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John Currin

15 years in Royal New Zealand Navy

HMS Cleopatra (F28) was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). Cleopatra was built at HMNB Devonport.

HMS Cleopatra
The Royal Navy Leander-class frigate HMS Cleopatra (F28) in Tobermory Harbour, Mull, Scotland (UK), in 1978.
The Royal Navy frigate HMS Cleopatra (F28) underway during the NATO exercise North Star ’91, in September 1991.

 She was launched on 21 March 1964, commissioned on 1 March 1966 and decommissioned on 31 January 1992.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Cleopatra_(F28)

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47-Ship RIMPAC Exercise (2018) individual photos of ships from many countries

USS Sterett (DDG-104), front, participates in a photo exercise with Chilean Frigate Almirante Lynch (FF-07), second, Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341), third, French Navy Floreal-class frigate FS Prairial (F-731), fourth, United States Coast Guard Cutter USCHC Bertholf (WMSL-750), fifth, the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10), sixth, and Royal Canadian Navy commercial container ship Asterix. US Navy Photo

About 25,000 naval personnel and 52 ships and submarines from 26 countries will participate in this year’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which begins on Wednesday.

RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, includes rehearsal scenarios that cover disaster relief, amphibious operations, anti-piracy work, missile shots, mine clearance, maritime security, anti-submarine warfare and air defense operations, according to a statement released by U.S. 3rd Fleet.

During the course of the exercise, a series of live-fire events are scheduled, including: a long-range anti-ship missile (LRASM) shot by a U.S. Air Force aircraft; a surface-to-ship missile shot by members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force; and a naval strike missile (NSM) shot by the U.S. Army from a launcher on the back of a palletized load system (PLS), marking the first time a land-based unit is participating in a RIMPAC live-fire event, according to the 3rd Fleet statement.

Joining the U.S. military this year at RIMPAC are forces from the following nations: Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

China had initially been invited to participate in this year’s RIMPAC but had its invitation revoked in May due to the nation’s continued militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea, according to Pentagon officials.

In total, the exercise will involve 26 nations, 25,000 personnel, land forces from 18 countries, 47 surface ships, five submarines and more than 200 aircraft. The exercise spans from June 27 to Aug. 2 in both the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

Australia

HMAS Adelaide (L01). US Navy Photo

HMAS Adelaide (L-01)
HMAS Melbourne (FFG-05)
HMAS Rankin (SSG-78)
HMAS Success (OR-304)
HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156)

Canada

HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341). US Navy Photo

HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341)
HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331)
HMCS Whitehorse (MM-705)
HMCS Yellowknife (MM-706)
MV Asterix

Chile

CNS Almirante Lynch (FF-07)

CNS Almirante Lynch (FF-07)

France

FS Prairial (F-731). Royal New Zealand Navy Photo

FS Prairial (F-731)

India

INS Sahyadri (F-49)

INS Sahyadri (F-49)

Indonesia

KRI Martadinata (331)

KRI Makassar (590)
KRI Martadinata (OPV-331)

Japan

JS Ise (DDH-182) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110). US Navy Photo

JS Ise (DDH-182)

Malaysia

KD Lekiu (FFG-30)

KD Lekiu (FFG-30)

Mexico

The Mexican Navy tank landing ship ARM Usumacinta (A-412) arrives at Naval Base San Diego for the Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise June 29, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

ARM Usumacinta (A-412)

New Zealand

HMNZS Te Mana (F-111). New Zealand Navy Photo

HMNZS Te Mana (F-111)

Peru

BAP Ferré (PM-211) US Navy Photo

BAP Ferré (PM-211)

Philippines

BRP Andrés Bonifacio (FF-17)

BRP Andrés Bonifacio (FF-17)
BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602)

Singapore

Republic of Singapore navy guided-missile frigate RSS Tenacious (71) enters Pearl Harbor in preparation for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018 on June 25, 2018. US Navy Photo

RSS Tenacious (71)

South Korea

ROK Dae Jo Yeong (DDH-977)

ROKS Dae Jo Yeong (DDH-977)
ROKS Park Wi (SS-065)
ROKS Yulgok Yi (DDG-992)

United States

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on June 20, 2018. US Navy Photo

USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750)
USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE-7 )
USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10)
USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187)
USNS Mercy (T-AH-19)
USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204)
USNS Sioux (T-ATF-171)
USS Ardent (MCM-12)
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
USS Dewey (DDG-105)
USS Halsey (DDG-97)
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)
USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26)
USS Lake Champlain (CG-57)
USS Lake Erie (CG-70)
USS Momsen (DDG-92)
USS O’Kane (DDG-77)
USS Preble (DDG-88)
USS Sterett (DDG-104)
USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110)
HOS Mystique, a private construction vessel similar to ones owned by HOS Hornbeck and chartered by the U.S. Navy in the past to perform submarine and special warfare support, according to the company website.

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HARRY S. TRUMAN STRIKE GROUP 10, AT SEA 11.12.2007


Harry S. Truman Strike Group 10, made up of USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Hue City (CG 66), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Canadian frigate HMCS Charllottetown (FFH 339), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), perform a multi-ship maneuvering exercise. The strike group is en route to the Central Command area of responsibilty as part of the ongoing rotation to support maritime security operations in the region.

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HMS Duke of Edinburgh was the lead ship of the Duke of Edinburgh-class armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the early 1900s.

 

The British first class armoured cruiser HMS Duke of Edinburgh in the United States in 1909.

 
HMS Duke of Edinburgh, a British Duke of Edinburgh-class armoured cruiser, in the Hudson River during the 1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration.

She was stationed in the Mediterranean when the First World War began and participated in the pursuit of the German battlecruiser SMS Goeben and light cruiser SMS Breslau. After the German ships reached Ottoman waters, the ship was sent to the Red Sea in mid-August to protect troop convoys arriving from India. Duke of Edinburgh was transferred to the Grand Fleet in December 1914 and participated in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. She was not damaged during the battle and was the only ship of her squadron to survive. She was eventually transferred to the Atlantic Ocean in August 1917 for convoy escort duties.

The ship was sold for scrap in 1920.

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USS Arkansas (BB-33) was a dreadnought battleship, the second member of the Wyoming class, built by the United States Navy.

She was the third ship of the US Navy named in honor of the 25th state, and was built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation. She was laid down in January 1910, launched in January 1911, and commissioned into the Navy in September 1912. Arkansas was armed with a main battery of twelve 12-inch (305 mm) guns and capable of a top speed of 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph).

Arkansas served in both World Wars. During World War I, she was part of Battleship Division Nine, which was attached to the British Grand Fleet, but she saw no action during the war. During the interwar years, Arkansas performed a variety of duties, including training cruises for midshipmen and goodwill visits overseas.

Following the outbreak of World War II, Arkansas conducted Neutrality Patrols in the Atlantic prior to America’s entry into the war. Thereafter, she escorted convoys to Europe through 1944; in June, she supported the invasion of Normandy, and in August she provided gunfire support to the invasion of southern France. In 1945, she transferred to the Pacific, and bombarded Japanese positions during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the end of the war, she ferried troops back to the United States as part of Operation Magic Carpet. Arkansas was expended as a target in Operation Crossroads, a pair of nuclear weapon tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946.

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HMS Anson (79) was a King George V-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named after Admiral George Anson. She was built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Shipyard and launched on 24 February 1940, being completed on 22 June 1942.

HMS Anson at Devonport, March 1945

Her completion was delayed to allow the fitting of fire-control radar and additional anti-aircraft weapons. She was originally to have been named Jellicoe, but was renamed Anson in February 1940.

Anson saw service in the Second World War, escorting nine Russian convoys in the Arctic by December 1943. She took part in diversionary moves to draw attention away from Operation Husky in July 1943. In October the same year she took part in Operation Leader. In February 1944 she provided cover for Operation Tungsten, the successful air strike against the German battleship Tirpitz. Rear Admiral Cecil Harcourt accepted the surrender of Japanese forces occupying Hong Kong on board Anson in August 1945, and after the end of the war the vessel became the flagship of the 1st Battle Squadron of the British Pacific Fleet.

Anson arrived back in British waters on 29 July 1946, spending the next three years in active service with the post-war navy. She was finally placed in reserve and “mothballed” in 1949, spending eight years in this condition. On 17 December 1957 she was purchased for scrap by Shipbreaking Industries, Faslane.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Anson_(79)

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HMS Leander was a second class cruiser, name ship of the Royal Navy’s first Leander-class cruisers.

HMS Leander at Vancouver
 
Sketch of Leander, c. 1884
British second class cruiser HMS Leander, launched 1882

HMS Leander

 During a revolution in Panama in 1900, Leander helped protect the lives and property of foreign residents.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Leander_(1882)

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HMAS Culgoa (K408/F408/A256), named for the Culgoa River, was a Modified River (or Bay)-class frigate that served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Description

A port bow view of the RAN frigate HMAS Culgoa (F408), being prepared to leave port, possibly for a return trip to Australia. HMAS Culgoa was deployed to Japan in August 1949 and returned to Australia in February 1950, before serving in the Korean War in 1953. Its previous pennant number was K408. Note the Australian flag flying at the ship’s bow.



Construction[edit]

Culgoa was laid down by Williamstown Dockyard, Melbourne on 15 July 1943, launched on 22 September 1945 by Mrs. Showers, wife of the Second Naval Member of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board and completed on 24 December 1946. She was immediately placed in reserve until her commissioning on 1 April 1947.[1]

Operational history[edit]

Culgoa served in the Korean War.[1] She received the battle honour “Korea 1953” for this deployment.[2]

Decommissioning and fate[edit]

Culgoa paid off into reserve on 15 April 1954, and used as an accommodation ship by personnel at HMAS Waterhen until she was sold for scrap to N. W. Kennedy of Vancouver, Canada on 15 February 1972.[1] Culgoa left Sydney under tow for Taiwan in March 1972

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Northrop Grumman completes maiden flight of B-21 Raider stealth strategic bomber Aviation Defense News November 2023 POSTED ON MONDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2023 10:3

On November 10, 2023, a momentous event took place in the world of military aviation as the first flight of the B-21 Raider stealth strategic bomber occurred at the Plant 42 airfield of Northrop Grumman in Palmdale, California (Picture source: uncredited, via The Drive)

The B-21 Raider, shrouded in secrecy and advanced technology, successfully completed its maiden flight and headed to Edwards Air Force Base in California for rigorous testing by the Air Force Test Center. This aircraft represents a new era in military aviation, combining cutting-edge stealth capabilities with the ability to deliver precision strikes worldwide, making it a formidable asset for the United States and its allies.

The journey to the B-21 Raider’s first flight began in the 2000s when the program was initiated as the Next-Generation Bomber (NGB). However, it faced setbacks and was temporarily suspended before being revitalized in 2010 as the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B). Northrop Grumman won the project through a formal proposal in July 2014, and it was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense on October 27, 2015, with an initial contract worth $21.4 billion, marking the start of a significant endeavor.

The estimated total cost for research, development, and supplies for the B-21 program ranges from $80 billion to $90 billion, highlighting the substantial investment in this next-generation strategic bomber.

Officially designated as a “sixth-generation bomber” in 2016, the B-21 Raider’s development took place at Northrop Grumman’s Plant 42 facility in Palmdale, California. Six prototypes were planned, with one for ground testing and five for flight testing. The primary flight prototype, T-1, was constructed in 2019 and completed in March 2022, undergoing extensive factory ground tests. The G-1 ground test prototype was also completed in 2022.

The first flight prototype of the B-21 Raider was publicly presented on December 2, 2022, in Palmdale. In preparation, the aircraft had already undergone engine firings and taxi tests in September. On November 10, 2023, the B-21 Raider had its maiden flight.

Looking ahead, deliveries for the first production of B-21 aircraft are anticipated around 2026-2027, with an initial operational capability (IOC) expected by 2030. The U.S. Air Force plans to acquire between 100 to 200 B-21 aircraft, aiming to replace aging strategic bombers like the B-1B and B-2A. Funding allocations are planned to start in fiscal year 2025, with the goal of procuring six to seven B-21 aircraft annually, potentially increasing to 15 per year in the 2030s.

This approach demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s commitment to maintaining a potent fleet of strategic bombers. The B-21 Raider will complement the modernized Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers, creating a versatile force to meet various national security needs.

The cost of each B-21 aircraft has been a subject of interest, with unofficial estimates at around $700-750 million per aircraft as of my last update in January 2022.

Structurally, the B-21 Raider shares similarities with the stealthy subsonic flying wing bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit, albeit slightly smaller with a wingspan of 45 meters. It features a greater wing aspect ratio, deeply recessed engine air intakes, and new-generation radio-absorbing coatings for enhanced stealth capabilities. The B-21 is powered by two new Pratt & Whitney engines based on the F135 engine, used in the F-35 fighter aircraft. It is also designed to carry a maximum payload weight of 13,600 kg, with weapons bays capable of accommodating a larger volume than the B-2A.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the B-21 is its “open architecture” and modular systems, allowing for potential future developments, including the creation of an unmanned version of the aircraft. This adaptability underscores the B-21’s role as a cutting-edge platform that can evolve to meet evolving military requirements.

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