Top News of the Week August 5 – 10, 2013

USS Lassen Docks in Melbourne, Australia

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) arrived in Melbourne for a port visit, Aug. 7. During the port visit Lassen will be involved in several community engagement projects including a visit to an after school program and a soccer game with the local community. 

USA: X-47B Returns to Pax River

The Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator safely returned to Naval Air Station Patuxent River Aug. 8 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia aftercompleting a number of historic firsts for carrier-based unmanned aviation. 

USS Santa Fe Arrives at Fleet Activities Yokosuka

The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka Aug. 8 for a visit as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific. With a crew of 135 men, Santa Fe will conduct a multitude of missions and showcase the latest capabilities of the submarine fleet.

US Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay CMC Relieved

Capt. Daryl K. Daniels, commanding officer of U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, has relieved Command Master Chief, Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW/FMF) Robert Banuelos, due to lack of confidence because of allegations of personal misconduct. The allegations of misconduct against Banuelos are currently under investigation. 

VIDEO: OPV Araguari Heads for Brazil

The newest ship in the Brazilian Navy’s fleet departed the UK in late July on a journey of more than 10,000 miles to Brazil. ARAGUARI is the third of three Amazonas Class ocean patrol vessels delivered to the Brazilian Navy by BAE Systems.

HMAS Darwin Resurgent Again

HMAS Darwin is “Resurgent” again; having recently completed a major maintenance docking, which involved more than 140,000 hours of contracted work. Emerging from the dry Dock in mid May, her crew began the tireless work required to transform the industrial worksite back into an operational warship.