9 World News & Royal Navy News

USS Gerald R. Ford sees completion of Advanced Weapons Elevators

Early December 2021 saw completion of the 11th and final Advanced Weapons Elevator (AWE) aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). AWEs on the carrier operate using several advanced technologies including electromagnetic motors versus more labour intensive, hydraulic systems. The state-of-the-art technology enables fewer sailors to safely move ordnance from weapons magazines to the flight deck with unparalleled speed and agility. “This is a significant milestone for the Navy, ship, and her crew, ” said Rear Adm James P Downey, Programme Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers. “With completion of this final AWE, we now have the entire system to operate and train with. ” The Navy-Industry AWE team worked both in port and at sea to complete the elevators to ensure the availability of neccesary materials and engineering expertise. Myriad vendors collaborated to provide seamless support to multi-shift, shipboard production efforts. “The Navy-Industry teaming provided the opportunities for hundreds of craftsmen, technicians and engineers, working around the clock - through multiple underway and holiday periods - to get these advanced systems on line and operational, ” said Downey.This key milestone was achieved during the carrier ’ s six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) which is due to be complete this coming Spring after which Gerald R. Ford is scheduled for training and deployment.

Loss inspires return to RAN

Losing everything in the Black Summer bushfires Lieutenant RickWithers is returning to the RAN after an eight-year break. His wife and children were thankfully evacuated to safety,butWithers watched via satellite as their property was destroyed.Incredibly,theWithers ’ chose to accept their circumstances as an opportunity for personal growth. “I always felt I had unfinished business with the Navy.Starting again,we began talking about the possibility of me re-joining. ” Withers said. “As a specialist reservist, I’ ve returned with a much broader professional skill set and academic experience. ” Repeating an initial training period helped Lieutenant Withers see how far he and the Navy had come since he left.

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South Korea begins construction on 2nd KSS-III Batch-II submarine

The boat, built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, will be completed by 2026 and delivered to the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) in 2028 after undergoing sea trials.The KSS-III is the largest class of submarine in the ROKN.According to reports,the steel cutting took place 30th December in Geoje.

Japan approves highest ever defence budget

Japan ’ s Ministry of Defence has announced the outline for the FY2022.The budget will be designed as a 16-month budget, integrating the supplementary budget for FY2021.As such, the outcome is a record defence budget. Dubbed the “Accelerated Defence Capability Enhancement Package, ” it is aimed at accelerating the pace of defence capability enhancement, mainly in response to China ’ s growing military power.The total budget is 5.8661 trillion yen (around USD51 billion). New items added includeVLS for two Mogami-class FFMs and acquisition of three P-1 patrol aircraft.

China’s 2nd Type 075 LHD commissioned with PLAN

China ’ s second Type 075 Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) was commissioned recently with the People ’ s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’ s East Sea Fleet.The firstType 075 LHD, Hainan, was commissioned during a grand ceremony back in April 2021.The vessel was launched in September 2019 and started sea trials in August 2020.The latest vessel, Guangxi, was launched in April 2020 and started its sea trials in December 2020.The third Type 075 was launched in January this year and started sea trials in November.This represents a rate of one LHD launched every 6 months.

US Navy ships seize USD4 million of heroin from fishing vessel

Two US Navy ships seized 385 kilograms of heroin worth around USD4 million from a stateless fishing vessel transiting the Arabian Sea, December 27.The coastal patrol ships were operating as part of an international task force called Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity. CTF 150 is one of three task forces under Combined Maritime Forces. US Coast Guard personnel embarked aboard USS Tempest and USS Typhoon discovered the illegal shipment while conducting a flag verification boarding in accordance with customary international law.The confiscated drugs were destroyed at sea by US forces. “This latest seizure is a demonstration that CTF 150 and assigned surface and air assets are ready to conduct interdiction operations 365 days a year, ” said Royal New Zealand Navy Capt. Brendon Clark, commander of CTF 150. In 2021, CTF 150 has seized illegal drugs worth more than USD193 million during counter-narcotics operations at sea.This is a higher total value than the amount of drugs the task force interdicted in the previous four years combined.The US Navy released the stateless fishing vessel and its nine crew members, who identified themselves as Iranian nationals, after seizing the drugs.

HMS Richmond sailors reflect on deployment

Following seven months away with the UK Carrier Strike Group, HMS Richmond recently returned to Devonport.Often at the front of the Group, the ship carried out anti-submarine warfare, provided air defence and conducted a number of defence engagements. Some of her sailors and commanding officer Commander Hugh Botterill have been reflecting on the deployment. “The thing I am most proud of is the extraordinary resilience the ship ’ s company showed.The ability to take just knock after knock and get on with it and do the job they were tasked to do quietly and confidently makes me very proud.That resilience they demonstrated is only possible because of the support they had back home. At one stage, we were doing air protective duties while the F-35s were conducting their missions as part of Operation Shader [against Daesh]. The F-35s were able to respond because Richmond was reporting on air activity.We are designed to look for submarines and yet were taking part in an air campaign. I am really proud that we were able to step up and achieve, ” stated Botterill. EngineeringTechnician Chloe Chapman, 23, from Plymouth has been in the Royal Navy for two years and joined Richmond in March. Being her first ship it was a shock to the system. “It definitely threw me in at the deep end. But you have to get used to it in this environment, ” she said. “One of the highlights for me was marching with the Pakistan Navy in Pakistan.We were invited to march up to the Mausoleum - that was an incredible moment. ”

Marines musicians help boost vaccine effort

Royal Marines musicians are helping Britons by the hundreds as they support the national effort to get people their booster jabs. Bandsmen and women from the CommandoTraining Centre have been mobilised to work with Army medics to administer third vaccine jabs to the public across the SouthWest. CaptainVictoria Gordon RAMC, from CTCRM, is heading the team - part of 650 military personnel supporting the Covid jab drive across England alone. “It’ s a privilege, it’ s exciting to be part of the national effort. I’ ve worked in the NHS before.They do a fantastic job and it’ s wonderful to be supporting them, ” she said. “As part of the military you expect to be part of a mass effort.We ’ll be here as long as we ’ re needed.We ’ re here, we ’ re ready. ”

Engineers have saved £12m with a simple fix on the Merlin.According to original maintenance guidance, the nose landing gear should be replaced when the aircraft undergoes maintenance after 3,500 hours in the skies.The team at RNAS Culdrose questioned the need to replace the entire section, instead just swapping one single pinion. Chief Petty Officer Jamie Medlen praised contractors Chris Lewis-Brown and Jim Bartholomew who insisted the old undercarriage parts were still perfectly fit for use. Both Chris and Jim are former RN engineers with 45 years ’ experience between them and now work for the company Morson at Culdrose.

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Classic fighter joinsYeovilton’s growing historic collection

An iconicWW2-era fighter will display in tribute to naval aviators after it was snapped up by guardians of the Fleet Air Arm ’ s history. Charity NavyWings has bought a vintage Supermarine Seafire - the naval version of Britain ’ s most famous aircraft, the Spitfire - so it can appear at air displays as a ‘flying memorial’ to past air and ground crew. Seafire Mk XVII SX336 landed at RNASYeovilton where pilots learned to fly the fighters 80 years ago.

Boxing takes top honours at Royal Navy Sports Awards 2021

Royal Marine George Crotty and AB Sophie Colbourn were declared sportsman and sportswoman of the year respectively as a number of trophies were handed out by sports broadcaster John Inverdale. Mne Crotty spent the majority of the last two years representing the GB BoxingTeam in the light heavyweight division as they prepared for the 2021 Olympics. He fought in two international tournaments, winning gold in both.AB Colburn has won 13 out of 15 bouts for both RN Boxing and on the National Elite Boxing scene.The all-female RN Equestrian Dressage team won theTeam of theYear trophy after a series of Inter-Service and competition victories. MidshipmanTheo Dodds was namedYoung Sportsperson of theYear for his contribution to Royal NavyTarget Shooting.

RN looks to drones for supply at sea

The Navy ’ s crucial support arm is looking at using drones to deliver mail drops and other supplies to ships in the middle of the ocean.The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) is looking into the possibility of crewless aircraft performing some of the more routine, lighter duties.While some loads are too heavy for current small-scale drones to transport, seven out of ten resupply missions involve the transfer of loads up to 100lbs/45kg. Using drones would save time, money and sailors, and free up helicopters for other duties. Recent trials over the summer period proved successful. Royal Marines have tested re-supply by drone both on the battlefield and on the beachhead.