The EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) frigate Corte-Real recently visited Port Victoria in the Seychelles to perform boat-handling training with the local Coast-Guard.

This military cooperation is seen as an important way to improve the counter-piracy capabilities of the Seychelles’ Coast-Guard. The Seychelles has an exclusive economic zone of 1.4 million km².

This training is part of a coordinated planning approach established under the supervision of Force Headquarters on board FS Marne, and is implemented by ships when visiting ports in the area of operations. This is part of EU’s comprehensive approach in the fight against piracy, and particularly of EUNAVFOR’s will to participate actively in the maritime capacity building process of regional navies and coast guards.

Corte-Real is part of the EU’s counter piracy mission – Operation “Atalanta”, off the Horn of Africa. She has an embarked helicopter and 2 boarding teams and her crew comprises 196 men and women.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: Eunavfor

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to its homeport of Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka May 16, after completing sea trials.

Sea trials is the testing phase of a U.S. Navy warship designed to measure a vessel’s performance and general seaworthiness.

During this five-day evolution, George Washington completed drop tests on both anchors; conducted several aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) countermeasures drills and high-speed runs and rudder swing checks; as well as on-loaded both JP-5 jet fuel and various ordnance.

“Sea trials are where we put the past six months of maintenance to the test,” said Capt. David Lausman, USS George Washington commanding officer. “The crew worked extremely hard to make this warship the best in the Navy, and I could not be happier to see the way the crew and this ship have responded.”

George Washington’s Deck department spent the first day of sea trials conducting anchor drop tests that tested the durability and integrity of the ship’s two 30-ton anchors.

The anchor drop tests were conducted by 40 deck Sailors and involved lowering both anchors more than 60 feet to the sea below. These tests not only ensured the stability of the anchor and chain, but familiarized the crew with this dangerous evolution.

“This was the first time we released the anchor in quite some time,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class John McNeil, from Conway, S.C. “I feel that our Sailors gained a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge. And that will translate into them getting the job done faster and safer when they are called upon.”

George Washington was coated with foam from a chemical fire-fighting agent known as AFFF. This was a part of a two-day long test of the ship’s counter-measure washdown system conducted by the ship’s engineering department.

Over three football fields of AFFF covered the ship, but all hands picked-up brooms to join the ship’s air department and scrubbed the aircraft carrier from stem to stern.

George Washington also conducted rudder swing checks and high-speed runs to test not only the ship’s seaworthiness, but the crew’s ability to perform in extreme high seas conditions. The ship maneuvered approximately 60,000 tons of steel and traveled more than 30 knots while conducting sharp turns. George Washington also conducted a ‘raging bull’ maneuver that began with the ship moving at top speed and then braking to a complete stop.

The crew worked diligently for a full two days of replenishments-at-sea (RAS) and vertical replenishments (VERTREP) with the USNS Tippacanoe (T-AO-199) and USNS Earhart (T-AKE-6). The ship received more than 1.9 million gallons of JP-5 jet fuel and approximately 3.7 million pounds of ammunition.

Each department contributed to the ship’s overall mission readiness by conducting its own set of evolutions and tasks – including the ship’s Air department, which is preparing for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5′s arrival.

“We’re using our time wisely,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Yves Marlo Aguirre, from Manila, Philippines. “When we embark the air wing, we’ll be ready to go. “

CVW-5 will combine with George Washington to support U.S. 7th Fleet operations during its upcoming patrol.
The ship is working diligently to complete sea trials and pre-deployment preparations before returning to Yokosuka, Japan.

George Washington was commissioned July 4, 1992, and is the fifth of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. Aircraft carriers exercise the Navy core capabilities of power projection, forward presence, humanitarian assistance, deterrence, sea control and maritime security.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: navy

Upwards of 1½ million people saw HMS St Albans as the Portsmouth warship took part in the world’s largest harbour festival. The frigate sailed up the Elbe to Hamburg to take part in the 823rd ‘birthday’ of the great port.

The Type 23 frigate visited the great Hanseatic port as part of strengthening international relations and also to help Germany celebrate the 823rd anniversary of Hamburg harbour – a birthday marked each year by a river festival.

During the long passage down the Elbe river, she took part in the Teufelsbrück Parade where she lined up as ship number 49 out of 91 visiting vessels.

For the Hafengeburtstag (‘harbour birthday’) festival, she was accompanied by a host of international warships, including the brand-new Indian frigate Teg on her maiden voyage, a French ocean tug Tenace and two Danish patrol boats.

The Deutsche Marine was represented by the submarine U34, fast patrol boat Zobel, minesweeper Pegnitz and the frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

An estimated one and a half million people flocked to the banks of the Elbe for the three-day festival.

The Saint’s ship’s company were involved in many events, including official receptions on the German and Indian frigates, international shooting and football competitions and visits to the maritime museum and Thyssen Krupp ship yard.

HMS St Albans hosted a number of visits and enjoyed pride of place beneath a spectacular firework display on Saturday night.

The frigate’s football team played an international five-a-side tournament against teams from Russia, France, India, Poland and Germany.

The matches were very competitive and resulted in St Albans winning the tournament with a penalty shoot out against the Germans (yes, that surprised us as well…).

AB(Sea) John Bayne said:

“Both St Albans’ teams were highly-impressed by how organised and well-run the tournament had been and would like to say thank you to the organisers and all teams who participated.

“It was a hugely enjoyable day and one we would definitely look forward to again in the future.”

HMS St Albans shooting team were equally successful, taking sixth, fourth, second and first places against international opposition which included French, Russian, Norwegian and German competitors.

St Albans visited Hamburg on the back of a stop in Reykjavik for an informal visit to strengthen ties with Iceland.

During the visit she hosted an official reception and capability demonstration, opened the ship to visitors and took part in an act of remembrance in Hvalsfordur to mark the 70th anniversary of the high point of the Arctic convoys to the USSR in World War 2.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: Royal Navy

HMAS Ballarat (Commanger Jonathan Earley) has been making waves in the South China Seas as part of the maritime component for the annual Five Power Defence Arrangement Exercise – Bersama Shield.

Exercise Bersama Shield 12 (Ex BS12) saw Ballarat join forces with Malaysian Frigate KD Lekiu and Singaporean Frigate RSS Supreme along with HMAS Collins (Commander Jason Cupples) and aircraft from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom from 23 April to 4 May 2012.

For Ballarat this was a particularly busy time with Sea Training Group also joining the ship for the duration of the exercise.

Warfare staff from Sea Training Group worked closely with ship’s staff before assessing the warfare team in specific warfare competencies for their upcoming North East Asian Deployment.

The exercise provided an excellent opportunity for this to occur, given the large and extensive number of assets provided by all nations including: Collins, a CB-90 Fast Attack Craft, AEWC, AP-3C, F50, S70B (Singaporean version), Super Lynx and a variety of fast jet aircraft including Hawks, F-15, F-16, F-18, Su30 and MiG 29 as well as two DA 20 Electronic Warfare Aircraft (similar the EWTS aircraft often seen in the EAXA and WAXA).

CMDR Earley said with such a variety of assets, the training was truly multi-threat.

“At any one time it was possible to have 46 aircraft on task providing early warning, undertaking combat air patrols, performing air raids against the force simulating either missile/FGA attacks,” he said.

“All this while at the same having a sub-surface attacks from Collins and small boat asymmetric attacks from the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 45kt CB-90 fast attack craft.”

He said ex-BS 12 was split into four distinct phases for the maritime force.

“The first involved an extensive series of briefs during the Harbour Phase to prepare all participants on the aims and objectives of the exercise.

“This was followed by the Force Integration Training (FIT) Phase, where the maritime component conducted a very busy serialised program to build competence, capability and confidence among the surface units.”

The three frigates formed a surface task group with CO Ballarat acting as Commander Task Group and, along with Collins, spent this phase exercising basic communications, ship handling, aviation and warfare.

The next phase of the exercise was the “WAREX”. This phase focused on the testing the ability of the maritime task group to operate together in a free play environment against unalerted attack windows during the day.

The seven-day exercise culminated in a two-day “LIVEX” in which the task group was required to safely escort a high value unit through the operational areas against an array of air, surface and sub-surface threats coming from anywhere at any time.

One of Ballarat’s JWAC Phase IV trainees, SBLT Scott Lytton, said this exercise was his highlight.

“The uncertainty of the threats and timings meant anything could happen and you had to be alert at all times. It was a great training experience, especially for the bridge team onboard,” SBLT Lytton said.

Adding to that sense of satisfaction was the relief to learn the Sea Training Group had assessed the Operations Team as “Unit Ready” in the required Warfare Competencies needed for the next stage of Ballarat’s North East Asian Deployment.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: Australian Navy

As announced by the U.S. Department of Defence, Bulova Technologies Ordnance Systems, L.L.C., Mayo, Fla., is being awarded a $9,835,448 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for MK 80 distress signals and MK 79 distress signal kits.

The MK 80 is an illuminated signal used by downed aircrews or personnel in life rafts as a distress signal. The MK 79 consists of 7 MK 80 signals in a lightweight kit that can be carried in pockets of flight suits or rafts.

Work will be performed in Mayo, Fla., and is expected to be completed by May 2017. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

This contract was competitively procured with four offers received via Federal Business Opportunities. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image:Bulova Technologies Ordnance Systems

HMS Westminster smashed the actions of three pirate groups in a fortnight – sending the boats to the bottom of the Indian Ocean. The Portsmouth-based warship treated the skiffs to a Viking funeral, blasting them out of the water with her guns and those of her Merlin helicopter.

With orange-red flames billowing up in a gigantic mushroom and black smoke drifting across the Indian Ocean, this is one of three pirate action groups whose nefarious activities were brought to a halt in a fortnight by HMS Westminster.

In each case, the Portsmouth-based warship pounced after the pirates had tried – but failed – to hijack merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean.

As the ship sprinted to the scene her Merlin was sent aloft; when they located the action groups, the helicopters crew invariably found the small craft crammed with weapons, extra fuel, ladders and more people than you would expect to find for any other purpose – hundreds of miles from land.

The sight of the Merlin, with Royal Marines Commando snipers in the back, and 5,000 tonnes of armed-to-the-teeth battleship grey bearing down on them, the suspects began ditching their pirate paraphernalia over the side and into the depths of the Indian Ocean.

In the face of such overwhelming force, the suspects themselves immediately surrendered and Westminster’s boarding team of Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel secured them while evidence was gathered for the authorities in Combined Task Force 151, the international naval group to which the ‘capital ship’ is currently assigned.

With the ‘bust’ complete, the action groups’ vessels were destroyed – boats, fuel, engines, communications kit, weaponry – by the guns of the Merlin, or the guns of Westminster herself, with suitably fiery results by day or night.

“They have nowhere to hide and, as the pictures show, we also have the hardware to really spoil their day!” said Lt Cdr Kay Burbidge, Senior Observer of 829 Naval Air Squadron who is currently embarked aboard Westminster with the ship’s Merlin flight.

“With the Merlin’s superior endurance and sophisticated sensors we can cover large areas of ocean to search for pirates and smugglers.”

Her ship is now nearly at the half-way point of her east of Suez patrol, having already sailed more than 18,000 miles keeping the sea lanes safe.

Last month she dealt another high-profile blow to criminal activities in the region when she snared £14m of drugs on a dhow.

Westminster’s triple counter-piracy success came as the EU Naval Forces struck at the pirates’ bases in Somalia.

A helicopter from one of the nine warships assigned to Operation Atalanta, the European Union anti-piracy mission which is currently commanded by the UK’s Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, struck at “supplies on the shoreline”, attacking from the air; no ‘boots’ went in on the ground.

“The action against pirate supplies on the shoreline is merely an extension of the disruption actions carried out against pirate ships at sea and Operation Atalanta remains committed to fighting piracy off the Horn of Africa and the humanitarian mission of protecting World Food Programme ships that bring vital aid to the Somali people,” said Rear Admiral Potts.

“We believe this action by the EU Naval Force will further increase the pressure on, and disrupt pirates’ efforts to get out to sea to attack merchant shipping and dhows.

“The local Somali people and fishermen – many of whom have suffered so much because of piracy in the region, can be reassured that our focus was on known pirate supplies and will remain so in the future.”

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: royalnavy

Today the Republic of the Seychelles agreed to accept for prosecution 11 suspected pirates who were captured by EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) frigate HNLMS Van Amstel on Friday 11 May.

The 11 suspected pirates had pirated an Iranian dhow with 17 innocent Iranian fishermen onboard at the beginning of May and it is thought the dhow was probably related to the unsuccessful attack against MV Super Lady on Wednesday 9 may.

The suspected pirates are expected to be handed over to the Seychelles authorities in the coming days.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: eunavfor

Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc., Monroeville, Pa., is being awarded a $20,013,153 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously awarded contract for Naval Nuclear Propulsion components, the U.S. Department of Defense announced on May 15.

Work will be performed in Monroeville, Pa. (96.33 percent), and Schenectady, N.Y. (3.67 percent).

No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. No completion date or additional information is provided on Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts.

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Bechtel Plant Machinery is a prime contractor for the United States Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP). It is a project engineering organization responsible for providing design, manufacturing, and procurement management for the fabrication, testing, delivery, installation, and field support of high quality nuclear power plant components for installation in submarines and aircraft carriers.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: Bechtel

Over the past several weeks, guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) and its visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) team, have actively patrolled the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) and provided security assistance to several merchant vessels transiting through the Gulf of Aden region.

Taylor, with embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 48 Detachment 9, is assigned to Commander, NATO Task Force 508 Operation Ocean Shield.

This Operation is NATO’s counter-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden and India Ocean.

“Ocean Shield is a clear demonstration of the alliance’s capability in the maritime field, and its flexibility in meeting the variety of challenges posed in today’s security environment,” said Cmdr. J. R. Hill, Taylor’s commanding officer. “As part of the NATO Task Force Taylor complements the European Union, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), and independent nations’ units tackling piracy in the region.”

Taylor’s mission is to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and Somali Basin, and investigate suspicious maritime activity. Additionally, the ship supports merchant vessels requiring assistance while transiting the IRTC and other regional waterways. Taylor also monitors commercial merchant shipping and convoys and provides security overwatch.

“Most vessels we have encountered are legitimate fishing or trading and are not involved with piracy operations, but the data collected helps provide information for pattern of life analysis and evidence to compare between boardings that may help classify a dhow as a pirate vessel more clearly during a boarding,” said Lt. Michael Modeer, Taylor’s senior VBSS Officer.

Piracy and maritime crime are a significant concern to the international community, contributing nations, non-government and commercial organizations. Taylor has conducted numerous maritime security assist visit (MSAV) boardings in support of NATO’s counter-piracy efforts.

As the deployment continues, Taylor expects to remain vigilant on patrol, providing the maritime presence and security necessary to support counter-piracy efforts throughout the region.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: navy

The commitment of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia through boosting capacity building in the region has been underlined with the signing of five strategic partnerships with a number of UN agencies and the EU, following a Conference on Capacity Building to Counter Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, held at IMO Headquarters in London on 15 May 2012.

The Conference was attended by some 300 delegates from States as well as a number of organizations. It saw presentations on capacity building as a mechanism to tackle the piracy issue, focusing on matters such as building maritime infrastructure and law enforcement capacity and the implementation of the Code of Conduct for the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean (Djibouti Code of Conduct), which had been the subject of a Ministerial meeting held at IMO on 14 May, also at IMO.

The Ministerial meeting was attended by Ministers, Ambassadors and senior officials of the States participating in the Djibouti Code of Conduct, as well as representatives of the donor States to the Djibouti Code of Conduct Trust Fund. South Africa, which also attended the meeting, signed the Djibouti Code of Conduct during the Conference on Capacity Building, becoming the 19th State to sign the Code.

The Ministerial meeting agreed that the Djibouti Code should not be open to other States, should continue to be a non-binding Code, however, the meeting agreed to review the status of the Code in the coming two years. The meeting noted that the implementation of the Code would also enhance capabilities and capacities to counter such threats.

The meeting noted that IMO had agreed to be part of the combined UN efforts on the ground in Somalia, based on the Somalia Roadmap and the Transitional Federal Government National Security and Stabilization Plan.

The meeting also noted an initiative to focus the implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct in terms of maritime awareness and operational capability in the southern high-risk area, including the Mozambique Channel. The details of the initiative, including liaison with African organizations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), were still to be worked out. The “protection of the southern shipping lanes” initiative in the high-risk area is aimed at combining counter-piracy and maritime capacity-building projects within one single overarching apparatus, to deliver a programme for the development and protection of the maritime domain in the south-west Indian Ocean. The aim is that the signatory States to the Djibouti Code of Conduct will work together, supported by IMO and other development partners, to create a regional co-operative mechanism to this effect.

Strategic partnerships

Strategic partnerships were signed on 15 May with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS); the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); and the World Food Programme (WFP). A further agreement with the European Union, acting through the European External Action Service (EEAS) was signed on Wednesday 16 May.

The joint commitments to combat piracy in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden Area reaffirm the mutual commitments to improving coordination at all levels and across all relevant programmes and activities, with a view to strengthening the anti-piracy and maritime capacity of States in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden area and developing viable and sustainable alternatives to piracy in Somalia.

The Organizations have pledged to work together to deliver effective assistance to those States under the framework of existing institutional arrangements as well as under new joint enterprises. Projects may be undertaken multilaterally or in conjunction with other international organizations. In signing the partnership agreements, the Organizations stated their determination to make every effort to act in a coordinated and complementary manner in pursuit of common goals, with the aim of ensuring that their investments under the strategic partnerships make an effective and long-lasting contribution to capacity building in the region.

IMO and the other international Organizations have already been working with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the authorities of the Galmudug, Puntland, Somaliland regions of Somalia through the “Kampala Process” to promote an integrated approach to the development of a safe and secure maritime sector in Somalia.

Specific projects are anticipated to be initiated or continued under the newly-signed partnerships. Each Organization will complement IMO’s competence in maritime situational awareness, and maritime security and counter-piracy measures.

Djibouti Code of Conduct background

The Djibouti Code of Conduct was signed on 29 January 2009 by representatives of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen. With the signing by South Africa on 15 May the number of signatures was brought to 19 States out of the 21 eligible to sign. (The 19 signatory States are: the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen).

The implementation plan for the Djibouti Code of Conduct is being funded primarily through the IMO Djibouti Code Trust Fund, which received generous early donations from France, Japan, Netherlands, Norway and the Republic of Korea, and more recent donations from the Marshall Islands and Saudi Arabia.

The multi-national Project Implementation Unit (PIU), based at IMO Headquarters in London, was formed in April 2010 to assist signatory States to implement the Djibouti Code of Conduct. It consists of a head of unit and specialists in operations and training, technical and computing systems, and maritime law, implementing projects to meet the intentions of the Code, by working to improve regional capacity to counter piracy by developing enhanced regional cooperation and coordination.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: IMO

Black Sea Fleet (BSF) hydrographic ship Donuzlav on May 15 returned to Sevastopol from a long-range cruise.

Through a one-month long cruise, the ship has covered 4,000 nautical miles and passed the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ligurian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. The ship was representing Russia at the 18-th International Hydrographic Conference.

The crew and attached experts carried out oceanographic researches at sea. Hydrographers had completed detailed bottom contour survey off Caucasian coast, and anchorage points near France, Tunisia, and Italy.

Area survey at those points was performed in order to find out navigation hazards and correct nautical charts. Our scientists have not done such works at those regions for over 20 years. Hydrographers took bottom samples to define its consistency and mechanical makeup.

The ship had an anti-terror team on board consisting of BSF marines and maintaining security during the cruise.

(rusnavy)

Source: Russian Navy , May 17, 2012; Image: shipspotting

The amphibious assault vessel USS Essex crashed with USNS Yukon oil tanker yesterday, while returning to San Diego, after completing 12 years as the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in Sasebo, Japan, the Sacramento Bee reported.

As confirmed by a spokesman for the 3rd Fleet, Charlie Brown, the collision took place Wednesday morning, approximately 120 miles off the coast of Southern California when USS Essex was moving toward USNS Yukon for refueling.

Even though the velocity of the ship’s approaching has not been determined, the standard speed for ships lining up to refuel at sea is about 13 knots, which means that the inflicted damage of the ships is on a small scale.

Apparently, the vessels just bounced off each other, leaving fuel tanks and operating systems uncompromised. Furthermore, crew members of both vessels did not sustain injuries and having in mind the fact that the USS Essex, known as the Iron Gator, did not manage to start refueling there was no fuel spills either.

Even so, the impact was enough to inflict “a pretty hard bump that can bend metal and cause dents”, Brown added.

According to Brown, the cause of the accident was a malfunction on steering system aboard 844-foot-long Essex.

Even with the damages, both vessels were able to continue their journey to San Diego and adhere to their respective arrival schedules.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: wikimedia

Cost of Project 11711 landing ship Ivan Gren built for Russian Navy by JSC Yantar Shipyard was RUR 5 bln, reports RBK referring to press service of Kaliningrad regional administration. The ship will be launched on May 18.

Along with Mistral-class amphibious ships being built in France, large landing ship Ivan Gren will form the core of Russian Navy’s landing forces, reports the regional administration.

Large landing ship Ivan Gren was laid down at Yantar in Dec 2004 and was supposed to make the lead ship in the 4-ship series. Through the construction, the Navy three times changed technical specifications; 22 considerable changes were introduced into the project. That resulted in long delays in construction. Up to now, the ship’s final technical appearance has not determined yet. Scheduled keel-laying of the first serial ship was canceled.

The ship is designed for landing operations, transportation of combat vehicles and equipment. Ivan Gren is capable to carry up to 13 main battle tanks, up to 36 armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles, or a 300-men boarding party.

(rusnavy)

Source: Russian Navy, May 17, 2012; Image:  JSC Yantar Shipyard

Congolese navy sailors greeted the crew of High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) after they arrived in Pointe Noire to conduct a theater security cooperation (TSC) visit as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) 2012, May 15.

During the visit, members of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Africa (SPMAGTF) 12-2, Security Cooperation Team Six, will conduct classroom engagements aboard Swift to share knowledge and skills with the Congolese military.

“We want to see their capabilities with everything from infantry skills to the gear they use,” said Marine Sgt. Oscar G. Crespo Gallegos, a SPMAGTF 12-2 instructor. “This is an area that deals with a lot of different situations, so we can adjust our classes based on what they’ve already seen before.”

As part of the training, members of the Congolese military will share basic infantry skills, hand-signal communication, non-lethal weapons tactics, and leadership lessons.

Sailors and Marines will also have time to interact with the local military, experience the local culture and build friendships.

“I’m looking forward to learning about the culture,” said Seaman Krystopher Weir. “But the most interesting part will be seeing the arts and crafts, and listening to the music.”

During the visit, Swift will offload water filtration units as part of Project Handclasp. Project Handclasp founded in 1962, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that works in partnership with the U.S. Navy. It accepts donations from individuals and organizations across the United States and the donations are then transported worldwide using available space on U.S. Navy ships.

Swift will continue to visit ports-of-call in Africa as it begins support of Africa Partnership Station. APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: navy

The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company a $313.8 million contract for low-rate initial production of Standard Missile-6 all-up rounds.

SM-6 leverages the legacy Standard Missile airframe and propulsion elements, while incorporating the advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities of Raytheon’s Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.

Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz.; Camden, Ark.; Andover, Mass.; Huntsville, Ala.; Dallas, Texas; Hanahan, S.C.; Anniston, Ala.; San Jose, Calif.; and Middletown, Ohio, and is expected to completed by March 2015.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion and 71,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 90 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: wikimedia

Main episode of the second day of the Pomor-2012 Russian-Norwegian naval exercise was antiaircraft drill; air targets were imitated by two Northern Fleet (NF) deck-based fighters Su-33. They took off from air base Severomorsk-3 and flew to the exercise area.

During the drill, crews of NF destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and Norwegian frigate Fridtjof Nansen practiced interaction when detecting low-altitude air targets at maximal ranges and use of onboard air defense systems.

Second training subject was joint actions with onboard helicopter Ka-27 taken off from destroyer Admiral Chabanenko to search a “distressed” ship. Some anti-terror tasks were performed during that episode, in particular, boarding of search teams on violator vessels. NF rescue tug SB-406 acted both as distressed ship and a violator vessel.

According to commanding officers’ appraisals, the crews demonstrated high naval skills and ability to cope with problem situations. Apart from joint actions with naval aviation, groups of officers from each part had onboard tours on foreign ships, and watched crews’ actions during the exercise activities.

NF destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and Norwegian frigate Fridtjof Nansen left Severomorsk on May 11. Through two days of the exercise the ships have covered about 600 nautical miles and are following the Pomor-2012 exercise plan in the Norwegian Sea. In the nearest time Russian and Norwegian naval mariners will hold people rescue drills at sea, as well as search and destruction of a “submarine”.

(rusnavy)

Source: Russian Navy, May 17, 2012; Image: wikimedia

The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Ms. Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission,  unveiled on May 15 the 2012 Plaza Bridge Photo Exhibit which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard.

The Minister was joined by Canadian Coast Guard Officials to commemorate the accomplishments of this fine Canadian institution.

“As part of our year-long celebrations of the Canadian Coast Guard’s 50th anniversary, I am honoured to unveil this new photo exhibit highlighting the Coast Guard’s contribution to safe and accessible waterways,” said Minister Ashfield. “Our government is proud of the Canadian Coast Guard, and of the men and women who provide critical services to Canadians every day.”

Twenty-six eye-catching, large scale images ─ chosen to represent the Canadian Coast Guard’s values, present-day work and dedicated men and women ─ will be showcased in the heart of the nation’s capital from May to October. Situated on the Plaza Bridge in Confederation Square, one of the Capital’s busiest pedestrian corridors, this outdoor photo exhibition offers visitors a unique portrait of this Canadian institution.

“This exhibit will enable residents and visitors to discover more about the important work of the men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission. “These photos, displayed in this iconic Capital space, convey stories of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”

The Canadian Coast Guard was created on January 26, 1962. Since then, the men and women of the Coast Guard have been providing important services to Canadians such as marine communications and traffic services, provision of aids to navigation, icebreaking, search and rescue, and environmental response.

Events and activities to celebrate the Coast Guard’s 50 years of service will be held throughout the year in communities across the country. Canadians are encouraged to learn more about the Canadian Coast Guard and join the celebrations.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: DFO

Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory were recently honored for their new nano-technology that makes the air quality better for sailors on Navy submarines.

The new technology is called SAMMS. It cleans the air in tight Navy submarine spaces by absorbing CO2. The material looks like rock salt and will replace a liquid that’s been doing the CO2 removal job for fifty years. SAMMS will go into a type of ventilation system inside submarines to clean the air more efficiently. SAMMS inventor, Glen Fryxell, says the material is like a honeycomb that soaks up all the CO2 out of the air.

“When air that is loaded with CO2 comes through that honeycomb the CO2 sticks, kind of like a molecular fly paper,” says Fryxell.

The CO2 can be stored there indefinitely, protecting the environment, or it can be released through temperature and pressure if need be. The current liquid system used by the Navy makes breathing difficult and smells awful.

The SAMMS compound is on track to be put into U.S. Navy submarines in 2014. Scientists are finding the technology could be used in many types of vehicles and could also protect our country from potential threatening situations.

“Underwater type application, any space type application or any application where you have a confined space and compromised breathable air supply outside that confined space. Any chemical or biological warfare type scenario,” says Ken Rappe.

Five Hundred pounds of the SAMMS material will be put on a submarine and can clean the air for over one hundred sailors.

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image:Flickr

Sailors aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), embarked 7th Fleet staff and Marines assigned to Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific departed Jakarta, Indonesia May 15, after a four-day port visit strengthening bonds between the U.S. and Indonesian navies.

Blue Ridge Sailors participated in a community service event that gave them the opportunity to demonstrate the Navy’s dedication to fostering positive relations with countries in the Asian-Pacific region.

They participated in sporting events with Indonesian nationals and interacted with the community through an outreach project involving a children’s school. Sailors volunteered their time at the Yayasan Pendidikan Bangun School to help create a soccer field for the children.

“Giving my time to create a soccer field for the children at the school was a very fulfilling and rewarding experience,” said Ensign Wanda Colon, Blue Ridge stock control officer. “The work we did at the school was hard labor, but the children made it all worth while. You could tell the children really wanted us there.”

For one Sailor, the port visit was much more personal.

“I was glad to have this opportunity to come back to Indonesia after being a part of the relief efforts for the 2004 tsunami,” said U.S. 7th Fleet Staff member Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Philip Keehn. “It was enlightening knowing I helped Indonesia get back on its feet when I was assigned to the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) in 2004. I never thought I’d be back to Indonesia to see how the Navy’s hard work paid off.”

Naval Today Staff , May 17, 2012; Image: US Navy

EADS North America has delivered the fourth and final Airbus Military CN235-300 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) to be supplied to the Mexican Navy under a U.S. Coast Guard managed foreign military sales agreement.

The Coast Guard employs the CN235-300 in the HC-144A Ocean Sentry configuration for a range of missions, including search and rescue, disaster relief and drug interdiction. In March, a Coast Guard HC-144 crew used the aircraft’s sensor capabilities to locate and help interdict a semi-submersible “drug sub” in the Western Caribbean Sea.

EADS North America delivered its 13th HC-144A Ocean Sentry to the U.S. Coast Guard earlier this year, two months ahead of schedule. Last month, the Coast Guard exercised a contract option for deliveries that will bring the service’s Ocean Sentry fleet up to 17 aircraft. The service ultimately plans to acquire up to a total of 36 of the twin-engine turboprops.

Mexico was the first U.S. foreign military sales customer for the highly successful Airbus Military CN235 tactical airlifter family, more than 250 of which are already in operation by 27 countries. EADS North America is also supplying spares provisioning, ground support equipment and associated training for the Mexican Navy aircraft.

“We’re proud that the HC-144A has proven to be such a powerful asset in the U.S. Coast Guard mission to protect the security of our nation,” said Sean O’Keefe, EADS North America Chairman and CEO. “Likewise, we’re proud to have served America’s national interests by delivering a similarly important capability to the Mexican Navy.”

The CN235-300 MPAs enhance Mexico’s ability to support the Merida Initiative, a cooperative security arrangement between the U.S., Mexico and Central American countries. Missions for the new aircraft include drug interdiction, homeland security, search and rescue, cargo and personnel transport, military readiness, and maritime environmental protection.

The MPA configuration of the CN235 incorporates the latest technology developed for surveillance over the sea. The combination of a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system and search radar allows the aircraft to locate and track ships to conduct thorough patrols of a coastline. The Automatic Identification System (AIS) and the Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) help make this aircraft the ideal tool to carry out military surveillance missions for the Mexican Navy. The FITS was developed by Airbus Military and ensures that the extensive data gathered by the aircraft’s onboard sensors can be easily used by the crew to execute their mission.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: wikimedia

LRAD Corporation , the world’s leading provider of long range acoustic hailing devices (AHDs),  announced on May 15 that it has received a $1.7 million LRAD-RX systems order for Asian maritime security. Deliveries on the order are scheduled to begin this quarter and continue into the Company’s 2013 fiscal year.

“This order further confirms that our LRAD-RX systems are becoming an important component in maritime escalation of force (EOF) protocols to help combat terrorist and piracy threats,” stated Tom Brown, president and CEO of LRAD Corporation. “When a suspicious vessel fails or refuses to respond to radio calls, the LRAD-RX initiates the EOF through powerful voice broadcasts and deterrent tones. By unequivocally determining the intent of an approaching threat, the LRAD-RX assists armed security forces to avoid accidental shooting incidents while providing them time and distance to scale their response and make life and death decisions.”

The Company’s proprietary LRAD-RX features a camera, high intensity searchlight (optional), a robust, IP-addressable full pan and tilt drive for precise aiming and tracking, and can be integrated with radar to provide automated vessel alerts. The LRAD-RX broadcasts highly intelligible, hails, warnings and instructions over distances up to 2 miles. Through the use of focused, multi-language voice commands and deterrent tones, the LRAD-RX creates increased standoff zones, determines intent, supports peaceful conflict resolution, and potentially prevents the use of deadly force.

“Our LRAD(R) systems have proven to be highly effective for maritime security,” Brown added. “To date, LRAD systems have helped to prevent accidental shooting incidents and to peacefully resolve hundreds of maritime EOF situations throughout the world.”

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: lrad

MPR Federal Services has recently been awarded a two-year contract by Newport News Shipbuilding to design, manufacture, and deliver eight ventilation platforms to support the decommissioning of USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65).

Newport News Shipbuilding is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

“The USS ENTERPRISE is the first US nuclear powered aircraft carrier to be decommissioned. MPR Associates is proud to participate in this project of National significance,” stated Ryan Downs, MPR’s acting Vice President of MPR Federal Services.

The highly decorated USS ENTERPRISE will be a first of its kind decommissioning. The ship is scheduled to begin decommissioning at the end of this year, and will pave the way for future nuclear aircraft carrier decommissionings.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: wikimedia

Solutions Ltd., a subsidiary of Acorn Energy, Inc.  announced that it will be exhibiting the company’s underwater security systems and other sonar and acoustic solutions at the Undersea Defence Technologies (UDT) Conference and Exhibition in Alicante, Spain (May 29 – 31, 2012), PR Newswire informed.

The company views UDT as an important venue for reaching decision makers in fields related to undersea defense and security and has been an exhibitor at this event for the last several years.

DSIT is pleased to invite visitors to come by their stand, F17, to learn about the world’s leading Diver Detection Sonar system, the AquaShield™ DDS and its portable counterpart, the PointShield™ Portable DDS, and see a video clip demonstrating these systems’ operational capabilities. In addition, the company will be exhibiting information on their Full Mission Submarine Tactical Trainer, Underwater Acoustic Signal Analysis System and MAR™ Portable Acoustic Ranges.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: Solutions Ltd.

Sailors assigned to USS Constitution taught early American naval history to students at Medical Lake Middle School in Medical Lake, Wash. May 14-15.

Lt. Albert Sharlow, Master-at-Arms 1st Class (EXW/SW) Marina Chavez, Culinary Specialist 2nd (SW) Class Kevin Linney, Logistics Specialist Seaman Maurice Noland and Fireman Jessica Rodriguez gave six interactive historical presentations to more than 100 students as part of Spokane Navy Week, May 14-20.

“I love giving presentations to the kids in school,” said Sharlow. “They’re excited about what we do and love asking questions. We’re creating a connection with them. The next great admiral may be in that classroom.”

Students learned about the creation of the Navy, Constitution’s construction, her famous battle with HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812 and the mission of today’s Navy.

“I think it’s wonderful for the students that the Sailors, especially when dressed in the period uniform, visit,” said Sylvia Campbell, the school’s principal. “Their visit not only helps to illustrate living history, but it allows the students to have a broader understanding of the U.S. Navy and its history. With the ability to see the Sailors in person, it gives the students a different avenue, giving them the opportunity to ask questions that we as teachers are not always able to answer.”

Constitution Sailors undergo 20 weeks of naval history training, along with additional weekly training.

“I hope the presentation gave them more insight and awareness of what the U.S. Navy is,” said Linney. “Through educating the younger generations, especially in Spokane where there is little to no Navy presence, on the War of 1812, as well as all of our humanitarian efforts, we can achieve giving the general public a better sense of what their Navy is about.”

Constitution Sailors are also scheduled to give history presentations to Mountainside Middle School, May 16, Chase Middle School, May 17 and Horizon Middle School, May 18.

Spokane Navy Week is the third of eight Navy Weeks that Constitution Sailors will participate in 2012, celebrating the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The primary purpose of Navy Week is to increase Navy awareness by presenting the Navy to Americans who live in cities that normally do not have a significant naval presence. Spokane Navy Week will present the mission, capabilities and achievements of the U.S. Navy and provide residents the opportunity to meet Sailors firsthand.

Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year. She defended the sea lanes against threat from 1797 to 1855, much like the mission of today’s Navy. America’s Navy: Keeping the sea free for more than 200 years.

Constitution’s mission today is to offer community outreach and education about the ship’s history.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: wikimedia

After four years of spending most of their time over the sands of Afghanistan, the Sea Kings of the Commando Helicopter Force have spent the spring finding their sea legs again.

The helicopters – known as the Junglies – have taken part in a succession of training exercises to re-learn the art of flying at sea in support of amphibious operations by the Royal Marines.

Pilot and Afghanistan veteran Lt Fred Durrant of 845 Naval Air Squadron takes up the story:

In the dead of night, on a pitching and rolling deck, the clatter of two Chinooks and four Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) Sea King helicopters can be heard from within HMS Illustrious.

Outside, a 30 knot wind, sea spray, whirling rotor blades and a cramped flight deck make it a dangerous environment in which to work.

From the ‘starboard wait’, two AAC AH-64 Apaches watch the scene using their on-board sensors, calmly awaiting the launch to lead the insert of troops from 45 Commando to their objective, a few miles inland.

Closer in to shore, HMS Bulwark is dock down and releasing her landing craft to make an amphibious landing at the same time as the aviation insert.

This is the setting for just one of the missions carried out during the recent multi-national Exercise Joint Warrior, Europe’s biggest military exercise.

Involving 18 ships from eight nations, it was designed to validate 45 Commando as the UK’s lead commando group – and its ability to deploy aboard the UK’s amphibious ships anywhere in the world.

To support the troops, a Tailored Air Group (or TAG) was brought together to make best use of the UK’s battlefield helicopters.

Although the Commando Helicopter Force is manned by Naval personnel, including Royal Marines, who specialise in the conduct of amphibious operations its operations in recent years have been centred in Afghanistan.

Joint Warrior helped re-instil an amphibious mindset in the aircrew and engineers of CHF – but also to integrate the Army Air Corps Apache force into flying in that uniquely-challenging environment.

Detachments from both types were embarked aboard Illustrious for the duration of the exercise.

Together with RAF Chinooks operating from land, the Sea Kings and Apaches made a formidable and potent air group.

In the past nine months, HMS Illustrious’ ship’s company has also had to work tirelessly and flexibly to switch from the Harrier Strike mindset to that of a helicopter assault ship role which results in a busier deck, the management of major troop movements, and a new set of challenges.

After a complicated deck launch cycle, necessitated by the number of aircraft and troops, the ‘package’ of eight aircraft disappears into the night in loose formation.

The lead Apache, acting as air mission commander, clears the formation through the airspace and on to the objective.

Once the troops are dropped off the gunship remains on station overhead providing protection and firepower to the ‘boots’ on the ground.

The importance of Joint Warrior cannot be overstated.

It is a fully-integrated exercise incorporating amphibious assaults by aviation and landing craft, anti-submarine and fast-attack craft serials, air defence drills, and a whole range of other training associated with maritime theatre entry and power projection.

It’s been a steep learning curve for all but the most experienced crews.

We are all now quite comfortable with Afghanistan operations and being thrust straight back into a fully amphibious role has taken some hard work and flexibility on the part of all concerned.

The amphibious role is key to CHF, and now the Army Air Corps’ Apache Force are becoming more used to operating their helicopters at sea, the UK’s capability in this arena is impressive.

Despite its current commitments, CHF will over the next four years be at the forefront of changes to the UK’s helicopter force.

The Sea King Mk4 is now being drawn down and will be replaced by Merlins; aviators and engineers are currently operating and training at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire to ensure a smooth and timely transition.

847 Naval Air Squadron will also begin their conversion to the new Lynx Wildcat, becoming the first UK unit to operate this new helicopter in 2013.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: uk navy

Sailors from Tyne were carrying out a routine inspection of the FV Farpesca, a French stern trawler, in the Channel as part of their fishery protection patrol when the skipper asked for help with one of his deck hands who’d suffered a suspected broken arm.

The Portsmouth-based patrol ship sent her first-aider across to assess the 52-year-old Spanish sailor – and quickly determined that he needed hospital treatment.

The Farpesca was instructed to make best speed for the UK mainland in company with Tyne while a Sea King from Culdrose was scrambled.

Luckily, all three Royal Navy personnel aboard the trawler were trained in helicopter operations and were able to assist the master in readying his vessel for the helicopter’s arrival.

A winchman was lowered on to the deck, a handover conducted with the first aider and the casualty was placed in a stretcher and quickly winched back into the helicopter for a short flight to the nearest suitable hospital.

The whole rescue only took three hours and Tyne was back on patrol in the early afternoon continuing boarding operations to ensure fishermen are abiding by rules and regulations.

Tyne’s Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Dan Thomas, said:

“Being on a standing patrol, the ships of our squadron are often well-placed to assist in the case of maritime emergencies, and on this occasion, Tyne was ideally placed and properly prepared to help.

“I am very pleased with the highly professional actions of my crew, and the rapid reaction of the SAR aircraft in rescuing this fisherman. I wish him a speedy recovery.”

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: UK Navy

Sailors assigned to guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) participated in a multinational training exercise aboard the Hellenic navy training ship Aris at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center (NMIOTC) in support of exercise Phoenix Express 2012 (PE12) in Souda Bay, Crete, May 12.

The training included boarding procedures, proper weapons handling, and engaging compliant and non-compliant ships. It also gave the multinational service members the opportunity to train with other countries and learn to work together.

Working together in an environment where security forces come from many different nations and backgrounds means the instructors had to make sure the participants were at the same capability level in order to properly function as a team during the training.

“This training is important because these are the basics,” said Senior Chief Fire Controlman Allen Bylls, a Simpson boarding team member. “You want to do this in a controlled training environment so you can get the fundamentals down before you go out into a real world situation.”

The combined training also helps service members identify and overcome potential obstacles that could get in the way of the team’s performance.

“One of the biggest obstacles we encountered was the language barrier,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Brenton Paulk, a staff instructor from Rota, Spain. “It’s something we are learning to overcome during our training and I think learning how to interact with other nations will be helpful during real-world maritime interdiction operation.”

PE12, a multinational maritime exercise between Southern European, North African and U.S. Naval forces, is designed to improve cooperation among participating nations and help increase safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea.

Participants and observers in PE12 include Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and United States.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: US Navy

Naval representatives from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and the United States gathered in the Ricardo Palma auditorium at the Peruvian naval base to officially recognize the beginning of UNITAS Pacific (PAC) at an opening ceremony in Callao, Peru, May 14.

Leaders from each country’s navy took turns addressing the audience as the ceremony commenced.

Capt. Ace Van Wagoner, commander of Destroyer Squadron 40 and mission commander of UNITAS PAC, represented the U.S. Navy at the ceremony. After thanking Peru for hosting UNITAS PAC and for demonstrating hospitality and professionalism to the U.S., Van Wagoner spoke about the importance of UNITAS for everyone involved.

“This exercise is a renewed promise to enhance regional partnerships and promote hemispheric stability,” said Van Wagoner. “Through exercises like UNITAS, we learn from each other, sharing the best practices and proving collective reliability for addressing hemispheric maritime challenges.”

The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) is representing the U.S. Navy during UNITAS PAC. Underwood’s commanding officer, executive officer and command master chief also attended the ceremony.

UNITAS will include live-fire exercises, a drone exercise, nighttime ship evolutions, tactical maneuvering, maritime interdiction operations, flight operations among other events and joint operations.

“I hope everyone leaves here at the end of UNITAS having learned something new from one another,” said Van Wagoner. “I hope we exchange experiences and gain new perspectives on each other’s cultures and people. We are here today because we are professional mariners and on the seas we will share our operational capabilities and enhance communications training in dynamic, real-time environments. In today’s world, these skills are what will provide joint security and stability in our hemisphere.”

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports USSOUTHCOM joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: US Navy

The Royal Australian Navy’s Submarine Force and industry partners have demonstrated how they would respond in the unlikely event of a submarine incident at sea, after completing an intensive two week training exercise focused on testing its Submarine Escape and Rescue capability.

During Exercise Black Carillion, members of the Navy’s Submarine Force, the Defence Material Organisation, Defence Maritime Services and James Fisher Defence have rehearsed how they would respond if required to evacuate personnel from a submarine on the sea bed. This was done by conducting submersible operations in the depths of the Indian Ocean utilising the James Fisher Submarine Rescue Service JFSRS) LR5 Submarine Rescue Vehicle.

The submersible conducted multiple manned dives from the mothership, MV Seahorse Standard, mating with dedicated target plates on the ocean floor. Once recovered on the deck of Seahorse Standard, passengers were transferred into recompression chambers without being exposed to the outside air pressure.

Inside the Type B recompression chambers, the Navy’s underwater medical specialists monitored the evacuees and simulated practicing life-saving medical techniques aimed at preventing and responding to decompression sickness.

Commander Submarine Force, Captain Mark Potter, described the exercise as a success.

“We were able to test three very important key capabilities which would be crucial to saving lives in the unlikely event that we ever experienced a submarine incident requiring the evacuation of submariners.’

“Firstly, proficiency working with James Fisher Submarine Rescue System and the LR5 submersible, secondly that we can effectively utilise both the Type B recompression chambers and finally to ensure our established underwater medical procedures are satisfactory to treat and prevent casualties.’

“These capabilities are vital to the confidence of any submarine force,” said Captain Potter.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: Royal Australian Navy

Defence ties between Australia and Indonesia continue to strengthen with the conclusion of the biennial patrol boat exercise CASSOWARY.

Royal Australian Navy Armidale Class Patrol Boats HMA Ships Ararat and Larrakia joined with Indonesian Armed Forces patrol boats KRI Kakap and KRI Tongkol for the exercise off Darwin.

Officer Conducting the Exercise, Commodore Braddon Wheeler, said CASSOWARY provided an opportunity for skills development between the two nations and the exchange of ideas.

“By regularly working together and sharing ideas, our Navies develop their teamwork to better protect our shared maritime interests.

“CASSOWARY featured a number of practical activities including simulated coordinated patrols, boarding party procedures, safety of life at sea and search and rescue exercises,” Commodore Wheeler said.

“It helped build on maritime security cooperation between Australia and Indonesia and provided insights into how each Navy does business.”

CASSOWARY built on the recent success of joint Australian-Indonesian coordinated maritime security patrol, AUSINDO CORPAT 2012 and was conducted in parallel with minor war vessel exercise TRITON THUNDER 01-12.

Naval Today Staff , May 16, 2012; Image: Australian Royal Navy