va. — A Marine Corps general who commands one of the Corps’ three Marine expeditionary forces said logistics does not get a realistic challenge when military exercises are executed, primarily because of the short duration of the exercises. “When…
Noble Fusion 2022 Prepares Maritime Forces for Distributed Maritime Operations in the Pacific
PACIFIC OCEAN — A multi-national and multi-strike group conducted a sweeping series of operations the Western Pacific earlier this month. Noble Fusion 2022 took place Feb. 3-7, involving two Amphibious Ready Groups with embarked Marine Expeditionary Units along with a…
First Sea Lord: Royal Navy Is ‘Back to the Modern Era,’ Tilting to the Indo-Pacific
ARLINGTON, Va. — The head of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy said his fleet is modernizing and expanding its reach around the world to respond to the current and future challenges. “It’s the end of the beginning for us, “Adm….
Navy Orders Six CH-53K Helicopters for Israel
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has ordered six CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the Israeli air force, following an agreement signed in December. The Naval Air Systems Command awarded Sikorsky Aircraft a $372 million fixed-price incentive contract modification under…
USS Anchorage, 1st Marine Division Exercise Waterborne Capabilities of ACVs
PACIFIC OCEAN — U.S. Marines assigned to the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division participated in a waterborne training evolution with Amphibious Combat Vehicles aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) in the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 12-13,…