A UK-led joint staff of Royal Navy and French Marine Nationale assumed command of the Bahrain-based Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 from the Pakistan Navy on August 8. During the ceremony at the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain, command of CTF 150 was passed from Commodore Alveer
The UK has confirmed its navy ships would join US assets on a new international maritime security mission in the Persian Gulf. The mission will see the Royal Navy working alongside the US Navy to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The push to organize an international m
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in the Persian Gulf where it is set to ensure the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s seizing of tanker Stena Impero on July 19. Last week the government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accom
The sailors and marines aboard US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Boxer have destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on July 18, US president Donald Trump said during a White House event. While various media reports said the incident was confirmed by “senior defense officials”, Iranian o
The UK is sending Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan to the Persian Gulf in the wake of an escalation of tensions in the region following the scrapping of the Iran nuclear deal and a spate of attacks on commercial tankers. HMS Duncan was operating in the Black Sea when the ship’s new tasking was announced
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose has chased off five Iranian Revolutionary Guards vessels trying to impede the passage of tanker British Heritage in the Persian Gulf on Thursday. According to media reports, HMS Montrose positioned itself between the tanker and Iranian vessels and issued verbal warnin
Indian Navy has deployed two of its vessels in the Gulf of Oman as part of the Operation Sankalp, following the recent maritime security incidents in the region. With this move, the country aims to provide support for Indian-flagged vessels operating and transiting through the Persian Gulf and the G
Limpet mines were likely used in the June 13 attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, the US Navy said providing images and videos as proof. This is in contrast to initial reports that said one of the tankers, the 110,000 dwt Front Altair, had been torpedoed. The navy said its forces in […
Two oil tankers have been damaged in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US 5th Fleet, with one reportedly being targeted by a torpedo. Front Altair, a 110,000 dwt tanker operated by Norwegian shipping company Frontline, is the one hit by a torpedo, shipping news site Tradewinds reported citing i
Duqm Naval Dockyard (DND) has completed its first drydocking project — the repair, overhaul and drydocking (ROH DD) of the fast expeditionary transport ship, the USNS Choctaw County. DND, a joint venture between Babcock International and the Oman Dry Dock Company (ODC) was established in Duqm, Oman,
Two US Navy groups operate in US 5th Fleet AOP in show of force amid Iran tensions.
US Navy aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and ships from its carrier strike group entered the US 5th Fleet area of operations on May 9 after transiting the Suez Canal. The Abraham Lincoln CSG (ABESCG) arrived in the Middle East a little earlier than initially planned, following an announceme
US Navy fighter jets embarked aboard aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln joined US Air Force’s 603rd Air Control Squadron to complete a close air support (CAS) exercise with Romania between May 3 and 5. The CAS involved coordination with US Air Force tankers for in-flight refueling and Romanian joi
Ships from the navies of the US, the UK and France have kicked off the mine countermeasures exercise Artemis Trident in the Persian Gulf. “Mine laying poses a risk to naval ships as well as merchant shipping vessels,” the US 5th Fleet said in an announcement. “As mines threaten maritime traffic indi
