Sam LaGrone
@samlagrone.bsky.social
Lester Bangs, but for like the ocean.
*stab, look, stab, stab*
*stab, look, stab, stab*
My favorite thing from the Marines doc so far is Chelsea Yarnell's large-format candids from the 31st MEU.
Can anyone ID this camera so I can know how far out of my price range it is?
www.chelseayarnell.com/bts/marines
Can anyone ID this camera so I can know how far out of my price range it is?
www.chelseayarnell.com/bts/marines
November 12, 2025 at 9:50 PM
My favorite thing from the Marines doc so far is Chelsea Yarnell's large-format candids from the 31st MEU.
Can anyone ID this camera so I can know how far out of my price range it is?
www.chelseayarnell.com/bts/marines
Can anyone ID this camera so I can know how far out of my price range it is?
www.chelseayarnell.com/bts/marines
PENDANTIC NIT: Seen this from a bunch of other pubs but it's worth noting that SOUTHCOM AOR isn't necessarily 'Latin American waters'
The edge of SOUTHCOM is less than 400 miles from Cape Verde, which is much closer to Africa than South America.
www.navytimes.com/news/your-na...
The edge of SOUTHCOM is less than 400 miles from Cape Verde, which is much closer to Africa than South America.
www.navytimes.com/news/your-na...
USS Gerald R. Ford arrives in Latin American waters
The Navy's largest aircraft carrier is providing support to what the Pentagon is calling counternarcotics efforts in Central and South America.
www.navytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
PENDANTIC NIT: Seen this from a bunch of other pubs but it's worth noting that SOUTHCOM AOR isn't necessarily 'Latin American waters'
The edge of SOUTHCOM is less than 400 miles from Cape Verde, which is much closer to Africa than South America.
www.navytimes.com/news/your-na...
The edge of SOUTHCOM is less than 400 miles from Cape Verde, which is much closer to Africa than South America.
www.navytimes.com/news/your-na...
Couple of thoughts on the Hegseth acquisition speech:
Nothing about these reforms are a bad idea, but all defense aquistion is a balance of cost, schedule and performance.
Faster delivery means more cost and a greater risk of the system not functioning as advertised.
mailchi.mp/usni/usni-ne...
Nothing about these reforms are a bad idea, but all defense aquistion is a balance of cost, schedule and performance.
Faster delivery means more cost and a greater risk of the system not functioning as advertised.
mailchi.mp/usni/usni-ne...
USNI News: Sea Scroll #94
mailchi.mp
November 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Couple of thoughts on the Hegseth acquisition speech:
Nothing about these reforms are a bad idea, but all defense aquistion is a balance of cost, schedule and performance.
Faster delivery means more cost and a greater risk of the system not functioning as advertised.
mailchi.mp/usni/usni-ne...
Nothing about these reforms are a bad idea, but all defense aquistion is a balance of cost, schedule and performance.
Faster delivery means more cost and a greater risk of the system not functioning as advertised.
mailchi.mp/usni/usni-ne...
Ford is on the way to SOUTHCOM 11 days after the initial announcement.
news.usni.org/2025/11/04/u...
news.usni.org/2025/11/04/u...
USS Gerald R. Ford Leaves Mediterranean Bound for U.S. Southern Command - USNI News
Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) sailed west through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, according to ship spotters and confirmed by a defense official. Gerald R. F...
news.usni.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Ford is on the way to SOUTHCOM 11 days after the initial announcement.
news.usni.org/2025/11/04/u...
news.usni.org/2025/11/04/u...
HII CEO Chris Kastner doesn't have a ton of details on President Trump's return to steam catapults on carriers or South Korean nuclear subs getting built in Philly.
"We’re going to build whatever the Navy wants us to build," he said on the Q3 earnings call.
"We’re going to build whatever the Navy wants us to build," he said on the Q3 earnings call.
October 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
HII CEO Chris Kastner doesn't have a ton of details on President Trump's return to steam catapults on carriers or South Korean nuclear subs getting built in Philly.
"We’re going to build whatever the Navy wants us to build," he said on the Q3 earnings call.
"We’re going to build whatever the Navy wants us to build," he said on the Q3 earnings call.
Lots of reasons this is highly unlikely. I would imagine we're on the wrong end of a game of telephone.
October 29, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Lots of reasons this is highly unlikely. I would imagine we're on the wrong end of a game of telephone.
Back from a trip to Taiwan ahead of what is becoming a borderline unwieldy story on the defense of the island. Timely now with the new NDS in the works.
We talk a little about it in this week’s newsletter.
us2.campaign-archive.com?u=e971c57768...
We talk a little about it in this week’s newsletter.
us2.campaign-archive.com?u=e971c57768...
USNI News: Sea Scroll #91
us2.campaign-archive.com
October 19, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Back from a trip to Taiwan ahead of what is becoming a borderline unwieldy story on the defense of the island. Timely now with the new NDS in the works.
We talk a little about it in this week’s newsletter.
us2.campaign-archive.com?u=e971c57768...
We talk a little about it in this week’s newsletter.
us2.campaign-archive.com?u=e971c57768...
Anyone have a good update if the Chinese jet engines are decent yet? On my mind since the Fujian cat launches.
September 24, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Anyone have a good update if the Chinese jet engines are decent yet? On my mind since the Fujian cat launches.
Navy statements pending BUT per lots of USNA traffic here's the progression:
-Off-post Yodel threat
-Lockdown
-Mid thought security clearing Bancroft (lots of bad gouge that shooter was in police gear) was a threat and attacked
-Mid got hurt (proly shot)
-Mid medivaced
news.usni.org/2025/09/11/n...
-Off-post Yodel threat
-Lockdown
-Mid thought security clearing Bancroft (lots of bad gouge that shooter was in police gear) was a threat and attacked
-Mid got hurt (proly shot)
-Mid medivaced
news.usni.org/2025/09/11/n...
UPDATED: 1 Injured Following Lockdown at U.S. Naval Academy - USNI News
One person was medically evacuated from U.S. Naval Academy on Thursday following a lockdown in response to threats made against the service academy. The individual was injured as Naval Security Forces...
news.usni.org
September 12, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Navy statements pending BUT per lots of USNA traffic here's the progression:
-Off-post Yodel threat
-Lockdown
-Mid thought security clearing Bancroft (lots of bad gouge that shooter was in police gear) was a threat and attacked
-Mid got hurt (proly shot)
-Mid medivaced
news.usni.org/2025/09/11/n...
-Off-post Yodel threat
-Lockdown
-Mid thought security clearing Bancroft (lots of bad gouge that shooter was in police gear) was a threat and attacked
-Mid got hurt (proly shot)
-Mid medivaced
news.usni.org/2025/09/11/n...
This is a departure from 20+ years of US drug interdiction policy. Today was a military operation, not law enforcement.
VIDEO: U.S. Military Strikes Suspected Drug Vessel as Warships Gather in the Caribbean - USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/09/02/u...
VIDEO: U.S. Military Strikes Suspected Drug Vessel as Warships Gather in the Caribbean - USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/09/02/u...
VIDEO: U.S. Military Strikes Suspected Drug Vessel as Warships Gather in the Caribbean - USNI News
This story has been updated to include additional information and video of the strike. THE PENTAGON – U.S. forces performed a “precision strike” on a suspected transnational drug boat that killed the ...
news.usni.org
September 2, 2025 at 9:59 PM
This is a departure from 20+ years of US drug interdiction policy. Today was a military operation, not law enforcement.
VIDEO: U.S. Military Strikes Suspected Drug Vessel as Warships Gather in the Caribbean - USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/09/02/u...
VIDEO: U.S. Military Strikes Suspected Drug Vessel as Warships Gather in the Caribbean - USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/09/02/u...
Adm. Daryl Caudle sworn in as 34th U.S. chief of naval operations by SECNAV John Phelan in a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard ending a 184-day gap in the position since Adm. Lisa Franchetti was removed from the job.
August 25, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Adm. Daryl Caudle sworn in as 34th U.S. chief of naval operations by SECNAV John Phelan in a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard ending a 184-day gap in the position since Adm. Lisa Franchetti was removed from the job.
These firings came without the standard "lost confidence in your ability to command" statements.
Navy Reserve, Naval Special Warfare Leaders Removed from Command — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/08/22/n...
Navy Reserve, Naval Special Warfare Leaders Removed from Command — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/08/22/n...
Navy Reserve, Naval Special Warfare Leaders Removed from Command - USNI News
This post will be updated with additional information as it becomes available The commanders of the Navy Reserve and Naval Special Warfare were removed from their leadership positions on Friday, USNI ...
news.usni.org
August 23, 2025 at 12:09 AM
These firings came without the standard "lost confidence in your ability to command" statements.
Navy Reserve, Naval Special Warfare Leaders Removed from Command — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/08/22/n...
Navy Reserve, Naval Special Warfare Leaders Removed from Command — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/08/22/n...
That’s a long time.
Navy: 12-hour Fire Aboard USS New Orleans Extinguished, 2 Sailors with Minor Injuries - USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/08/20/b...
news.usni.org/2025/08/20/b...
Navy: 12-hour Fire Aboard USS New Orleans Extinguished, 2 Sailors with Minor Injuries - USNI News
This post has been updated with a statement from U.S. 7th Fleet. A fire that burned for 12 hours aboard the amphibious warship USS New Orleans (LPD-18) off Okinawa, Japan, was declared extinguished e...
news.usni.org
August 20, 2025 at 10:10 PM
That’s a long time.
Good news, no reports of crew injuries. Bad news, this was a four and a half hour fire (at least). The request for additional assistance is a bad sign, given the damage control systems aboard.
news.usni.org/2025/08/20/b...
news.usni.org/2025/08/20/b...
UPDATED: Amphib USS New Orleans Suffers Fire Off Okinawa - USNI News
This post has been updated with additional information on the status of the crew and the fire Amphibious warship USS New Orleans (LPD-18) suffered a fire off the coast of Okinawa, U.S. 7th Fleet confi...
news.usni.org
August 20, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Good news, no reports of crew injuries. Bad news, this was a four and a half hour fire (at least). The request for additional assistance is a bad sign, given the damage control systems aboard.
news.usni.org/2025/08/20/b...
news.usni.org/2025/08/20/b...
No specifics of what submarines President Trump is referring to in his message in response to Medvedev playing up the Russian "dead hand" semi-autonomous nuclear launch system.
HOWEVER, I have an educated guess based on two options.
HOWEVER, I have an educated guess based on two options.
August 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM
No specifics of what submarines President Trump is referring to in his message in response to Medvedev playing up the Russian "dead hand" semi-autonomous nuclear launch system.
HOWEVER, I have an educated guess based on two options.
HOWEVER, I have an educated guess based on two options.
Reposted by Sam LaGrone
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 28, 2025
news.usni.org/2025/07/28/u...
news.usni.org/2025/07/28/u...
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 28, 2025
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of July 28, 2025, based on Navy and public data. In cases in w...
news.usni.org
July 28, 2025 at 5:10 PM
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 28, 2025
news.usni.org/2025/07/28/u...
news.usni.org/2025/07/28/u...
Sam reviews splash pads. Dix Hill in Raleigh gets 10 ancient infrastructure points for the inclusion of an Archimedes screw.
July 27, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Sam reviews splash pads. Dix Hill in Raleigh gets 10 ancient infrastructure points for the inclusion of an Archimedes screw.
Fun field trip today.
Crew of Oiler USNS Arctic Praised for Difficult Red Sea Deployment — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/07/21/c...
Crew of Oiler USNS Arctic Praised for Difficult Red Sea Deployment — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/07/21/c...
Crew of Oiler USNS Arctic Praised for Difficult Red Sea Deployment - USNI News
ABOARD FAST COMBAT SUPPORT SHIP USNS ARCTIC (TAOE-8) — For nine months, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) faced the most intense combat a carrier strike group in a generation under fire from Houthi missile...
news.usni.org
July 21, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Fun field trip today.
Crew of Oiler USNS Arctic Praised for Difficult Red Sea Deployment — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/07/21/c...
Crew of Oiler USNS Arctic Praised for Difficult Red Sea Deployment — USNI News news.usni.org/2025/07/21/c...
Going through the cruise book for USS Nimitz's first deployment for a piece that'll come later, I found this gem. You always look your best when you're convalescing, wrapped in Ace bandages.
July 16, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Going through the cruise book for USS Nimitz's first deployment for a piece that'll come later, I found this gem. You always look your best when you're convalescing, wrapped in Ace bandages.
Seen a bit of criticism about how Daily Planet newsroom edited the blockbuster piece in, "Superman." As a dude who has also edited a breaking news piece on a vessel underway, I thought the process was well represented. Ten/Ten. No notes.
July 14, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Seen a bit of criticism about how Daily Planet newsroom edited the blockbuster piece in, "Superman." As a dude who has also edited a breaking news piece on a vessel underway, I thought the process was well represented. Ten/Ten. No notes.
This was a late file becasue we wanted to take pains to see how the base budget interacted with the reconcilliation proposal with some slick interactive graphics. Too long, didn't click, more than half of the shipbuilding budget is contingent on the big, beautiful bill passing.
June 27, 2025 at 11:43 AM
This was a late file becasue we wanted to take pains to see how the base budget interacted with the reconcilliation proposal with some slick interactive graphics. Too long, didn't click, more than half of the shipbuilding budget is contingent on the big, beautiful bill passing.
FY 2026 Budget: Future of F/A-XX, Frigate Unclear; $47.2B Shipbuilding Budget Split Between Base Request, Reconciliation — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/06/26/f...
news.usni.org/2025/06/26/f...
FY 2026 Budget: Future of F/A-XX, Frigate Unclear; $47.2B Shipbuilding Budget Split Between Base Request, Reconciliation - USNI News
THE PENTAGON — The fates of the Navy’s sixth-generation fighter and new frigate program are on hold as part of the Trump administration’s new defense budget request, USNI News has learned. The Trump a...
news.usni.org
June 27, 2025 at 12:44 AM
FY 2026 Budget: Future of F/A-XX, Frigate Unclear; $47.2B Shipbuilding Budget Split Between Base Request, Reconciliation — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/06/26/f...
news.usni.org/2025/06/26/f...
First of two stories from us.
The personnel money was in the base FY 2026 request.
So mostly normal. In procurement (read: weapons, ships, airplanes) the Pentagon has mashed the base budget with reconciliation (big, beutiful bill). Two bills, one budget.
The personnel money was in the base FY 2026 request.
So mostly normal. In procurement (read: weapons, ships, airplanes) the Pentagon has mashed the base budget with reconciliation (big, beutiful bill). Two bills, one budget.
FY 2026 Budget: Navy Wants 6,000 More Sailors, Marine Corps End Strength to Shrink Slightly — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/06/26/f...
news.usni.org/2025/06/26/f...
FY 2026 Budget: Navy Wants 6,000 More Sailors, Marine Corps End Strength to Shrink Slightly - USNI News
The Navy continues to grow its force while the Marine Corps is budgeting for a slightly smaller force in the next fiscal year, according to the Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2026 budget material ...
news.usni.org
June 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
First of two stories from us.
The personnel money was in the base FY 2026 request.
So mostly normal. In procurement (read: weapons, ships, airplanes) the Pentagon has mashed the base budget with reconciliation (big, beutiful bill). Two bills, one budget.
The personnel money was in the base FY 2026 request.
So mostly normal. In procurement (read: weapons, ships, airplanes) the Pentagon has mashed the base budget with reconciliation (big, beutiful bill). Two bills, one budget.
This was quietly posted on the budget site yesterday.
Typically, the rollout is a week-long process with pre-breifs and a day at the Pentagon broken up by service with an oppurtunity to ask questions.
For this one, no email, no call.
An analyst texted, surprised after hitting refresh on the site.
Typically, the rollout is a week-long process with pre-breifs and a day at the Pentagon broken up by service with an oppurtunity to ask questions.
For this one, no email, no call.
An analyst texted, surprised after hitting refresh on the site.
Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Highlights — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/06/26/d...
news.usni.org/2025/06/26/d...
Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Highlights - USNI News
The following are topline summaries of the Department of the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget that were released on June 25, 2025. From the reports The Department of the Navy’s (DON) FY 2026 President’s...
news.usni.org
June 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This was quietly posted on the budget site yesterday.
Typically, the rollout is a week-long process with pre-breifs and a day at the Pentagon broken up by service with an oppurtunity to ask questions.
For this one, no email, no call.
An analyst texted, surprised after hitting refresh on the site.
Typically, the rollout is a week-long process with pre-breifs and a day at the Pentagon broken up by service with an oppurtunity to ask questions.
For this one, no email, no call.
An analyst texted, surprised after hitting refresh on the site.