All posts tagged: USs

The USS Ford is finally home and will get its plumbing system repaired : NPR

The USS Ford is finally home and will get its plumbing system repaired : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives at Naval Station Norfolk on May 16 in Norfolk, Va. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home to Virginia after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War. Mike Kropf/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Mike Kropf/Getty Images With 4,600 sailors finally home, USS Gerald R. Ford will finally receive some much needed repairs and an upgrade to its beleaguered sewage system. The country’s newest aircraft carrier undertook an eight-month maiden voyage in January 2024, swiftly followed by a nearly 11-month deployment. That is longer than any carrier had been away since the Vietnam War. It is expected to go into maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Norfolk, Va. Crews will repair the damage caused by a fire that started in the laundry room in March and spread to the area where sailors sleep. At the same time, workers will also upgrade the ship’s sewage system, said Rear Adm. Kavon Hakimzadeh, who oversees the shipyard. NPR has reported on numerous breakdowns that plagued the $13 billion ship …

USS Ford finally comes home : NPR

USS Ford finally comes home : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Juan Caceres kisses Heidi Eckstein after disembarking from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford at Naval Station Norfolk on May 16 in Norfolk, Va. Mike Kropf/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Mike Kropf/Getty Images Sailors in their dress whites lined the deck of the aircraft carrier as it pulled into Norfolk, Va., last weekend. Helenna Parrish let out a whoop when she spotted her daughter Asia, a culinary specialist, on the deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford. “I’m just happy she’s back on U.S. soil, that’s all. I’m happy she’s back, all of them, really, her shipmates, because I know some are stronger than others, so I pray for all of them,” she said. This was her daughter’s first deployment. Ford’s tour stretched from the coast of Venezuela to the Red Sea where the carrier launched F/A-18s to support the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. The Navy estimates the carrier traveled enough miles to circle the earth three times before the exhausted crew returned home to Naval Station Norfolk. “These kids are ready for …

US’s Rubio to visit Italy after Trump’s spats with Meloni, Pope Leo – POLITICO

US’s Rubio to visit Italy after Trump’s spats with Meloni, Pope Leo – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The visit comes just weeks after Trump attacked Pope Leo over the Catholic leader’s anti-war rhetoric, calling him “Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons” and “terrible for Foreign Policy.” That came after  Leo wrote on X  that “God does not bless any conflict.” Trump also shared an AI-generated image of himself as a Christ-like figure. Following rebukes from religious circles and some of his political allies, Trump removed the image. Trump also dismissed Prime Minister Meloni — who has been one of his closest European allies — as lacking courage after she defended the pontiff. For his part, the pope responded to Trump’s criticism by saying he had “no fear” of the White House and would not be silenced. Rubio met with Leo, the first American pope, in May last year, alongside U.S. Vice President JD Vance after the two attended the new pontiff’s inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square. There is no indication at this point whether Rubio will meet directly with the pope this week or with Meloni. Source link

How long can Iran survive the US’s Hormuz blockade? | US-Israel war on Iran News

How long can Iran survive the US’s Hormuz blockade? | US-Israel war on Iran News

Published by Sam Flores

United States President Donald Trump has claimed Iran is “collapsing financially” and said the country is losing millions of dollars a day due to Washington’s naval blockade of Iranian ports. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday night, Trump wrote: “Iran is collapsing financially! They want the Strait of Hormuz opened immediately – Starving for cash! Losing 500 Million Dollars a day. Military and Police complaining that they are not getting paid. SOS!!!” Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The US blockade of Iranian ports began at 14:00 GMT on April 13. Since then, the US has fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, and redirected ships in the open seas carrying cargo to or from Iran. Iran’s armed forces have called this “an illegal act” that “amounts to piracy”. In response to the US naval blockade, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to all foreign shipping and has captured several foreign-flagged ships. Previously, it had allowed some ships deemed “friendly” to Iran to …

Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush arrives in waters near Iran

Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush arrives in waters near Iran

Published by Sam Flores

A third U.S. aircraft carrier and the warships escorting it arrived in waters near Iran on Thursday, officials said, significantly amplifying the military force at President Donald Trump’s disposal as he pressures the government in Tehran to surrender its nuclear program, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree to end a weeks-long war that has destabilized much of the region. Source link

Game theory explains why the US’s goals in Iran keep changing

Game theory explains why the US’s goals in Iran keep changing

Published by skeptic

A vessel heading towards the Strait of Hormuz Shady Alassar/Anadolu via Getty Images “Mission Accomplished.” This phrase has haunted US foreign policy ever since George W. Bush stood on the deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in 2003 and declared victory in a war that would drag on for another eight years. It has become shorthand for a particular kind of strategic self-deception: the gap between what a military operation achieves and what its architects claim it has achieved. As the confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz grinds into its second month, such a gap is opening again. Game theory, the mathematical study of strategic decision-making, can help explain why. In a conventional military confrontation, few can match the combined might of the US and Israel. Their high-tech arsenals with precision strike capabilities have inflicted real and substantial blows on Iran. By any traditional scorecard, this alliance is winning. But this is not a conventional confrontation. It is a war of attrition – a situation where two or more “players” are engaged in a costly showdown …

The US’s largest clean energy project is generating power [update]

The US’s largest clean energy project is generating power [update]

Published by skeptic

Photo: Vestas Vestas finished installing its wind turbines at Pattern Energy’s SunZia, the largest clean energy project in the US, last month, and the wind farm has now come online. April 17, 2026: SunZia Wind has begun testing its turbines as it nears the start of commercial operations in Q2 2025, E&E reported yesterday. Grid Status first reported the news. Neither the project developer, Pattern Energy, nor the California grid operator has publicized the milestone, and it’s unclear exactly how much power is being transmitted at this time. On April 13, CAISO, California’s grid, sent a transmission control agreement letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about Sun Zia. Advertisement – scroll for more content Once SunZia wind is fully online, it will be able to generate enough electricity to supply 3 million people, or roughly 1 million to 1.2 million households in California and Arizona. March 5, 2026: Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas installed 242 V163-4.5 MW wind turbines at the 3.5 GW wind farm, which, with 916 turbines in total, is the largest onshore wind farm in …

Lectric heads north – Canadians get access to the US’s best-selling e-bikes

Lectric heads north – Canadians get access to the US’s best-selling e-bikes

Published by skeptic

Lectric eBikes is officially rolling into Canada, setting the stage to shape the future of cycling north of the border. The Arizona-based brand, which has become one of the most recognizable names in the North American e-bike market, announced a new collaboration with Vélo Canada Bikes, a national nonprofit focused on improving cycling infrastructure and accessibility across Canada. The move comes as Lectric expands its presence into the Canadian market, riding a wave of growing demand for affordable electric bikes. If you’ve been following the e-bike industry over the last few years, Lectric’s rise has been hard to miss. The company says it has sold more than 650,000 e-bikes in just six years, largely by focusing on value-driven models that bring solid performance at prices far below many competitors. That formula has helped Lectric dominate the US market, and now it appears ready to test that same playbook in Canada. But rather than simply launching sales and calling it a day, Lectric is tying its expansion to advocacy efforts. Its partnership with Vélo Canada Bikes …

Iran taunts Trump with video of ‘aircraft carrier attack’ after spurning US’s peace plan | World | News

Iran taunts Trump with video of ‘aircraft carrier attack’ after spurning US’s peace plan | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

Iranian state media has released a video it says shows cruise missiles targeting the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. Press TV reported on Wednesday (March 25) that the US warship was forced to change course after land-to-sea missiles were launched to “assert” the Islamic Republic‘s “maritime sovereignty” and to counter threats from the United States‘ “hostile fleet”. It has not been possible to independently verify the footage, which appears to show missiles being fired into the night sky as a man off camera yells, “Allahu Akbar”, which translates as either “God is greater” or “God is the Greatest”. Iranian state broadcaster, Press TV, reported that a senior official announced Iran would end the war when it decided to and when its conditions are met. US officials said the aircraft carrier wasn’t damaged, continued to fully operate and carry out its role in the Sea of Oman, The Sun reports. Iranian Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said the “hostile” US carrier group would be targeted with “crushing strikes” if it came within range of Iran’s missile systems, …

The US’s largest offshore wind farm just produced its first power

The US’s largest offshore wind farm just produced its first power

Published by skeptic

Photo: CVOW Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, which will be the US’s largest wind farm when it’s complete, has sent its first power to the grid. Dominion CEO Robert Blue confirmed the milestone on LinkedIn, writing that the wind farm had delivered its first power “right on schedule”: This project is a critical part of Virginia’s all‑of‑the‑above energy strategy. As additional turbines are installed, CVOW will continue delivering more power on the path to full completion early next year. The 2.6-gigawatt (GW) CVOW, 28 miles off Virginia Beach and under construction since 2024, is about 70% complete, with 176 monopiles installed. Two Siemens Gamesa 14 MW wind turbines have been installed, and power is currently being generated from one of them. The Charybdis, the first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), installed the wind turbines. Construction on a third is underway. The turbines will be turned on gradually throughout the rest of the year. The project is scheduled to finish in early 2027. Advertisement – scroll for more content Dominion Energy became …