Wednesday, November 14, 2012
USS Nimitz Completes Joint Training Phase
USS Nimitz Completes Joint Training Phase
In: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=70615
In: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=70615
USS Nimitz Completes Joint Training Phase
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nichelle N. Whitfield, USS Nimitz Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 successfully completed Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) Nov. 12.
JTFEX is designed to test a strike group's ability to operate in hostile and complex environments with other U.S. and coalition forces.
The integrated exercise combines specific warfare areas with the purpose of making preparations for the strike group's upcoming deployment.
"Nimitz, CSG 11 and CVW 11 displayed enormous resilience and competence while being tested as an integrated force in the Joint Task Force Exercise," said Commander, CSG 11 Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao. "I am confident with the integrated training we received we are now fully capable and combat ready to quickly respond to any maritime operation."
More than 8,000 Sailors worked together to hone their operational skills in preparation for their upcoming deployment. Upon completion of the exercise, U.S. 3rd Fleet Commander, Vice Adm. Gerald Beaman certified the CSG as "major combat operations ready" and ready to deploy. The Nimitz CSG is now postured and capable of supporting any of the Navy's maritime strategy missions prior to its deployment.
"I'm very proud of Warrior Team 11's performance during these past two months of integrated and joint training," said Gumataotao. "We are ready to support our Navy's mission anywhere, anytime."
The Nimitz CSG includes Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, Carrier Air Wing 11 and Commander Destroyer Squadron 23. Ships assigned include: USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Princeton (CG 59), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Antietam (CG 54).
U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and is responsible for providing realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.
For more news from Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c3f/.
JTFEX is designed to test a strike group's ability to operate in hostile and complex environments with other U.S. and coalition forces.
The integrated exercise combines specific warfare areas with the purpose of making preparations for the strike group's upcoming deployment.
"Nimitz, CSG 11 and CVW 11 displayed enormous resilience and competence while being tested as an integrated force in the Joint Task Force Exercise," said Commander, CSG 11 Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao. "I am confident with the integrated training we received we are now fully capable and combat ready to quickly respond to any maritime operation."
More than 8,000 Sailors worked together to hone their operational skills in preparation for their upcoming deployment. Upon completion of the exercise, U.S. 3rd Fleet Commander, Vice Adm. Gerald Beaman certified the CSG as "major combat operations ready" and ready to deploy. The Nimitz CSG is now postured and capable of supporting any of the Navy's maritime strategy missions prior to its deployment.
"I'm very proud of Warrior Team 11's performance during these past two months of integrated and joint training," said Gumataotao. "We are ready to support our Navy's mission anywhere, anytime."
The Nimitz CSG includes Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, Carrier Air Wing 11 and Commander Destroyer Squadron 23. Ships assigned include: USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Princeton (CG 59), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Antietam (CG 54).
U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and is responsible for providing realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.
For more news from Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c3f/.
Royal Navy Lynx joins French frigate for counter-piracy ops
Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Training and Adventure | Royal Navy Lynx joins French frigate for counter-piracy ops
In: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/TrainingAndAdventure/RoyalNavyLynxJoinsFrenchFrigateForCounterpiracyOps.htm
In: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/TrainingAndAdventure/RoyalNavyLynxJoinsFrenchFrigateForCounterpiracyOps.htm
Royal Navy Lynx joins French frigate for counter-piracy ops
A Training and Adventure news article
14 Nov 12
The first Royal Navy Lynx helicopter to join a French frigate for a full counter-piracy deployment has arrived on board the ship in Toulon, on France's south coast.
The Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 helicopter from 217 Flight is guided in to land on the Marine nationale frigate FS Surcouf
[Picture: Second maître Sebastien Chenal, Marine nationale]
[Picture: Second maître Sebastien Chenal, Marine nationale]
As part of the initiative for the UK and French Armed Forces to work more closely together, a Lynx Mk8 aircraft and 12 UK personnel from 217 Flight, based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, will deploy with the French frigate FS Surcouf as part of Operation ATALANTA, off the Horn of Africa.
Before the Surcouf deploys at the end of November, the detachment of Royal Navy personnel have started a four-week training period, which includes an exercise to assess the warship's operational capabilities.
Flight Commander Lieutenant Mike Curd said:
Before the Surcouf deploys at the end of November, the detachment of Royal Navy personnel have started a four-week training period, which includes an exercise to assess the warship's operational capabilities.
Flight Commander Lieutenant Mike Curd said:
"To be given the opportunity to learn the language and then spend an entire deployment operating with the French Navy is fantastic, and my team is very excited, not only to be contributing to counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, but also to be doing it in such unusual circumstances."
Lieutenant Mike Curd greets a French flight deck operator on board the FS Surcouf
[Picture: Second maître Sebastien Chenal, Marine nationale]
[Picture: Second maître Sebastien Chenal, Marine nationale]
Lt Curd and helicopter pilot Lt Chris Southworth are part of a team comprising senior maintenance rating Chief Petty Officer Matthew Eccles and seven aircraft engineers, along with two Royal Marines snipers.
Their training for this deployment included a 15-week French language course earlier this year to prepare them for life on board the French vessel.
This deployment falls under the terms of the Anglo-French Treaty signed at the Lancaster House summit in November 2010 in which the UK and France agreed on military co-operation to assure their international commitments and strengthen their capabilities.
Their training for this deployment included a 15-week French language course earlier this year to prepare them for life on board the French vessel.
This deployment falls under the terms of the Anglo-French Treaty signed at the Lancaster House summit in November 2010 in which the UK and France agreed on military co-operation to assure their international commitments and strengthen their capabilities.
The Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 on the flight deck of the FS Surcouf
[Picture: Second maître Sebastien Chenal, Marine nationale]
[Picture: Second maître Sebastien Chenal, Marine nationale]
Op ATALANTA is part of the European Union's ongoing naval effort to disrupt and deter piracy in a bid to reduce its impact on international trade and maritime security and on the economic activities and security of countries in the region.
The Commanding Officer of the FS Surcouf, Capitaine de Frigate Hughes Laine, said:
The Commanding Officer of the FS Surcouf, Capitaine de Frigate Hughes Laine, said:
217 Flight will be away over Christmas and the New Year, returning to RNAS Yeovilton in March 2013."I am very pleased to welcome 217 Flight to Surcouf and look forward to having the world-renowned capability of the Lynx Mk8 at my disposal for the deployment."
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA): New fleet of RFA tankers named
Equipment and Logistics
In: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/NewFleetOfRfaTankersNamed.htm
In: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/NewFleetOfRfaTankersNamed.htm
Defence
News Article
New fleet of RFA tankers named
An Equipment and Logistics news article
14 Nov 12
Four new Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tankers, which will be bought as part of the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) programme, will be called the Tide Class.
Artist's impression of one of the new Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers carrying out a replenishment at sea with a Type 45 destroyer
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
The 37,000-tonne ships will come into service from 2016 to replace the RFA's single-hulled tankers, and will maintain the Royal Navy's dedicated bulk fuel replenishment at sea capabilities.
The 200-metre long tankers will also be able to carry helicopters and will support Royal Navy warships deployed around the world.
Head of the RFA, Commodore Bill Walworth, said:
The 200-metre long tankers will also be able to carry helicopters and will support Royal Navy warships deployed around the world.
Head of the RFA, Commodore Bill Walworth, said:
"I am delighted that the MARS fleet tankers will be called the Tide Class.The ships will be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering to a design provided by UK company BMT Defence Services.
"The original Tides were the first purpose-built fleet tankers to support aircraft carriers and were highly successful and popular ships.
"The new Tides promise to be better still. A large number of people have worked hard to get us to this point, with the ships on contract and the first to be delivered into service in 2016.
"Tidespring, Tiderace, Tidesurge and Tideforce, which is a new name, will be superb ships that will reflect the successful past and a confident future for the RFA service."
The new Tide Class Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers will come into service from 2016
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]
In addition, UK companies will benefit from up to £150m of associated spending on key equipment, systems, design and support services, and on the customisation and trials package which will take place in the UK once the ships have been built.
The original Tide Class fleet tankers served in the RFA from 1954 until 1991, operating worldwide in support of numerous operations and exercises.
Developed using the lessons of the Pacific Campaign in the Second World War, these versatile ships were the first purpose-designed replenishment tankers for the RFA.
Carrying bulk fuels, oil and fresh water they replenished aircraft carriers and warships, both British and Allied, enabling task groups to remain at sea for extended periods:
• Tidespring - the original Tidespring was awarded a battle honour in 1982
• Tiderace - after service in the Suez Crisis, the Tiderace was renamed the Tideflow to avoid confusion with another ship name
• Tidesurge - originally launched as RFA Tiderange in 1954, she spent many of her early years east of Suez and served until 1976
• Tideforce - a new name in the RFA service.
The original Tide Class fleet tankers served in the RFA from 1954 until 1991, operating worldwide in support of numerous operations and exercises.
Developed using the lessons of the Pacific Campaign in the Second World War, these versatile ships were the first purpose-designed replenishment tankers for the RFA.
Carrying bulk fuels, oil and fresh water they replenished aircraft carriers and warships, both British and Allied, enabling task groups to remain at sea for extended periods:
• Tidespring - the original Tidespring was awarded a battle honour in 1982
• Tiderace - after service in the Suez Crisis, the Tiderace was renamed the Tideflow to avoid confusion with another ship name
• Tidesurge - originally launched as RFA Tiderange in 1954, she spent many of her early years east of Suez and served until 1976
• Tideforce - a new name in the RFA service.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Huge section of HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves shipyard
Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Equipment and Logistics | Huge section of HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves shipyard
In: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/HugeSectionOfHmsQueenElizabethLeavesShipyard.htm
In: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/HugeSectionOfHmsQueenElizabethLeavesShipyard.htm
News Article
Huge section of HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves shipyard
An Equipment and Logistics news article
6 Nov 12
The largest section of future carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is now complete and on its way to join the rest of the ship.
The largest section of future carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth begins its journey to join the rest of the ship
[Picture: BAE Systems 2012]
[Picture: BAE Systems 2012]
This gigantic segment - officially known as Lower Block 04 and weighing 11,300 tonnes - was towed on a barge down the Clyde on Sunday to begin a 1,230-nautical-mile (2,278km) journey around the south of England to Rosyth.
Originally the shorter route around the north of Scotland had been planned. However, bad weather in the north of the UK forced reconsideration and the route was changed to around the south of England and up to Rosyth through the North Sea.
Employees at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard, where the section was pieced together, and members of the public watched as a large seagoing barge carrying the aft section of hull made its way along the Clyde, past new destroyer HMS Duncan in the final stages of completion at Scotstoun, and under the Erskine Bridge.
Travelling around the south coast of England, the block - the final section of the hull to be finished - is scheduled to arrive at Rosyth early next week where it will be joined to the rest of HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Originally the shorter route around the north of Scotland had been planned. However, bad weather in the north of the UK forced reconsideration and the route was changed to around the south of England and up to Rosyth through the North Sea.
Employees at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard, where the section was pieced together, and members of the public watched as a large seagoing barge carrying the aft section of hull made its way along the Clyde, past new destroyer HMS Duncan in the final stages of completion at Scotstoun, and under the Erskine Bridge.
Travelling around the south coast of England, the block - the final section of the hull to be finished - is scheduled to arrive at Rosyth early next week where it will be joined to the rest of HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Lower Block 04 being transported on a large seagoing barge under the Erskine Bridge
[Picture: BAE Systems 2012]
[Picture: BAE Systems 2012]
Lower Block 04 is 86 metres long, 40 metres wide and 23 metres high and contains the carrier's two main engine rooms, the sick bay and quarters for some of the 1,500 sailors and air group personnel who will serve in her later this decade.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
"Our next generation of aircraft carriers is on track, with HMS Queen Elizabeth due to begin sea trials in 2017 and flight trials from her deck using our Lightning II fast jets in 2018. We are regenerating our carrier strike capability with the largest aircraft carriers Britain has ever had and fifth-generation stealth jets.
"Scotland has a world class shipbuilding industry that has benefited to the tune of around £1.3bn from the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. More than 2,000 people work on the carriers at Rosyth, with a further 2,000 on the Clyde."
BAE Systems' Angus Holt, in charge of block delivery for the Queen Elizabeth Class, said:
"There's a real sense of pride here in the yard and across the Aircraft Carrier Alliance.
"This is the final hull section of HMS Queen Elizabeth and her arrival in Rosyth will mark an exciting and significant phase in the programme when we will really see the immense scale of the nation's flagships."
Employees at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard watch as the aft section of hull makes its way past new destroyer HMS Duncan in the final stages of completion at Scotstoun
[Picture: BAE Systems 2012]
[Picture: BAE Systems 2012]
The giant block was edged out of the firm's shipbuilding hall at Govan a fortnight ago and prepared for its journey by being firmly secured to the seagoing barge. The carrier team closely monitored weather forecasts to plan a smooth journey to the east coast.
On its arrival in the Firth of Forth, the block will be floated off the specialist barge and moved into position in dry dock, ready to join the other sections already in place.
Around 250 employees from the Clyde will follow the block to Rosyth where they will work in partnership with Babcock to complete the assembly phase.
Meanwhile, production on both Lower Blocks 03 and 04 of Queen Elizabeth's sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, continues to progress at Govan, while the aft island for the first ship is under construction at the company's Scotstoun yard.
Half-a-dozen yards around the UK are involved in the carrier project, with some 10,000 people directly or indirectly involved in building sections and parts or providing equipment for the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales.
With the Olympics now over, the construction of the aircraft carriers is the biggest and most complex engineering project in the UK.
On its arrival in the Firth of Forth, the block will be floated off the specialist barge and moved into position in dry dock, ready to join the other sections already in place.
Around 250 employees from the Clyde will follow the block to Rosyth where they will work in partnership with Babcock to complete the assembly phase.
Meanwhile, production on both Lower Blocks 03 and 04 of Queen Elizabeth's sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, continues to progress at Govan, while the aft island for the first ship is under construction at the company's Scotstoun yard.
Half-a-dozen yards around the UK are involved in the carrier project, with some 10,000 people directly or indirectly involved in building sections and parts or providing equipment for the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales.
With the Olympics now over, the construction of the aircraft carriers is the biggest and most complex engineering project in the UK.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
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