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TRENTON, N.J. (AP) The U.S. Navy ship bearing the name of New Jersey's capital city now goes by the Sanskrit word for ``hippopotamus.'' The USS Trenton officially became the INS Jalashwa of the Indian navy during a Friday ceremony at the Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. It's the first time India has purchased a U.S. Navy ship, according to Ronen Sen, India's ambassador to the United States. A 570-foot-long Austin-class amphibious transport dock designed to land Marines, the former USS Trenton fills a need in the Indian navy for a large amphibious ship, Commodore P. Murugesan, the Indian Embassy's...

Navy wants USS Trenton rechristened Jalashva Shiv Aroor Posted online: Thursday, November 02, 2006 at 0000 hrs NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 1: With five months to go for the American warship USS Trenton to join the Indian fleet, the Navy has proposed that the amphibious vessel be rechristened INS Jalashva — Sanskrit for Sea Horse — when it is commissioned in March next year. Still to be approved by President APJ Abdul Kalam, the name was prioritised as the Navy’s top choice among a few others by just retired Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash. The other two large amphibious ships in...

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2006 – The Defense Department evacuated 957 U.S. citizens from Lebanon to Cyprus yesterday aboard the contracted cruise ship Orient Queen, bringing the total to 12,870 since the crisis in Lebanon began July 16, DoD officials said today. Also, DoD airlifted the first humanitarian supplies promised to those in the war-torn country, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. Three helicopters delivered three kits of medical supplies to Red Cross personnel. Each of the three medical kits has enough medicine and supplies to meet the needs of 10,000 people for three months. Seven other kits have arrived in Cyprus...

American Navy sailors use a military radio as American citizens stand on board an LCU (Landing Craft Utility) at a beach in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2006, to be taken to the USS Trenton, which will evacuate 2,000 Americans to Cyprus. The United States prepared to ship about 5,000 Americans from Beirut Friday to nearly complete the evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon as the international exodus reached a peak. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)An American Navy sailor carries an American girl as they board an LCU (Landing Craft Utility) at a beach in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, July 21, 2006, as...

Trenton deal close to being sealed Shiv AroorPosted online: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 NEW DELHI, JUNE 27:As the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal comes up at Capitol Hill, back home, another deal is getting close to being sealed. It is New Delhi’s acquisition of the USS Trenton, an American amphibious warship which was offered to the Indian Navy last year. With Washington’s crucial letter of acceptance (LoA) in, South Block is set to close the deal by early next month. The warship, currently undergoing a complete refit at Norfolk, Virginia, and capable of carrying close to 1,500 personnel, will be delivered...

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 16: After the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal, the cementing of military ties has begun. Pentagon’s Defence Cooperation Security Agency (DSCA) chief Lt General Jeffrey B Kohler is expected here next month to make a classified technical presentation on the anti-missile Patriot Advanced Capability-3 system, F-16 and F-18 fighters. Defence Ministry sources said Gen Kohler’s visit may see the Indian Navy possibly acquire USS Trenton, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock ship, along with minesweepers. The DCSA, which oversees US military foreign sales, may also offer the P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft to the Indian Navy on lease basis....