Amphibious & Support Ships
British Navy Starts Training First Wildcat Aircrew
The British Navy has begun training the first aircrew to fly its next-generation helicopter, the Wildcat. Five Fleet Air Arm pilots and observers are undergoing conversion training at the new Wildcat Training Centre in RNAS Yeovilton right now with the helicopter, successor to the fabled Lynx, just
HMS Tyne to Berth in Tynemouth, UK
Royal Navy warship HMS Tyne will go alongside Western Quay in North Shields this Friday morning (July 12) at 6.30am for the start of a week-long visit to her affiliate region. She is visiting in support of the annual Mouth of the Tyne Festival and is very much looking forward to representing the Roy
RFA Wave Knight, HNLMS Holland Bust Suspected Drugs Runner
As part of a multi-agency operation involving Dutch and US vessels, naval support ship RFA Wave Knight helped to successfully detect and stop a craft which had attracted suspicion. The boat evaded the US Coast Guard and was spotted dropping suspect packages over the side before a raiding craft from
UK: Royal Fleet Auxiliary Diligence Deployment Underway
A unique Naval Support Ship sailed from Portsmouth today on one of the navy’s lengthiest deployments. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Diligence, a 10,595 tonne Forward Repair Ship, spends most of her time in the Gulf Region supporting deployed units. Because of the nature of the work she carries out she
RFA Mounts Bay Proves to Be Top-Notch Airfield
Amphibious support ship RFA Mounts Bay became one of the busiest airfields in the UK as she conducted flying training with four squadrons and four different types of helicopters. Her flight deck witnessed more than 350 deck landings – including 100 by the new Wildcat – during three weeks of intensiv
Design of UK Navy’s Tide Tankers Completed, Construction Begins in a Year
Work will begin on the UK Navy’s next-generation tankers in a year’s time after design teams in the UK completed their plans for the four vessels. RFA Tidespring, Tiderace, Tidesurge and Tideforce will provide the Fleet – including the giant future carriers – with fuel, water, spare parts and other
USS Gravely Holds Change of Command Ceremony
Guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) held a change of command ceremony aboard the ship midway through its maiden deployment, July 7. Cmdr. Kevin Kennedy relieved Cmdr. David Dry. Dry asked the crew to continue their excellence under the new leadership. “I ask that you continue to support e
Thales UK, Estonian Defence Forces Sign MCMV Contract
Thales UK has signed a contract with the Estonian Defence Forces to provide an additional four years of technical support and maintenance to two former Royal Navy (RN) mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) now serving with the Estonian fleet. The contract provides a framework to achieve cost savings
HMS Echo Makes Navigation in Libyan Waters Less Hazardous
Survey ship HMS Echo has completed a successful mission to make Libyan waters safer and pass on specialist knowledge to the Libyan Navy. HMS Echo used her sophisticated sonar equipment to map unseen wrecks, reefs and rocks off the Libyan coast and make navigation less hazardous. Significant discover
UK: Royal Navy Sailors Demonstrate LGBT Pride
Royal Navy personnel donned their ceremonial uniform and proudly displayed their operational medals as they marched through the streets of the capital for London Pride. Leading the Armed Forces contingent, the 22 sailors marched past the cheering crowds for the 42nd gay pride festivities – with Lieu
USS Mount Whitney Returns to Homeport after Busy Schedule
USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), returned to its homport in Gaeta, Italy, July 3, following a two-month deployment to participate in community relations events, military exercises and scheduled port visits. During the deployment, Mount Whitney made port visits to Lisbon, Portugal; Ventspils, Latvia; and
IKECSG Sailors Welcomed Back from Deployment
More than 5,000 Sailors serving as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) returned to their homeports in Norfolk, Va. and Mayport, Fla. July 3, following five months of operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and embarked squa
Russia: DCNS Presents Its Naval Portfolio at IMDS Exhibition
DCNS a naval prime contractor, systems integrator and shipbuilder, is presenting its vast portfolio of products and services at IMDS Exhibition taking place in Saint Petersburg, Russia from 3rd to 7th of July. DCNS is supplying two BPC-type projection and command vessels to Russia under a contract s
HMS Ramsey Sailors Learn from Their American Minehunting Counterparts
Sailors from HMS Ramsey visited their American minehunting counterparts to see how they do their business ahead of a US-UK-French exercise in the Gulf. The Brits joined Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 – known as the Blackhawks – in Bahrain to see their giant Sea Dragon helicopters find a