John Currin
15 years in Royal New Zealand Navy
USS Trenton (CL-11) was an Omaha-class light cruiser, originally classified as a scout cruiser, of the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship named for the city of Trenton, New Jersey.
USS Trenton (CL-11)
She spent most of her pre-war career moving between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Trenton joined the Special Service Squadron in 1934, for a good-will tour of Latin America. In May 1939, she would join Squadron 40-T in protecting American interests during the Spanish Civil War and not return to the US until July 1940, when she carried the royal family of Luxembourg, fleeing from the Nazi occupation of their country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Trenton_(CL-11)
USS Tempest (PC-2) is the second of the Cyclone-class of United States Navy coastal patrol ships, named for various weather phenomena.
Onboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
Patrol Coastal, USS Tempest (PC 2) follows the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as the TRUMAN departs Norfolk, Va. to begin conducting Carrier Qualifications (CQ) and an Ammo Off Load off the eastern seaboard of the United States.
US Navy Photo by: Photographer’s Mate Second Class (AW/SW) Danny Ewing Jr.) (RELEASED) Releasing Authority LCDR Scott E. Norr, Photo Officer, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), By Direction.
She was transferred to the US Coast Guard as USCGC Tempest (WPC-2), on 1 October 2004, and placed in ‘Commission Special’ status until December 2005, when she was formally commissioned as a Coast Guard cutter. She was returned to the US Navy on 22 August 2008.
New Zealand Defence Force provides support for Solomon Islands election
HMNZS Canterbury and two helicopters are being deployed as part of New Zealand’s programme of support for the upcoming Solomon Islands elections.
25 MARCH, 2024
A team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters from No. 3 Squadron will travel on board HMNZS Canterbury this week to provide logistics support for the Solomon Islands elections on April 17.
Today’s announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins follows a request from the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission. It is part of NZ$10.8 million election support programme announced by the New Zealand Government in January.
Earlier this month, HMNZS Canterbury trained with No. 3 Squadron in the Hauraki Gulf in preparation for this mission, conducting multiple flights to and from the flight deck, including winching exercises. The exercise qualified four pilots and 10 helicopter loadmasters in ship operations.
Watch NH90 helicopter training with HMNZS Canterbury | New Zealand Defence Force video
NH90 HELICOPTER TRAINING WITH HMNZS CANTERBURY | NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE
Once there, the helicopters will help transport election officers and materials around Solomon Islands.
Mr Peters says the support programme includes funding towards the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission’s election preparation and management, technical support from the New Zealand Electoral Commission, and an independent observer mission.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our personnel to work again with the Solomon Islands’ Government and alongside Australian counterparts in support of regional peace and security,”Mr Peters said.
“New Zealand’s overall contribution will support the Commission to lead the delivery of a safe and successful election. It demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to a resilient democracy in Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region.”
Commander Bronwyn Heslop, Commanding Officer of HMNZS Canterbury, says the ship’s company always bonds quickly with the NH90 teams.
The last time No. 3 Squadron travelled with HMNZS Canterbury was during an exercise with Fijian military a year ago, to train personnel in amphibious warfare and relief work in the Pacific.
New Zealand has a long history of supporting elections in the Pacific, including providing a similar level of logistics support during the 2019 Solomon Islands election, alongside the Australian Defence Force.
The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) and aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 fly over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in the Atlantic Ocean, March 3, 2021.
The IKE Carrier Strike Group is participating in Lightning Handshake, a bi-lateral exercise between the U.S. and the Royal Moroccan Navy (RMN) and Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF). IKE is on a routine deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Jared Strout/Released)