Italian Navy – Italy has laid down its second aircraft carrier, the Andrea Doria. It will be about twice the
size of the current carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi.

• Jane’s: taly begins work on second
  carrier

US Navy – The USS Carl Vinson carrier battle group and USS Peleliu amphibious ready group have departed for the Persian Gulf.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Navy battle group leaving for Gulf

US Marines – More on the new USMC cammouflage pattern.

• Washington Times: Marines’ cammies stand out
  for not standing out

Iranian Navy – Iranian Navy gunboats are threatening oil exploration vessels in the Caspian Sea, an area of increasing importance, oil-wise, to the US.

• Daily Telegraph: Iran raises the stakes in Caspian dash for oil
• Radio Free Europe: Azerbaijan: Tension Subsiding In Iranian Gunboat Incident
• Reuters: United States Concerned Over Caspian Sea Incident

French Navy – A French Navy frigate has seized a large drug shipment off French Guiana in the Carribean.

• BBC: French make big
  Caribbean bust

US Navy – The USS Eisenhower heads in for its nuclear refueling overhaul as the USS Nimitz completes hers.

• Jane’s: Pit-stop for USS Eisenhower