Amphibious & Support Ships
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Chiddingfold returns to water after extensive refit
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Chiddingfold was launched at BAE Systems’ Portsmouth site after undergoing what the company described as the “most extensive package of work ever carried out to the plastic hulls of any Hunt Class mine countermeasure vessels.” The vessel was refitted after returning from a
Royal Navy destroyer nets largest drug haul in Combined Maritime Forces’ history
After making two narcotics interceptions in late November and early December, Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon has now carried out the largest drug haul in the history of the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). According to CMF, Dragon seized and destroyed just shy of 10,000 kg of illegal n
Australia, France, US wrap up ASW exercise in Arabian Sea
The navies of Australia, France and the US concluded a four-day ‘Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness and Evaluation Measurement’ (SHAREM) 195 exercise in the Arabian Sea on December 18. Participating ships included French navy F70AA-class air defense destroyer FS Cassard (D 614), and Royal Austral
Royal Navy ship HMS Echo arrives in Odessa, Ukraine
Hydrographic survey ship HMS Echo arrived in Odessa on December 19, becoming the first Royal Navy ship to visit Ukraine since the Sea of Azov crisis from late November when Russian forces seized three Ukrainian Navy vessels and detained Ukrainian sailors. Echo docked in Odessa after entering the Bla
Canadian ships return from worldwide operations
Royal Canadian Navy vessels ranging from coastal defense vessels through frigates to replenishment oilers returned to their Atlantic and Pacific bases from operations in European, South American, and Asia-Pacific waters. Kingston-class coastal defense vessels HMCS Edmonton and Nanaimo returned to Ca
EU NAVFOR celebrates a decade of operations
The European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) celebrated ten years of maritime operations on December 8. Commanded from its military HQ in Northwood, London, the European Union Naval Force was officially launched on December 8, 2008. Codenamed Operation Atalanta, it is a naval force generated by EU Mem
HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives back home
Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Portsmouth today following the completion of initial fast jet trials in America. The 65,000-ton carrier’s first transatlantic deployment, which began in August, saw her embark two F-35B Lightning II test aircraft, from the Integrated Test
Babcock completes refit of Royal Navy survey vessel HMS Scott
Babcock’s Rosyth shipbuilders have wrapped up an overhaul of the Royal Navy’s ocean survey vessel HMS Scott, the company announced on Thursday. A 150-strong team – including welders, electricians, slingers, pipe workers, painters, commissioning engineers and fabricators – have worked on HMS Scott si
USS Iwo Jima home from Trident Juncture
US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned to her homeport of Mayport, Florida, Dec. 4, after nine weeks of operations in the northern Atlantic Ocean. As flagship of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), the ship returned to sea after completing a six-month deployment to part
SNMG2 ships train with Egyptian Navy
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) trained with Egyptian Navy vessels after concluding a visit to the Egyptian Navy base in Alexandria on December 4. Although hampered by the weather conditions, the passing exercise consisted of a tactical maneuvering exercise, helicopter operatio
Qinetiq extends naval combat systems support to Queen Elizabeth-class carriers
UK defense contractor QinetiQ confirmed that it has added Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers to the naval combat systems integration support service (NCSISS) it provides in partnership for the Royal Navy. Confirmation of the £9 million contract extension follows the company’s announcement earli
Royal Navy, RFA ships getting new radios under £23m contract
UK’s Defence Equipment and Support agency has awarded Thales a £23 million contract to equip Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships with new V/UHF radios. As announced by the agency, the radios will be installed on 39 ships in total, including Type 23 frigates, survey and ice patrol vessels, min
In pictures: Here’s how the Norwegian Navy plans to raise its sunken frigate
The Norwegian defense ministry has shared a detailed, and illustrated, plan of how it plans to salvage the HNoMS Helge Ingstad which has been sitting on the sea bottom in the Hjeltefjorden fjord after colliding with a tanker on November 8. While the plan provides no timetable on when the operation w
French shipbuilder launches Egyptian subsidiary Alexandria Naval
French shipbuilder Naval Group officially opened Alexandria Naval for Maintenance and Industry, its Egyptian subsidiary which will be responsible for the maintenance of Egyptian Navy vessels built and delivered by Naval Group. “The strategic alliance between Naval Group and Egypt contributes activel