The SWO Picture Gallery for those so inclined

[HeyJoe]

090611-N-5624R-002 BALTIC SEA (June 11, 2009) Members of the visit, board, search and seizure team from the guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) return to Forrest Sherman after participating in a boarding training exercise during Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2009. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090616-N-2638R-002 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 16, 2009) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS Stethem (DDG 63), USS Howard (DDG 83) and USS Gridley (DDG 101) are underway in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Reckard/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090609-N-0450C-001 BALTIC SEA (June 9, 2009) Surface units from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, England, and the U.S. take station behind the amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) during exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2009. This is the 37th iteration of BALTOPS and is intended to improve interoperability with partner nations by conducting realistic training at sea with the 12 participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Tomas G. Caveror/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Southern Seas 2009 Group Photo

090617-N-4879G-474 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 17, 2009) The guided-missile frigate USS Doyle (FFG 39) leads U.S. and Peruvian ships during a group sail. Doyle is deployed with Southern Seas 2009, part of the U.S. Southern Command-led Partnership of the Americas mission focusing on strengthening relationship in the Southern Command area of Focus. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Grieco/Released)

090617-N-4879G-538 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 17, 2009) U.S. Navy and Peruvian Navy ships and submarines are underway together during a group sail off the coast of Peru. The U.S. ships are serving under Destroyer Squadron Four-Zero (DESRON 40) and are deployed as part Southern Seas 2009. Southern Seas is part of the U.S. Southern Command-led Partnership of the Americas mission focusing on strengthening relationship in the Southern Command area of Focus. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Grieco/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Tribute to Master Chief Jeffrey J. Garber

090622-N-9988F-003 ARABIAN SEA (June 22, 2009) Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69) render honors to Master Chief Jeffrey J. Garber as the ship pulls along side the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). The hoisted flags spell out "Fair Winds Master Chief Garber." Garber, Carrier Air Wing 7 command master chief, died June 20 of apparent natural causes while deployed aboard Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was 43. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as well as maritime security operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rafael Figueroa Medina/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2009 MCM formation

090616-N-5650M-378 BALTIC SEA (June 14, 2009) A group of multinational mine counter measure ships splits off from sailing in formation during exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2009. Annually hosted by the U.S. Navy, the exercise aims to improve maritime security in the Baltic Sea through increased interoperability and cooperation among regional allies. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christian Martinez/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

080503-F-3108S-009 SEWARD, Alaska (May 3, 2008) The guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) arrives in Seward harbor to resupply before before participating in the two-week Northern Edge joint exercise. Northern Edge involves units from all U.S. military services to enhance interoperability and cooperation. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Steffen (Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090628-N-7058E-064 SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 28, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) fires its 5-inch gun at a ship-deployed surface target as the Royal Malaysian Navy ships KD Lekir, KD Handalan and KD Sri Indera Sakti and the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) maneuver in formation during a surface gunnery exercise, part of the at-sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2009. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090625-N-4007G-062 PHUKET, Thailand (June 25, 2009) USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Comstock (LSD 45) are anchored in Phuket Bay. Gridley and Comstock are part of Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of global maritime security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Gaines/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090627-N-7092S-223 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 27, 2009) Fire Controlman 2nd Class Eric Brown stands safety watch aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) during live-fire exercises off the coast of Chile as part of the Chilean-hosted naval exercise Teamwork South 2009. Kauffman is on a four-month deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean as part of Southern Seas 2009, supporting the U.S. Southern Command Partnership of the Americas. Southern Seas focuses on conducting military-to-military engagements and theater security cooperation engagements to enhance relationships with partner nations in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandon Shelander/Released)

 

[A4sForever]

Hybrid SWO vehicle ....

Thru the haze, yesterday -- off Admiralty Head -- if you look closely, you can see the HELO-guy comin' up the groove getting ready to 'trap' ... sorry it's not 'magazine ready' -- I was too busy mixing somethin' w/ Rum.

photo by A4sForever

 

[HeyJoe]

Hybrid SWO vehicle ....

Thru the haze, yesterday -- off Admiralty Head -- if you look closely, you can see the HELO-guy comin' up the groove getting ready to 'trap' ... sorry it's not 'magazine ready' -- I was too busy mixing somethin' w/ Rum.

Somebody has to boil that water and turn it into steam!

090629-N-9928E-366 EVERETT, Wash (June 29, 2009) Tug boats escort the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the ship pulls into Everett, Wash., for a scheduled port visit as the ship prepares to pick up family and friends for a Tiger Cruise. John C. Stennis will travel to San Diego, Calif., to offload Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 prior to heading back to her homeport of Bremerton, Wash. John C. Stennis is returning from a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090627-N-2147L-001 AVONDALE, La (June 27, 2009) The amphibious transport dock ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) New York (LPD 21) transits along the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico to conduct builder's trials. The amphibious transport dock New York is being built in Avondale, Louisiana with 7.5 tons of World Trade center Steel in her bow, and is scheduled to be commissioned in Novovember. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Corey Lewis/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

The "other" LCS takes to the water

090702-N-0000X-001 MOBILE, Ala. (July 2, 2009) The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Independence (LCS 2), the U. S. Navy's first trimaran littoral combat ship, departs Mobile, Ala. to begin builder's sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico July 2, 2009. LCS is a fast, agile, focused-mission ship designed to defeat asymmetric "anti-access" threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft. The 417-foot Independence is designed and built by the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship team. Builder's trials test the vessel's propulsion, communications, navigation and core mission systems, as well as all related support systems. Following the completion of builder's trials, Independence will prepare for acceptance trials that will be conducted by the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey later this summer. Independence will be outfitted with reconfigurable payloads, called mission packages, which can be changed out quickly. These mission packages focus on three mission areas: mine counter measures, surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. Independence is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy later this year and will be home ported in San Diego, Calif. (Photo courtesy of General Dynamics/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090629-N-7780S-141 EVERETT, Wash (June 29, 2009) Sailors man the rails as the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) pulls into Everett, Wash. for a scheduled port visit to embark family and friends for a Tiger Cruise. John C. Stennis will travel to San Diego, Calif., to offload Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 before returning to her homeport of Bremerton, Wash. John C. Stennis is returning from a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Steckler/Released)