29 September 2023 Britain’s largest warship - HMS Prince of Wales - makes Virginia temporary homeport during East Coast deployment NORFOLK, Va. - The United Kingdom’s largest aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales (R09), will make Naval Station Norfolk its temporary homeport this fall beginning Sept. 30 as it pushes the boundaries of Naval Aviation with F-35 Lightning advancement and drone launches off the East Coast over the
29 September 2023 USS Paul Ignatius arrives in Stockholm The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) arrived in Stockholm, Sweden September 29, 2023 for a scheduled port visit, to enhance U.S.-Sweden relations and build NATO partner cohesion.
29 September 2023 USS Florida (SSGN 728) completes joint exercise with Norwegian Forces The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) completed a successful joint exercise with Norwegian Forces in August and September 2023.
25 September 2023 U.S. Forces Conduct Joint Aviation Integration Exercise in the Gulf of Oman U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) conducted a joint Air Operation in Maritime Surface Warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Gulf of Oman, Sept. 23-24.
20 September 2023 MDSU-1 Dives the Arctic with U.S. Coast Guard BEAUFORT SEA – Navy Divers assigned to Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 trained in one of the most remote parts of the world this summer – under the polar ice cap of the Arctic Circle.
19 September 2023 The World’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Trieste, Italy The U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), embarked staff from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61), arrived in Trieste, Italy for a scheduled port visit, Sept. 17, 2023.
18 September 2023 USS Marinette (LCS 25) Commissions the Wright Way Menominee, Michigan. -- The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Marinette (LCS 25) September 16, 2023, in Menominee, Michigan.
18 September 2023 Research Squadron VXS-1 Mobilizes Quickly to Track Hurricane Idalia PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 mobilized a crew for a NP-3C Orion operation with less than 24 hours’ notice to airdrop 18 SOFAR Spotter buoys in the Gulf of Mexico ahead of Hurricane Idalia on Monday, August 28.
18 September 2023 SECNAV Names Ship After American Abolitionist, Social Activist Harriet Tubman CHURCH CREEK, Md. - Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced today that he named a U.S. Navy ship after American abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman, Sept. 17.
17 September 2023 Immigrant Sailors celebrate citizenship during Constitution Week Sailors, with hope in their heart and papers in hand, confidently stride into an office that holds the key to their future as an American citizen. Upon entering, they go through a lengthy and often stressful process that ultimately sees them transition from immigrant to citizen following their Oath
17 September 2023 USS Bataan hosts distinguished visitors from Saudi Arabia at sea The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) hosted a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the U.S. ambassador, at sea Sept. 13 for a day-long embark. The embark was an opportunity for the delegation
16 September 2023 USS San Jacinto (CG-56) Decommissions, Honoring 35 Years of Service NORFOLK, Virginia – USS San Jacinto (CG-56) honored more than three decades of naval service during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Sept. 15.
15 September 2023 U.S. Fleet Forces Command Civilians Advance Leadership Skills through Local College Program NORFOLK, VA - Civilian employees within the U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) enterprise are furthering their leadership skills through a longstanding partnership with Old Dominion University.
15 September 2023 Hampton Roads Ombudsmen Honored at Annual Recognition Dinner VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Navy and Coast Guard ombudsmen from across Hampton Roads were celebrated Sept. 14 at the 2023 Joint Sea Services Ombudsman Recognition Dinner hosted by Navy League of the United States, Hampton Roads.
15 September 2023 Surface Force Leaders Gather to discuss the future of Surface Warfare at SNA SAN DIEGO — Leaders from across the Navy and defense industry gathered to discuss the future of naval surface warfare at the fourth annual Surface Navy Association (SNA) West Coast Waterfront Symposium aboard Naval Base San Diego, Sept. 13-14.
14 September 2023 Saildrones Set Sail in Support of U.S. 4th Fleet’s Operation Windward Stack KEY WEST, Florida – Commercial operators began deploying 10 Saildrone Voyager Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) out to sea today, a critical first step in U.S. 4th Fleet’s Operation Windward Stack.
14 September 2023 USS Florida arrives in Tromsø Tromsø, Norway — The Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) arrived in Tromsø, Norway for a regularly scheduled visit September 14, 2023.
11 September 2023 U.S. 6th Fleet Kicks off Exercise Sea Breeze 2023-3 CONSTANTA, Romania - Exercise Sea Breeze 2023 commenced following an opening ceremony held in Constanta, Romania, Sept. 11, 2023.
08 September 2023 Suicide Prevention Course Hosted by NSA Hampton Roads Base Chapel Service members gathered at the Naval Support Activities (NSA) Hampton Roads Chapel to participate in a course called safeTALK. Students who graduate this free, three-hour course will leave with the tools necessary to watch for, prevent, and aid people who suffer from suicidal tendencies or
08 September 2023 Naval Special Warfare Interoperates with USS John P. Murtha in Bering Sea East Coast based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) seamlessly integrated with USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) during Operation Polar Dagger, in the Alaskan Arctic region, demonstrating special operations forces capability to operate in austere locations to defend critical infrastructure and
08 September 2023 USS Gerald R. Ford "Beach Det" at NSA Souda Bay Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, hosted Sailors assigned to a remotely located logistics detachment of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), in support of the ship’s forward operations in the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 16 to Sept. 6, 2023.
08 September 2023 U.S. Navy and Marines arrive in Latvia for the upcoming German Baltic Sea exercise Northern Coast 2023 The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Bravo Command Element, arrived in Riga, Latvia for a routine and scheduled port visit, Sept. 7, 2023.
05 September 2023 NMCB 11 Returns from Field Training Exercise and Large Scale Exercise 2023 NCBC Gulfport, Miss. – Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 returned from their annual field training exercise (FTX) to their homeport in Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Mississippi, Aug. 15, 2023.
05 September 2023 USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) Holds Change of Command Ceremony The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) held its change of command ceremony at Pier 1 in Naval Station Rota, Spain, August 24, 2023.
31 August 2023 Information Warfare Team Trainer Continues to Effectively Ready Teams for Deployment The Afloat Watch-station Intelligence Course (AWIC) Teams, formally known as Information Warfare Team Trainer, in both Virginia Beach and San Diego are continuing to efficiently and effectively prepare afloat Information Warfare teams from the fleet for deployment.
30 August 2023 USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) completes exercise Atlas Handshake with the Royal Moroccan Navy The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) wrapped up participation in the bilateral exercise Atlas Handshake with the Royal Moroccan Navy, Aug. 27, 2023.
28 August 2023 Reserve Sailors Develop, Maintain Critical Skills in Mako Storm 23 NAVAL STATION NORFOLK— More than 60 Reserve Sailors from U.S. 5th Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet and U.S. Fleet Forces Command completed a four-day exercise July 16 to enhance their planning and operational capabilities.
26 August 2023 USS Normandy (CG 60) arrives in Marmaris, Türkiye The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, ported at Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris, Türkiye for a regularly scheduled port visit, August 26, 2023.
25 August 2023 USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) arrives in Larnaca, Cyprus The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) arrived in Larnaca, Cyprus, for a scheduled port visit, Aug. 25, 2023. Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, is on her fifth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol.
23 August 2023 Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces enable distributed maritime operations during LSE 2023 Sailors and Marines assigned to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) refined their warfighting concepts and tactics in live, virtual, and constructive training events throughout the month of August during Large Scale Exercise (LSE) 2023. NECC’s operations center provided command and
22 August 2023 USS Augusta to Commission in Eastport, Maine The future Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Augusta (LCS 34) will join the active fleet with a commissioning ceremony at Eastport, Maine on September 30.
21 August 2023 Military Sealift Command’s USNS Millinocket aids vessel in distress Military Sealift Command's (MSC) expeditionary fast transport USNS Millinocket (T EPF 3) rendered assistance to a distressed small leisure boat in the vicinity of Darwin, Australia, Aug. 8.
21 August 2023 USNS Burlington Arrives in Colombia SANTA MARTA, Colombia - The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) arrived in Santa Marta, Colombia on Aug. 20, marking the second stop throughout the course of the Continuing Promise 2023 mission.
18 August 2023 Navy, Marine Corps conclude Large Scale Exercise 2023 NORFOLK, Va. – More than 25,000 Sailors and Marines across the globe participated in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps-led Large Scale Exercise (LSE) 2023, Aug. 9-18.One of the largest exercises for the maritime services, LSE 2023 is a live, virtual and constructive, globally-integrated exercise
18 August 2023 U.S. Navy Riverine Vietnam Veteran Posthumously Awarded Bronze Star with Valor Virginia Beach, Va. The Navy posthumously recognized Lt. j.g. William Collins, a Vietnam War veteran and former officer-in-charge of a swift boat, during a ceremony today onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Collins’ wife Estella and his family accepted the award on his
18 August 2023 Keel Authenticated for Future USS Tang (SSN 805) GROTON, Conn. – Senior Navy leaders and shipbuilders gathered at General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, to attend a keel-laying ceremony for the future Virginia-class submarine USS Tang (SSN 805), Aug. 17.The keel laying ceremony signifies a major milestone in the life of a
17 August 2023 Naval Air Force Atlantic welcomes new commander Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT) held a change of command ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Aug. 17.
17 August 2023 Military Sealift Command’s USNS Millinocket Aids Vessel In Distress TIMOR SEA -- Military Sealift Command (MSC) expeditionary fast transport USNS Millinocket (T EPF 3) rendered assistance to a distressed small leisure boat in the vicinity of Darwin, Australia, Aug. 8.
17 August 2023 USS Mount Whitney, U.S. Sixth Fleet support LSE23 For the past two weeks, the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and embarked Sixth Fleet staff conducted operations in the Mediterranean Sea while participating in Large Scale Exercise (LSE) 2023.
14 August 2023 USS Porter rescues four divers off North Carolina coast during Large Scale Exercise 2023 Guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) rescued four scuba divers who were separated from the pleasure craft Big Bill’s and had not resurfaced on Aug. 13. They were reported missing for nearly 14 hours.
14 August 2023 U.S. 2nd Fleet CMC retires after impactful 34 year career Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet hosted a retirement ceremony for Command Master Chief Huben Phillips at Joint Force Staff College, Aug. 11, 2023, to celebrate more than 34 years of service.
10 August 2023 USS Mobile Bay Decommissions, Honors 36 Years of Service SAN DIEGO – USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) honored more than three decades of naval service during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Base San Diego, Aug. 10.
10 August 2023 Successful USS Normandy MDVR Keeps Ship Mission-Ready Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) completed a successful mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR) aboard USS Normandy (CG 60) Aug. 3, 2023. MDVRs are planned in-port maintenance periods that allow deployed U.S. ships to complete corrective and preventative maintenance that cannot be
09 August 2023 Navy and Marine Corps Commence Large Scale Exercise 2023 NORFOLK, Va. -- More than 10,000 Sailors and Marines across 22 times zones are now participating in Large Scale Exercise (LSE) 2023 as the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps officially kick off one of the maritime service’s largest exercises, Aug. 9.LSE 2023, integrating six Navy and Marine Corps
08 August 2023 USS Porter, USNS William McLean Perform Vertical Launch System Re-Arm Demonstration (August 3, 2023)—The crews of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) and Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) dry cargo ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) performed a MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) re-arm, pier-side, at Naval Station Norfolk, Aug. 3.
08 August 2023 Naval Air Force Atlantic addresses the 52nd Annual Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Association Professional Working Group Rear Adm. John Meier, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, served as the keynote speaker during the 52nd annual Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Association (ABMA) Professional Working Group, July 24-28.
08 August 2023 CNAL Returns to JROTC Flight Academy Graduation at ECSU Rear Adm. John Meier, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, returned for a second year to attend the graduation of 16 Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) high school students in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, July 31.
07 August 2023 SECNAV Names Future Navajo-Class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship Solomon Atkinson WASHINGTON -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro announced today that a future Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue (T-ATS) ship will be named in honor of Solomon Atkinson, a pioneering Navy SEAL and an Alaskan Native of the Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Islands Reserve.
07 August 2023 USS Roosevelt arrives in Riga, Latvia The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) arrived in Riga, Latvia, for a scheduled port visit, Aug. 6, 2023. Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, is on her fifth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol.
07 August 2023 3,000 Sailors and Marines Arrive in Middle East aboard USS Bataan, USS Carter Hall More than 3,000 U.S. Sailors and Marines of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the Middle East, Aug. 6, as part of a pre-announced Department of Defense deployment.