SAN DIEGO — The commander of Naval Air Forces announced on Sept. 24 that Naval Aviation has achieved its secretary of defense-mandated readiness target of an 80% mission-capable rate for both its operational F/A-18 E/F “Super Hornet” and EA-18G “Growler” fleets. After a year of reforms across Navy squadrons, maintenance…
Navy Official: Amphibs Provide Presence, Reassurance, Deterrence
QUANTICO, Va. — The Navy’s amphibious ships and their embarked aircraft, landing craft and Marines provide an array of power that can influence world events and reinforce U.S. interests in a region, a Navy official said, listing five roles of…
Navy Lays Keel of USS Savannah at Austal USA
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy held a keel-laying and authentication ceremony on Sept. 20 for the future littoral combat ship USS Savannah at Austal USA’s Mobile, Alabama, shipyard, according to a release from Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants. The ship’s sponsor, Dianne Isakson, wife of Sen. Johnny…
Coast Guard Cutter Interdicts Semi-Submersible in the Eastern Pacific
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant crew intercepted a drug-laden semi-submersible in the eastern Pacific, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. While on routine patrol in the eastern Pacific, Valiant’s crew interdicted a self-propelled semi-submersible in international waters carrying about 12,000…
Navy Tests Mine Countermeasures on USNS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams
NORFOLK, Va. — USNS Hershel “Woody” Williams (T-ESB 4) has finished a three-day voyage in the Chesapeake Bay to test an anti-mine system, the public affairs offices of the program executive officers for ships and unmanned and small combatants said in a release. The expeditionary sea base (ESB) ship used the Littoral Combat…
Coast Guard Cutter Seneca Offloads More than 12,000 Pounds of Cocaine in Miami
MIAMI — The Coast Guard Cutter Seneca (WMEC-906) crew offloaded more than 12,000 pounds of cocaine Sept. 20 at Coast Guard Sector Miami, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. The drugs were interdicted in international waters of…
Coast Guard Shifts Response Efforts in Bahamas
Coast Guard Shifts Response Efforts in Bahamas MIAMI — U.S. Coast Guard cutters and aircraft conducting urgent search-and-rescue operations in support of the Bahamas’ response to Hurricane Dorian have been redeployed to their home stations, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a…
Boeing MQ-25 Unmanned Aerial Refueler Completes First Test Flight
ST. LOUIS — Boeing and the U.S. Navy on Sept. 19 successfully completed the first test flight of the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueler, according to a company release. The MQ-25 test asset, known as T1, completed the autonomous two-hour flight under the direction of Boeing…
Coast Guard Transports Injured Oil Tanker Crewman Off Cape Lookout
CAPE LOOKOUT, N.C. — The U.S. Coast Guard on Sept. 19 transported by medical helicopter an oil tanker crew member from about 260 miles southeast of Cape Lookout. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard’s 5th District command center were notified by watchstanders from the 7th District’s command center that a 39-year-old man…
Western Canada ‘Wexit’ Party Supports U.S. Access to Arctic Northwest Passage
ARLINGTON, Va. — A political movement to break Canada in two because of political and economic grievances between the eastern and western regions of the nation is addressing several domestic issues, but also supports the access of U.S. military ships…
