Several ships believed to be Chinese maritime militia were spotted by fishermen in Iroquois Reef in the West Philippine Sea in this photo taken in September. The military said an average of 25 vessels have been monitored there from September to December based on their patrols. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Dozens of Chinese vessels believed to be manned by their maritime militias in the West Philippine Sea have been moving much closer…

              INQUIRER FILE PHOTO. ZAMBOANGA CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR — Cigarette smuggling is getting to be a lucrative business in this city as the police and the navy report seizing from January to November more than P400 million worth of the smuggled goods. Lieutenant Chester Cabaltera, spokesperson of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the Philippine Navy had turned over to the Bureau of Customs 1,932 master cases of smuggled cigarettes valued at P87.52…

USNI News Graphic These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Dec. 5, 2022, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Ships Underway Total Battle Force Deployed Underway 293 (USS 237, USNS 56) 104 (USS 70, USNS 34)  72 (41 Deployed, 31 Local) Ships Deployed by Fleet…

Sailors aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) depart Norfolk Naval Shipyard on Dec. 1, 2022. US Navy Photo The second oldest carrier in the Navy wrapped sea trials after completing more than a year of repairs at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, USNI News has learned. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) left the shipyard for the Atlantic on Dec. 1 for four days of sea trials after 15 months in the yard. “Sea trials is an at-sea testing phase designed to evaluate IKE’s capabilities in surface…