US 7th Fleet

USS Howard Suffered ‘Soft Grounding’ Near Bali Ahead of CO Removal

USS Howard (DDG-83) conducts small boat operations off the Japanese coast on Jan. 24, 2023. US Navy Photo

A Japan-based guided-missile destroyer made a “soft-grounding,” near the Indonesian island of Bali ahead of a port visit on Aug. 10, USNI News has learned.
USS Howard (DDG-83) was heading to the island for a port visit when the destroyer grounded, Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Megan Greene said in a statement.

“On the morning of Aug. 10, USS Howard (DDG-83) experienced an apparent soft grounding...

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/22/uss-howard-suffered-soft-grounding-near-bali-ahead-of-co-removal

Japan-based Destroyer CO Removed from Command

USS Howard (DDG-83) transits the Philippine Sea during Pacific Vanguard 23, July 4, 2023. US Navy Photo

The commander of Japan-based guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG-83) was removed from command Saturday, Navy officials told USNI News.

U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas removed Cmdr. Kenji Igawa from command, “due to loss of confidence in his ability to command,” according to a service statement provided to USNI News.

Cmdr. Kenji Igawa on Dec. 1, 2022. US Navy Photo

“Capt....

https://news.usni.org/2023/08/21/japan-based-destroyer-co-removed-from-command

Command Investigation into USS Connecticut’s South China Sea Seamount Grounding

The following is the command investigation into the Oct. 2, 2021 collision of attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN-21) into an underwater seamount in the South China Sea.

From the investigation

On 2 October 2021, CONNECTICUT grounded on an uncharted bathymetric feature while operating submerged in a poorly
surveyed area in international waters. This mishap was preventable. It resulted from an accumulation of errors and
omissions in navigation planning, watchteam execution, and risk management...

https://news.usni.org/2022/05/23/command-investigation-into-uss-connecticuts-south-china-sea-seamount-grounding

French Fleet Beginning to Recover From Budget Turmoil Says Navy Chief

Adm. Pierre Vandier. French Navy Photo

The French Navy is only now starting to recover from 30 years of deep budget cuts that saw its fleet size halved, its senior admiral said Monday.

Adm. Pierre Vandier, chief of the French Navy since September 2020, said, it “now lacks certain naval assets [going into] the future” despite operational demands that it remains a global force.

Even with an uptick in defense spending, he added, “gaps will not be filled until 2029.” Vandier said that the 20-year plan...

https://news.usni.org/2022/02/01/french-fleet-beginning-to-recover-from-budget-turmoil-says-navy-chief

Top Stories 2021: International Acquisition

This post is part of a series looking back at the top naval stories from 2021.

This year U.S. rivals and allies made major strides in developing expanded naval capabilities from expanding aircraft carrier capability to developing new hypersonic weapons.

AUKUS

(l-r) Minister for Defence the Hon Peter Dutton MP, United States Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman and British High Commissioner Victoria Treadell CMG, MVO, prior to the signing of the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information...

https://news.usni.org/2021/12/30/top-stories-2021-international-acquisition

South Korea’s Navy Growing to Counter More Regional Threats Beyond North Korea

The budget for the first three Sejong Daewang-class (KDX-III) destroyers was slated at $1.1 billion per
ship. Its large missile inventory is designed to ensure that the ship has plenty of opportunity to
destroy missile attacks on South Korea from the North. US Navy Photo

The Republic of Korea Navy is no longer solely focused on the threat from its northern neighbor, but is embarking on an expansion to build a fully-fledged blue water fleet.

Supported by its two main naval shipbuilders – Hyundai...

https://news.usni.org/2021/12/01/south-koreas-navy-growing-to-counter-more-regional-threats-beyond-north-korea

USS Connecticut Underway off Guam After Undergoing Repairs

USS Connecticut (SSN-22) arrives at Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a scheduled port visit, July 31, 2021. US Navy Photo

The U.S. attack submarine that struck an underwater seamount last month is underway off the coast of Guam after more than a month of damage assessment repairs, two defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Thursday.

USS Connecticut (SSN-22) left Guam on its own power Thursday evening local time, according to ship spotters tracking the automatic identification signal (AIS) as it...

https://news.usni.org/2021/11/18/uss-connecticut-underway-off-guam-after-undergoing-repairs

COMSUBFOR: Sub Force Will Hold a Navigational ‘Stand Down’ Following Initial Results of USS Connecticut Collision Investigation

USS Connecticut (SSN-22) departs Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for sea trials following a maintenance availability on Dec. 14, 2016. US Navy Photo

The Navy on Wednesday called for a navigational stand down following a nuclear attack submarine’s collision in the South China Sea last month.

Vice Adm. William Houston, commander of Naval Submarine Forces, said he and the head of submarine forces in the Pacific signed a message today calling for the stand down after Seawolf-class attack submarine USS Con...

https://news.usni.org/2021/11/17/comsubfor-sub-force-will-hold-a-navigational-stand-down-following-initial-results-of-uss-connecticut-collision-investigation

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