Top News of the Week May 12 – 18, 2014

US Navy Sailors Drive Potent New Riverine Boat

It’s small, fast, heavily armed, networked and one of a kind. But the new coastal command boat just starting to operate in this region is giving sailors in the Persian Gulf a taste of the swift and bad-ass boats coming to the brown-water Navy. 

Construction of Royal Navy’s HQ in Bahrain Begins

Work has begun to create a new £6m headquarters to serve as the hub of the Royal Navy’s most important theatre – the Middle East.   Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois MP broke ground with a golden shovel at the site of the new UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC) complex in Bahrain. 

Chilean Submarine Pays Visit to San Diego

The Chilean diesel-electric submarine CS Thomson (SS 20) arrived at U.S. Naval Base Point Loma May 1 while participating in the U.S. Navy’s Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI). 

Another Accident on Indian Navy’s Track Record

Three people have been injured in an accident onboard INS Ganga destroyer of the Indian Navy earlier today, reports the Hindustan Times.   The Godavari-class guided-missile frigate was undergoing routine maintenance and refit at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai when a fire broke out during welding activities.

HMS Dragon to Sail into Cardiff, UK

In only her second ever visit to her adopted city, the Royal Navy’s HMS Dragon will sail into Cardiff on Wednesday (May 14) for five days.   Arriving early, the 152-metre ship will build on the already strong bond which has formed between this modern ship and Cardiff in a very short time.

US Navy Tests Raytheon’s Joint Standoff Weapon

Raytheon Company and the U.S. Navy showcased the operational capability of the Joint Standoff Weapon in challenging back-to-back flight tests. Launched from F/A-18F Super Hornets, at approximately 25,000 feet, two JSOW II C air-to-ground weapons flew preplanned routes before destroying simulated cave targets.