Amphibious & Support Ships
UK: BAE Systems Holds Keel Laying Ceremony for Sixth Astute Class Submarine
Assembly of the Royal Navy’s sixth Astute Class attack submarine, Agamemnon, has begun at Barrow-in-Furness. The keel, which is the first part of the boat to be built, was unveiled at a ceremony at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness by Defence Minister Philip Dunne yesterday, 18 July. It com
RFA Black Rover Visits South Georgia
Just days after sailors from HMS Argyll trekked across South Georgia, the crew of tanker RFA Black Rover were treated to a visit to the snow-laden paradise. The tanker, which has recently taken over from her sister Gold Rover in the South Atlantic, spent four days anchored in Cumberland Bay off the
UK: HMS Lancaster Helps Detecting Three Cannabis Plantations
The Ship’s Company of HMS Lancaster have been praised by police for helping detect three cannabis plantations in the Caribbean resulting in the seizure of 204 plants. HMS Lancaster is currently deployed on patrol in the North Atlantic and Caribbean and was on a visit to the island of Anguilla when t
HNLMS Johan de Witt Sets Sail for the Horn of Africa
HNLMS Johan de Witt, the amphibious transport ship, left Den Helder on July 14th for the Horn of Africa in order to take part in counter-piracy operations being conducted in the area. Johan de Witt will take part in the EU mission Atalanta as a staff ship for 4 months. During this time, it will [&he
British Navy Spends USD 45 Mln on ScanEagle UAV
The Royal Navy just spent $45 million on the ScanEagle UAV, which is part of a market set to be worth $8.35 billion by 2018, according to a recent market intelligence report. One thing is clear: the role of UAVs in maritime reconnaissance and surveillance is becoming a key area for development and i
VP 47 P-3 Patrols Black Sea
The Golden Swordsmen of Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 flew their first mission July 16 in support of the multinational surface ships operating in the Black Sea on the first day of the underway operations phase of Sea Breeze 2013. Flying the P-3C Orion aircraft, the crew used their expertise in maritime do
US 6th Fleet Visits USS Bainbridge
Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), July 11, while the ship made a port call to Naples, Italy. The destroyer departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va. June 14 and will remain in the Naval Forces Europe-Africa theater for t
Robert Allan Completes Design of New Generation Lifeboats for Canadian Coast Guard
Robert Allan Ltd. has completed the design of a new generation of more capable High Endurance Self-righting Search & Rescue Lifeboats for the Canadian Coast Guard. This new design was developed from the successful similar vessels known as the “Severn” Class operated by the Royal National Lifeboat In
UK: J+S Ltd Bags Ships and Submarines Support Contract
J+S Ltd have been awarded a £6 million contract by Thales UK to provide a continuation of the in-service support for winch equipment and pre determined through put of towed array sonar equipment for the Royal Navy. The joint project will provide a decade of maintenance and repair for 17 different sy
Ukraine: Sea Breeze 2013 Participants Hold Amphibious Landing
Multinational partners participating in Exercise Sea Breeze 2013 conducted an amphibious landing operation demonstration in support of simulated disaster relief activities July 11. As the Ukrainian PTS-2 amphibious assault vehicles deployed into the water toward Ukrainian navy vessel Konstantin Olsh
Top News of the Week July 8 – 13, 2013
US Navy Delivers Final 35-Meter Patrol Boat to Iraqi Navy The U.S. Navy delivered the final 35-meter patrol boat (PB 312) to the Iraqi navy at the Umm Qasr naval facility July 5th, after successfully completing reactivation in Bahrain. Saudi Arabia Eyes 30 Mark V Patrol Boats The Defense Security Co
The Gulf: HMS Atherstone’s Crew Takes Part in Artemis Trident
The crew of HMS Atherstone (MCM2 Crew 4) has had a busy first month of their six month tour of duty in the Persian Gulf. After taking over HMS Atherstone in early June from Crew 1, Crew 4 have spent their first month preparing and conducting a major combined UK/US/French Mine Countermeasure exercise
NATO Maritime Air Forces Changes Command
Rear Admiral Thomas Ernst, German Navy, relieved French Navy Rear Admiral Jacques de Solms as NATO’s Commander, Maritime Air (COMMARAIR) and Deputy Chief of Staff Maritime Air for NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), on Wednesday, 10 July 2013. During his tenure, de Solms led the complex consolida
US, Australian Personnel Prepare for Exercise
More than 27,000 U.S. and Australian personnel are converging in Australia and the Coral Sea in preparation for the amphibious exercise Talisman Saber 2013, to be held off the coast of Australia July 15 through Aug. 6. Talisman Saber is a U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)-sponsored exercise that trains f