Alison Bath

Alison Bath reports on the U.S. Navy, including U.S. 6th Fleet, in Europe and Africa. She has reported for a variety of publications in Montana, Nevada and Louisiana, and served as editor of newspapers in Louisiana, Oregon and Washington.

@alisonbath_

bath.alison@stripes.com

Three U.S. Navy littoral combat ships sail in formation in the eastern Pacific in 2019. The Navy's current shipbuilding practices led to large cost overruns in building the ships, according to a government watchdog agency.

Navy’s shipbuilding strategy requires total overhaul to meet aims, audit finds

The Navy must throw out its worn shipbuilding playbook if it wants to grow its fleet enough to meet critical national security needs, a congressional watchdog agency said.

The destroyer USS Carney defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea in October 2023, according to the Navy.

Improving technology raises concerns that Houthi strikes could hit US ships

A line of fire shoots out from the back of a military fighter jet as it prepares to take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Latest US strikes on Houthis reflect tactical shift at the Pentagon, analysts say

An MQ-4C Triton comes in for a landing at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, in July 2024. The Navy recently awarded a $267 million contract to Northrop Grumman for two Tritons, part of the service's plan to acquire 27 of the drones.

Navy moves to acquire more high-flying Triton surveillance drones

Naples' Madison Myers slides safely into home during a close play as Vicenza catcher Katherine Green tries to prevent the run. The Cougars went on to win both games of the girls' softball opening season double-header in Naples.

Vicenza, rough start leave Naples a bit shaken but still optimistic

3.9 magnitude earthquake stops play for a bit in the second game of the season-opening contest between the Cougars and three-time champion Wildcats.

A marble statue of Atlas dated to the 2nd century in the National Archeological Museum of Naples, located in the Palazzo del Mann.

Wonders of Pompeii give Naples’ archaeological museum ultimate ancient showstopper

Hundreds of artifacts found amid the destruction of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii reside at the renowned National Archeological Museum of Naples. The everyday lives of aristocrats, merchants, domestic workers, slaves and others killed in the legendary volcanic blast can be experienced through the paintings, sculptures, bronze works, household items and other objects they left behind.

Longtime fighter pilot assumes command of USS Eisenhower

A Navy fighter pilot with more than two decades of service is the new commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

USS Harry S. Truman conducts routine flight operations

USS Harry S. Truman back in the Middle East following repairs in Greece

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman returned to the Middle East this week after a stay at a Navy base in Greece for repairs following a collision with a cargo vessel in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily ordered a lockdown on Feb. 26, 2025, due to an unidentified, ongoing situation at one of the base’s entry gates, the base said in a post to its official Facebook page. The lockdown was for the base’s operational site known as NAS 2, which includes the installation’s flight operations. Feb. 2, 2022.

Lockdown lifted after security incident at Naval Air Station Sigonella

A U.S. Navy air hub in Europe was locked down and personnel ordered to shelter-in-place for several hours on Wednesday after security officials became aware of a possible vehicle bomb, the Navy said.

The USS Harry S. Truman underway at sea as a fighter jet prepares to land on deck.

USS Harry S. Truman back at sea after weeklong stay in Greece for repairs following collision

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman conducted routine flight operations in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday after leaving Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete a day earlier. The Truman was in port for repairs following a collision with a cargo ship.

Some parents of children attending Naval Support Activity Naples Elementary School in Italy say violent bullying and the use of racial slurs on campus are not being dealt with adequately. Officials with the Department of Defense Education Activity say privacy laws prohibit them from discussing specific incidents.

DODEA school in Italy must do more to combat bullying and racist behavior, parents say

Recent unprovoked acts, including one that left a child with a concussion and another with a broken nose, at Naval Support Activity Naples Elementary School are part of widespread student bullying across grade levels, parents said.

250213-N-AJ005-1044 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Feb. 13, 2025) Exterior damage of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) viewed from a ship’s rigid-hull inflatable boat following a collision with merchant vessel Besiktas-M, Feb. 12, while operating in the vicinity of Port Said, Egypt. USS Harry S. Truman, the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG), is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations supporting U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa to defend U.S., Allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cody Beam)

Navy fires captain of USS Harry S. Truman following collision with cargo ship

Capt. Dave Snowden, commander of the USS Harry S. Truman, was relieved of duty Thursday due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command. The Truman was involved in a collision Feb. 12 with a cargo ship.

Exterior damage to USS Harry S. Truman is viewed from an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter Feb. 13, 2025, a day after the carrier's collision with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt. The ship is now at U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete for repairs.

USS Harry S. Truman gets structural check in wake of cargo ship collision

Navy inspectors are evaluating the structural integrity of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman after a collision with a cargo ship last week left scrapes and gashes along its right back end, including the hull.

Italy must address decades of illegal disposal of toxic waste in dozens of areas of Naples, a European court ruled Jan. 30, 2025. Some of the affected areas are near Naval Support Activity Naples, including the U.S. base's Support Site with family homes and schools.

Italy ordered to tackle toxic waste dumping in Naples area with US Navy presence

Italy must address decades of illegal dumping and waste burning in an area that serves as the U.S. Navy’s headquarters in Europe, a high court on the Continent has ruled.

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