Africa
Most Read News, March 23 – 29, 2015
Japan Receives Biggest Warship Since WWII The biggest Japanese warship since the WWII was delivered to Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force. USS Theodore Roosevelt on Its Way to Portsmouth More than 5,000 American sailors are heading for Portsmouth on board the giant aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roo
RFA Argus Recognized for Effort against Ebola
Royal Navy’s RFA Argus has been honoured by the Defence Secretary as she heads back to the UK after supporting the fight against Ebola. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship deployed to Sierra Leone from Falmouth in September. Her task was to provide vital aviation support and medical capability to the Dep
Operation Atalanta Counter-Piracy Duties Go to New Crew
On Tuesday 25 March 2015 the XXI (21) Spanish Air Force team, which has been deployed as part of the European Union’s counter-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia for the past four months, held a Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony in Djibouti to hand over their duties to the new XXII (22) cre
Image of the Day: Getting to Know the Guns
Embarked Navy personnel conduct a small-arms weapons familiarization course utilizing the M-240B machine gun on March 23, 2015. The operation was conducted aboard the Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) in the Gulf of Guinea. Spearhead is on a scheduled deploym
USNS Spearhead Concludes Obangame Express
Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and its embarked detachment of U.S. Navy Sailors, civil service mariners, Cameroonian military personnel and U.S., Spanish and British Marines wrapped up their participation in Exercise Obangame Express 2015, March 25. Spearhead is on a scheduled deplo
FGS Brandenburg Contributes for VBSS Ops
Boarding teams from five Gulf of Guinea countries are using the German navy frigate FGS Brandenburg (F215) to enhance their abilities to complete visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations during Exercise Obangame Express 2015, from March 19 to 27, 2015. After boarding the ship, the boarding
EU Naval Force Reaches WFP Milestone
The EU Naval Force achieved a milestone this week by successfully completing its 300th close protection of a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel along the Somali coastline. This means that nearly one million tonnes of food aid, including wheat, grain and sorghum, destined for the Somali people, has be
UK, Gabon Join in Gulf of Guinea Exercise
Royal Navy sailors are taking part in an exercise in the Gulf of Guinea to increase maritime safety and security in the region. Currently on her way home from Atlantic Patrol Tasking (South), HMS Dragon is taking part in Exercise Obangame Express with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, Gold Rover alo
USNS Spearhead Joins Exercise Obangame Express 2015
Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and its embarked detachment of U.S. Navy Sailors, civil service mariners, and U.S., Spanish and British Marines began taking part in Exercise Obangame Express 2015, March 20. Spearhead is functioning as a platform for Nigerian and Cameroonian forces to
HMAS SUCCESS Joins NATO’s Counter-Piracy Operation
The Royal Australian Navy Oiler HMAS SUCCESS (OR 304) joined NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD on Monday, 23 March 2015, joining New Zealand (2014) and Ukraine (2013) as partner contributors to the operation in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. HMAS SUCCESS, commanded by Captain Justin J
ESPS Rayo, Somalia Strengthen Bonds
While conducting counter-piracy patrols near to the Somali coastline, EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Rayo, welcomed on board local Somali leaders. The Somali leaders joined the crew in the Officers’ Wardroom for lunch, where they discussed the piracy situation off the coast of Somalia and other mariti
Spanish Navy Takes Part in Obangame Express
The Spanish Navy’s patrol vessel Vencedora (P-79) attended the opening ceremony of the at-sea maritime exercise “Obangame Express” in Port Gentil, Gabon, on March 19. The vessel, which is currently deployed on patrol along the African coast, will participate in the scenario planned during the exerci