Amphibious & Support Ships
France: Exercise FRUKUS Begins
Maritime forces from four countries began participation in the multinational naval exercise FRUKUS, in port Brest, France, June 25. FRUKUS, which is led this year by the French navy, is focused on improving maritime security through open dialogue and increased training of the participating nations,
USCG, Dutch Navy Carry Out USD 24 Mln Drug Bust
What happens when the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and Royal Netherlands Navy work together? A $24 million drug bust. The multi-agency seizure of 1,517 pounds of cocaine – estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $24 million – all began with a suspicious go-fast vessel. The cre
Babcock Starts HMS Pembroke’s Upkeep Period
Following the recent departure of HMS Penzance from Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard after a successful upkeep period, Babcock has now started work on Sandown class mine hunter HMS Pembroke, in dock at Rosyth for a similar six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)) under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (
Russia’s Second Mistral to Be Complete in October 2014
Russia’s second Mistral-class, amphibious assault ship will be complete in October 2014, a deputy prime minister in charge of the defense industry… [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, June 26, 2013
HMS Echo Visits Malta
Survey ship HMS Echo has spent 12 days in Malta on the first stage of her 18-month mission to the Mediterranean and Middle East. The Devonport-based hydrographic vessel will be updating charts used by seafarers the world over, courtesy of her hi-tech sonar suites. It’s just under a year since the De
HMS Defender Gives a Taste of Life at Sea to Crew’s Family and Friends
HMS Defender took families and friends to sea for the first time recently, showing off the ship and giving family members the chance to see what life is like at sea for their serving relations. The day included escorting HMS Edinburgh into harbour for the last time before she was decommissioned, ful
HMS Ramsey, HMS Dragon Team Up to Safeguard Shipping in the Gulf
Sandown-class minehunter HMS Ramsey may only be a sixteenth of the size of HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defence destroyer, but the two vessels are working side by side maintaining maritime security in the region – a task the Royal Navy has been undertaking for over twenty years. Two Sandown and two Hun
UK Navy to Get Its First Unmanned ‘Eye in the Sky’
The Royal Navy is to get its first unmanned ‘eye in the sky’ in a £30m deal to buy the ScanEagle reconnaissance aircraft. The pilotless plane has been used by the US Navy over the past decade and has been trialled by the Royal Navy. Whitehall is investing in the small, unarmed ScanEagle robot planes
VIDEO: HMS Dragon Doubles Her Effectiveness with Extra Pair of Wings
For the first time one of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 destroyers has used two helicopters on front-line operations. HMS Dragon doubled her effectiveness for two months flying not the usual one, but two Lynx helicopters from her flight deck. The destroyer, on her maiden deployment, left Portsmouth i
Brazilian Navy Gets Arguari OPV
Araguari, the third of three Ocean Patrol Vessels built by BAE Systems, was handed over to the Brazilian Navy in a ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base today. Employees joined guests from the Brazilian Navy and UK Royal Navy, to watch as members of the ship’s company raised the ensign for the first tim
HMS Ledbury, NATO Counterparts Call at Vlore, Albania
HMS Ledbury has just completed a visit to the Albanian Port of Vlore in the company of her NATO counterparts. As part of the standing NATO Mine Counter Measure Group 2 – she arrived in port with ITS Crotone of the Italian Navy and TGC Edincick from the Turkish Navy. The Task Group spent three [&hell
UK: HMS Brocklesby to Visit Torbay
The Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessel (MCMV) HMS Brocklesby will visit Torbay on Friday (June 21) for the start of a three-day regional engagement programme, and in particular, to support the town’s Armed Forces Day events. The Royal Navy warship will anchor off the town from 5pm on Friday nigh
USS Hue City Arrives in Palma de Mallorca
The guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) arrived in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, June 18. The visit will provide the crew with well-deserved rest and relaxation before continuing on to the ship’s homeport of Mayport, Fla. The Hue City’s crew recently completed their mission to the U.S. 5th Fleet
The Queen’s Frigate to Tour British Overseas Territory
The Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate will visit the British Overseas Territory later this week – the third port on her deployment after first stopping in Bermuda and then Key West, Florida. Lancaster, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Queen’s Frigate’ after her sponsor Her Majesty The Queen, will visit all