Amphibious & Support Ships
UK: HMS Grimsby Completes Six Month Support Docking Period
Sandown class minehunter HMS Grimsby left Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard on Friday (30 November) with enhanced operational capability following a successful six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)). This was the first Sandown class refit to be undertaken under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA) C
UK: HMS Northumberland Sailors Skillsets Stay Fresh In The Gulf
Sailors on board a Royal Navy warship for the festive season are being kept on their toes as they knuckle down to a five¬month stint in the Indian Ocean and Middle East. Devonport based frigate HMS Northumberland has recently taken over from her sister ship HMS Sutherland as one of two British friga
UK: Junglie Sea Kings to Return Home for Christmas
There was some pre-Christmas cheer in the air at RNAS Yeovilton as the Base welcomed back 120 personnel and four Sea Kings, from Commando Helicopter Force which have been deployed in the Mediterranean on the Royal Navy’s biggest exercise this year, `Cougar 12’. The Junglie Force have been operating
BAE Systems, UK MoD Ink Support and Maintenance Contract
A £46M contract to support and maintain a new sophisticated combat system across the Royal Navy’s world class submarine fleet has been awarded to BAE Systems. The Design Services Arrangement (DSA) contract will ensure that the system, which is used to navigate vessels as well as gather intelligence
UK: Tanker RFA Wave Ruler Bows Out of Gulf Support Mission after Being “Real Trooper”
Tanker RFA Wave Ruler is about to turn for home after six months of providing fuel and other supplies to the ships of many nations committed to the fight against terrorism and piracy. The ship has delivered 14,000 tonnes of fuel to allied vessels – enough to fill six Olympic-sized swimming pools. UN
UK: Budding Navigators Tested on HMS Echo
HMS Echo took eight would-be navigators to sea as experienced sailors assessed whether they had ‘the right stuff’ to guide Her Majesty’s ships on the world’s oceans. The survey ship was used by staff and students on the Fleet Navigating Officers course – which sets the benchmark for all navigators o
Royal Navy Sailors Help Criminal Crackdown in Middle East Waters
Two dozen Royal Navy personnel oversaw a concerted effort to tackle terrorism and piracy in the seas east of Suez. Over five days, an international force of warships and Coast Guard vessels, focused their attention on either side of the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating the Arabian Peninsula a
U.S., Chilean Navies to Research Subsea Floor Alterations
The U.S. Navy has announced that, together with the Chilean Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA), it plans to research possible alterations to the subsea floor caused by the earthquake and tsunami in February 2010, reports Santiago Times. The research vessel USNS Pathfinder will cond
South Africa: President of Damen Shipyards Group Officially Opens New, Multifunctional Building of DSCT
On December 3rd, 2012, Kommer Damen, President of Damen Shipyards Group, officially opened the new, multifunctional building of Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT). The clever and outstanding design combines a 1.125m2 services workshop and logistics centre on the ground floor topped off with offices an
HMS Argyll Undergoes Rigorous Training to Prepare for the New Year
HMS Argyll is ready to deploy in the new year after coming through two months of rigorous training and instruction off Plymouth. The frigate coped with fires, floods, missile hits and other challenges, including serving as the launchpad for rookie Royal Marines carrying out mock raids on the South C
HMS Bulwark Returns to Plymouth, UK
The amphibious warship HMS Bulwark returned to her home base of Plymouth last week after two months with the largest Royal Naval deployment of the year in the Mediterranean. The command and control ship led the UK’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) on Exercise Cougar 12, consisting of the helicopter
Ministry of Defence Contracts Safeguard Hundreds of UK Shipyard Jobs
Around 800 jobs in the UK maritime sector have been safeguarded after the MOD extended five maintenance contracts worth a total of £349m. The contracts cover the long-term maintenance of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Flotilla of naval support ships. They have been awarded to five British companies
UK’s Response Force Task Group Brings the Curtain Down on Cougar 12
The Navy’s key autumn deployment draws to a close with the man in charge delighted it has laid firm foundations for future task groups – and especially Anglo-French co-operation. The two capital ships in the UK’s Response Force Task Group – flagship HMS Bulwark and helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious
HMS Bulwark to Return to South West England
The amphibious warship HMS Bulwark is due to return to the South West of England today (Friday) after two-months with the largest Royal Naval deployment of the year in the Mediterranean. The Plymouth-based assault ship is due to berth at about midday tomorrow in HM Naval Base Devonport. The command