U.S. 5th Fleet

Top Stories 2018: Navy Operations

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) as the ship transits the Strait of Gibraltar on Dec. 4, 2018. US Navy Photo

USNI News polled its writers, naval analysts and service members on what they consider the most important military and maritime stories in 2018.

If 2018 made anything clear, it’s that the U.S. Navy noticed the increased Russian submarine activity in the Atlantic and won’t let it go unaddressed.

Much of the U.S. Navy’s major activities this year were focused on the Atlantic Ocean, on NATO allies...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/26/top-stories-2018-navy-operations

U.S. Carrier in Middle East Focused on Missions Over Afghanistan, Maritime Security

Sailors huddle to communicate as an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Arabian Sea on Dec. 18, 2018. US Navy Photo

Afghanistan – not Syria – has been the primary focus of the air wing embarked aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) since the carrier strike group entered U.S. 5th Fleet in early December, USNI News has learned.

As of Thursday morning, the Stennis Carrier Strike...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/20/u-s-carrier-in-middle-east-focused-on-missions-over-afghanistan-maritime-security

Navy Sees Sudden Rise in Suicide Rate Since 2015; Unclear on Causes

A sailor plays ‘Taps.’ US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON – Over the past two years, the number of active duty sailors who committed suicide grew rapidly at a time the overall number of active duty service members taking their lives increased more modestly, according to data from the Department of Defense obtained by USNI News.

The sudden death of U.S. 5th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Scott Stearney in what is an apparent suicide is part of a troubling trend for the service. During 2017 and the first half...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/11/navy-suicide-rate-rising-faster-than-dod

Vice. Adm. James Malloy Nominated to Lead 5th Fleet Following Death of Former Commander

Then-Rear Adm. Jim Malloy, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10 in 2016. US Navy Photo

The Pentagon has tapped an admiral with extensive Middle East experience to lead the U.S. Navy’s forces in U.S. Central Command.

Vice Adm. James Malloy, current deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy (N3/N5), has been nominated to lead U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command following the sudden death of former commander Vice Adm. Scott Stearney on Dec. 1.

Malloy...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/06/james-malloy-lead-5th-fleet-sudden-death

Vice Adm. James Malloy in Bahrain Ahead of Temporary 5th Fleet Command Assignment

French Rear Adm. Olivier Lebas, right, commander, Task Force 473, speaks with Rear Adm. James Malloy, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, on the aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91). US Navy photo.

A Navy vice admiral has landed in Bahrain on temporary duty with U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, after the previous commander was found dead in his home over the weekend from an apparent suicide.

Vice Adm. James Malloy, deputy chief of naval operations for operations,...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/03/rear-adm-paul-schlise-assumes-acting-command-of-u-s-5th-fleetnaval-forces-central-command

VCNO Moran Headed to Bahrain Following Death of 5th Fleet Commander

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran speaks to sailors during an all-hands call at Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae, Korea on Sept. 11, 2018. US Navy Photo

The Navy’s number-two is on his way to the U.S. naval base in Bahrain following the Saturday death of U.S. 5th Fleet commander Vice. Adm. Scott Stearney.

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran is set to arrive this week at Naval Support Activity Bahrain to console Stearney’s family and the sailors at installation, a Navy...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/03/vcno-moran-headed-bahrain-following-death-5th-fleet-commander

BREAKING: U.S. 5th Fleet Commander Found Dead in Bahrain

Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, is rendered honors on the quarterdeck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) on Oct. 24, 2018. US Navy Photo

This post will be updated with additional information as available.

Vice Adm. Scott A. Stearney, commander of U.S. 5th Fleet, was found dead his quarters in Bahrain on Saturday, according to a statement from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John...

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/01/breaking-u-s-5th-fleet-commander-found-dead-bahrain

Navy Developing New Mine Countermeasures USV for Littoral Combat Ships

A developmental, early variant of the Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV) autonomously conducts maneuvers on the Potomac River Test Range on March 28, 2018. US Navy Photo

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Last week Naval Sea Systems Command won Pentagon approval to develop a mine countermeasure unmanned surface vehicle as part of the Navy’s ongoing effort to replace its aging MCM infrastructure.

The goal is to create a platform that can accommodate several different modular systems for mine hunting, mine...

https://news.usni.org/2018/10/17/navy-developing-new-mine-countermeasures-usv-littoral-combat-ships

Marines Prepared to Use F-35Bs in Middle East Combat If Needed; No Other Naval Aviation Nearby

F-35B Lightning II, attached to the “Avengers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, sit on the flight deck of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) on Sept. 4, 2018, while transiting the Indian Ocean with San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) during a regularly scheduled deployment of Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The Essex ARG and 13th MEU is the first U.S. Navy/Marine Corps team to deploy to...

https://news.usni.org/2018/09/12/marines-prepared-to-use-f-35bs-in-middle-east-combat-if-needed-no-other-naval-aviation-nearby

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