Top News of the Week November 25 – 30

Commanding Officer of USS Jefferson City Relieved

NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, Calif. – Cmdr. John Croghan relieved Cmdr. Brien Dickson as Commanding Officer of USS Jefferson City (SSN 759) during a pier side ceremony on Naval Base Point Loma Nov. 22. Capt. Thomas Ishee, Commander, Submarine Squadron 11, was the guest speaker at the ceremony.

UK: Babcock Begins HMS Sutherland Upgrade Project

Babcock has begun work to deliver an upgrade and maintenance programme on HMS Sutherland, which will see the Type 23 frigate receive extensive upgrades and improvements that will significantly increase the ship’s sustainability and fighting capability.  

Canada: Submarine Fleet Status

The Victoria-class submarine fleet continues to progress towards a steady state where three of four submarines will be available for operations.   This will include a high-readiness submarine available on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, HMCS Windsor and HMCS Victoria respectively, with a third submarine, HMCS Chicoutimi, available at standard readiness. 

UK: HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Radar Craned into Place

HMS Queen Elizabeth – the Navy’s flagship of tomorrow – is now taller than Nelson’s Column with the addition of the ship’s main radar. The large long range radar was craned into place on top of the carrier’s forward island. 

Russia Plans to Launch SSK Novorossiysk in 2013

It is planned to set afloat diesel electric submarine Novorossiysk late in 2013. According to Alexander Buzakov, acting director general of Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard, the Project 636.3 diesel sub will be stationed at Black Sea Fleet. SSK Novorossiysk was developed by Rubin Central Design Bureau.

USS Dallas Docks in Groton, Conn

Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) returned to Groton, Conn., Nov. 25, just in time for Thanksgiving and following its final scheduled deployment after more than 30 years in service.