Amphibious & Support Ships
Royal Navy frigate escorts Chinese Type 052C destroyer through English Channel
Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster escorted a Chinese Type 052C destroyer through the English Channel as it was returning from Russia’s annual Navy Days event in St Petersburg. Fresh from a five-month patrol with NATO in the waters of northern Europe, Portsmouth-based HMS Westminster was activated t
US command ship returns to Italian homeport after Baltic deployment
USS Mount Whitney supported a major milestone by the re-established US 2nd Fleet.
Final Tide-class tanker joins Royal Navy fleet
Almost a year after arriving in the UK for military customization and armament, Tide-class tanker RFA Tideforce entered service. Tideforce is the final of four ships in the class acquired to support Royal Navy, NATO and ally ship operations by providing fuel and fresh water. After receiving military
Jet suit man dashes between Royal Navy boats at sea
A Royal Marine Reservist who developed his own jet-powered body suit headed into the Solent with fast patrol boat HMS Dasher and a couple of boats to test his invention over the water for the first time. Richard Browning has demonstrated the potential of his jet-powered suit to the Royal Marines, jo
HMS Duncan arrives in the Gulf to bolster merchant shipping protection
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in the Persian Gulf where it is set to ensure the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s seizing of tanker Stena Impero on July 19. Last week the government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accom
Special Operations Forces drill Trojan Footprint expanding from the Baltic
Personnel from ten nations rehearsed the rapid deployment of special operations and armed forces in a drill that is no longer confined to the Baltic region. Taking place this June in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, exercise Trojan Footprint 19 was led by Special Operations Command Europe and included
German NH90 wraps up mission demonstrations ahead of first deliveries
The German Navy’s new NH90 Sea Lion helicopter performed mission demonstrations for its relevant roles earlier this month, ahead of first unit deliveries later this year. The demonstrations included SAR missions, checking navy reconnaissance capabilities, and dropping off commandos and special force
Royal Navy landing ship Albion ends two-month Baltic Sea mission
Royal Navy landing platform dock HMS Albion returned to her home port of HM Naval Base Devonport in Plymouth, after leading an international task group on two months of exercises in the Baltic Sea. This was Albion’s first Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group mission that demonstrated
UK sending destroyer Duncan to Persian Gulf amid Iran tensions
The UK is sending Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan to the Persian Gulf in the wake of an escalation of tensions in the region following the scrapping of the Iran nuclear deal and a spate of attacks on commercial tankers. HMS Duncan was operating in the Black Sea when the ship’s new tasking was announced
Dutch Navy modernizing support, hydrographic ships
The Netherlands defense ministry has awarded Dutch shipbuilder Damen a contract for the refit and upgrades of three Royal Netherlands Navy ships. As part of the midlife upkeep (MLU) contract, Damen Shipyards Den Helder will modernize support ship HNLMS Pelikaan, along with hydrographic survey vessel
Italian Navy Special Forces receive fast boat Angelo Cabrini
Italian Navy special forces – the Operational Raiders Group (Gruppo Operativo Incursori) – received the first of two high-speed multi-purpose vessels from Intermarine on July 8. Angelo Cabrini was delivered a little over a year after it was launched and will support missions of GOI, which is part of
USS Ross returns from eighth forward-deployed patrol
US Navy destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to its Spanish homeport at Naval Station Rota on July 7, completing its eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol. The Arleigh Burke-class ship departed for patrol on March 8 to carry out naval operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations. R
Another Australian company brought in as Type 26 frigate supplier
An Adelaide-based composite materials developer has become the latest Type 26 global combat ship supplier, the Australian defense minister announced during a visit to BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Scotland. Linda Reynolds, the Australian defense minister visited Govan to witness the build progress
Poland launches third navy tug Mieszko
Polish shipbuilder Remontowa Shipbuilding hosted a naming and launching ceremony for the Polish Navy’s third B860 tug on July 8. The vessel was named Mieszko and is part of a six-unit order from 2017. Three tugs would be supplied to the 3rd Ship Flotilla and three to the 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla