Amphibious & Support Ships
HMS Bulwark Returns from Cougar 15
Royal Navy amphibious assault ship, HMS Bulwark, has returned to Plymouth from operations in the Mediterranean after leading a major Royal Navy deployment. The Plymouth-based ship was leading this year’s exercise Cougar comprising exercises with the French Navy off Corsica and then Exercise Trident
France Assumes Command of US Task Force 50
A French flag officer embarked in the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle took command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 50 on December 7. The commander will be leading coalition naval strike operations for Operation Inherent Resolve, the purpose of which is “to fig
India, Russia Conduct Naval Exercise
INDRA NAVY is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian and Russian navies that was initiated in 2003. The 8th edition of INDRA NAVY is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal from December 7 – 12, 2015. The primary aim of this exercise is to increase interoperability between the two navies and
USS Ross Trains with Black Sea Navies
The U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) participated in a bilateral passing exercise (PASSEX) with ships from the Romanian, Turkish and Ukrainian Navies, Dec. 6. The PASSEX was conducted in order to improve maritime capabilities between the U.S. and Black Sea n
German FGS Augsburg Joins Fight against ISIS
German Bundestag authorized the deployment of German troops and units against ISIS in Syria on December 4, 2015. The German Navy will support the French group assembled around the French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle. The frigate FGS Augsburg will be sent to aid the aircraft carrier’s operat
Harry S. Truman Carrier Group in Croatia
The U.S. aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman sailed into the Croatian port in Split December 5. The carrier strike group left their homeport in Norfolk, USA on November 16 to join the U.S. 6h fleet area of operations. The ship is scheduled to stay in Croatia until December 9. On December 6, the aircraf
USS Harry S. Truman Enters US 6th Fleet
The U.S. Navy’s USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, November 23. The current deployment is part of an ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. The Harry S. Truman
USS Bulkeley in the Mediterranean
After transiting the Strait of Gibraltar, U.S. Navy’s Guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) entered the Mediterranean Sea on November 29. Bulkeley and ships and aircraft from the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, including the flagship USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) with embarked squadrons of Car
Germany to Support France in Fight Against ISIS
A frigate, four to six reconnaissance aircraft, and aerial replenishment of French fighter jets will be the German contribution to the French fight against ISIS. The German government appropriated these assets one day after the meeting between the French President Francois Hollande and the German Ch
Spanish Navy Organizes FLOTEX-15
Exercise FLOTEX-15, organized by the Spanish Navy, will be conducted in the Gulf of Cadiz, Strait of Gibraltar, Alboran Sea and the Western Mediterranean. Participating units include 20 surface ships, 1 submarine, a Marine Corps Landing Force and different rotary and fixed-wing aircraft; a total of
French Navy to Receive New Polar Logistics Vessel
A new Polar Logistics Vessel being built for Terre Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF) and the French Polar Institute (IPEV), and which will be operated by the French Navy, is scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2017. The 72-metre polar logistics and patrol icebreaker vessel will
Russian Large ASW Ship Enters the Red Sea
The Northern Fleet large anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ship Vice Admiral Kulakov, finished passing the Suez Canal from the Mediterranean Sea into the Red Sea on November 20. Prior to entering the Red Sea offshore ocean zone, the crew of the Udaloy-class destroyer conducted training on damage control
BNS Leopold I Concludes Op Sophia Deployment
Belgian frigate Leopold I said farewell to the European Task Force EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA after 38 days of activity in the Mediterranean Sea. The crew, composed of 158 sailors, including 9 women, provided support to Operation Sophia. They ran on duty within a Task Force composed of 8 naval un
FGS Augsburg Deploys to Operation Sophia
German frigate FGS Augsburg will set sail for the EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia to join the already employed German replenishment ship FGS Berlin on Friday, November 20. Lead by Commander Senior Grade Jorg Mascow, the crew of Augsburg, together with the replenishment ship FGS Berlin, will be the Ger