VIDEO: Navy Expanding Use of Virtual Trainers for Surface Ship Crews

The crew of USS Benfold (DDG-65) trains in the Combined Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD)/Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Trainer (CIAT) in San Diego, Calif., on March 5, 2020. USNI News photo.

The surface navy continues to expand and evolve its use of virtual trainers, as it looks to train and certify individual sailors and watch teams ashore so they can make best use of their time at sea.

The Navy now fields systems as simple as a microphone paired with a simulator display screen to...

Two-Carrier Fire Drill Trains Sailors to Avoid Problems Found in Early Moments of Bonhomme Richard Fire

Sailors assigned to USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) respond to a simulated casualty aboard Ford, Oct. 26, 2020. This integrated fire drill was a combined effort across Ford, Stennis and Naval Station Norfolk Federal firefighters to increase proficiency of all units in the event of an actual casualty. US Navy photo.

When USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) caught fire at the pier over the summer, sailors from across the waterfront rushed to the scene, some in damage control...

https://news.usni.org/2020/11/03/two-carrier-fire-drill-trains-sailors-to-avoid-problems-found-in-early-moments-of-bonhomme-richard-fire

E-2C Hawkeye Crashes Near Wallops Island, Crew Recovered Safely

An E-2C Hawkeye, assigned to Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120, flies over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Atlantic Ocean, Dec. 6, 2019. US NAvy Photo

A Navy command and control aircraft on a training flight crashed near the NASA flight center on Wallops Island, Va., service officials told USNI News on Monday.

The crew of the E-2C Hawkeye – two pilots and two aircrew – safely bailed out the aircraft and are currently undergoing medical...

https://news.usni.org/2020/08/31/e-2c-hawkeye-crashes-near-wallops-island-crew-recovered-safely

Carrier Truman Enters Shipyard for Short Repair Period After Back-to-Back Deployments

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard on July 7 for an Extended Carrier Incremental Availability. US Navy Photo

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) arrived at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard yesterday to begin a short maintenance period following significant underway time since 2018.

Truman has had a busy last three years: In July 2017, the carrier left Norfolk Naval Shipyard to head to the nearby Naval Station Norfolk after completing a 10-month planned incremental...

https://news.usni.org/2020/07/08/carrier-truman-enters-shipyard-for-short-repair-period-after-back-to-back-deployments

USS Wasp Arrives In Norfolk, Completing Homeport Shift From Japan

Sailors man the rails as the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia Nov. 18. Wasp returned to Norfolk, completing a homeport shift after spending nearly two years forward deployed to Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan and operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Navy photo

USS Wasp (LHD-1) arrived at Naval Station Norfolk on Monday, completing a homeport shift after being forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan for nearly two years.

Wasp had been...

https://news.usni.org/2019/11/19/uss-wasp-arrives-in-norfolk-completing-homeport-shift-from-japan

Truman Escorts Now Supporting Carrier Lincoln on Extended Deployment

USS Mason (DDG-87) moors pierside at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. Mason, USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), and USS Nitze (DDG 94), returned to their homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Va. on Nov. 5, 2019. US Navy Photo

Three guided-missile destroyers escorts returned to their Norfolk, Va. homeport on Wednesday while their carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), remains on station just outside the Persian Gulf, a Navy official confirmed to USNI News on Thursday.

Destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), USS Mason (D...

https://news.usni.org/2019/11/07/truman-escorts-now-supporting-carrier-lincoln-on-extended-deployment

Admiral: Carrier Lincoln’s Middle East Mission Will Be Extended

An MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopter attached to the Nightdippers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5 flies by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) during a search and rescue training exercise on Oct. 13, 2019. US Navy Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Lincoln Carrier Strike Group will remain on station in the Middle East while its relief carrier is still undergoing unexpected repairs on the East Coast, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Robert Burke said.

“She’s just over eight months...

https://news.usni.org/2019/10/25/admiral-carrier-lincolns-middle-east-mission-will-be-extended

Pentagon Hasn’t Extended Carrier Lincoln Deployment as More Troops Headed to Saudi Arabia

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) transits the Arabian Sea on Sept. 22, 2019. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON – Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has not extended the deployment of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group even in the midst of what the Pentagon described as a buildup of forces in Saudi Arabia to defend U.S. forces and interests against Iranian aggression, a Defense Department spokesman told USNI News.

Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley briefed reporters Friday...

https://news.usni.org/2019/10/11/pentagon-hasnt-extended-carrier-lincoln-deployment-as-more-troops-headed-to-saudi-arabia

Escorts Deploy Without USS Harry S. Truman as East Coast Carrier Shortage Persists

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), front, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) transit the Atlantic Ocean on July 18, 2019. US Navy Photo

Surface escorts from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group left their homeports today to kick off an overseas deployment.

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) did not.

After the carrier was sidelined at the end of August with a malfunction in the ship’s electrical distribution system, engineers continue to assess the...

https://news.usni.org/2019/09/12/escorts-deploy-without-uss-harry-s-truman-as-east-coast-carrier-shortage-persists

2nd Fleet Orders Ships Out of Hampton Roads Ahead of Hurricane Dorian

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) departs Naval Station Norfolk, Va. as Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet orders U.S. Navy ships and aircraft in the area to sortie on Sept. 4 ahead of Hurricane Dorian. US Navy Photo

U.S. 2nd Fleet sortied all Hampton Roads-based ships and aircraft that could leave on Wednesday ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Dorian.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center predicted the Hampton Roads region of Virginia would start experiencing the outer edges...

https://news.usni.org/2019/09/04/2nd-fleet-orders-ships-out-of-hampton-roads-ahead-of-hurricane-dorian