Amphibious & Support Ships
US Marines start combat rehearsal off Djibouti aboard French assault ship
Members of the US Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5) on December 13 started a bilateral amphibious combat rehearsal in international waters off the coast of Djibouti, Africa. They will be teaming up with the French Task Group 473.1 which is composed of
NATO strengthens ties with merchant shipping community in Mediterranean Sea exercise
A NATO exercise involving warships from Italy, Greece and Turkey and the international merchant shipping community is taking place in the international waters of the central and eastern Mediterranean Sea. This focused security patrol is being conducted in coordination with a Naval Cooperation and Gu
German tanker Rhön concludes NATO SNMG1 mission
German Navy tanker FGS Rhön is scheduled to return to its homeport in Wilhelmshaven on December 12, concluding a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean and North Sea. The ship spent four months with NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), supplying the warships with fuel and fresh water and oc
Mexican Navy receives final two AS565 Panther helicopters
The Mexican Navy received the final two of overall ten AS565 MBe multi-mission Panther helicopters during a delivery ceremony at Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, France. The Mexican Navy was the first customer of the new version of the Panther after ordering the units in 2014. The first four helicop
Finland’s Boomeranger Boats lands Indian, UAE Navy RHIB contracts
Finnish boat builder Boomeranger Boats will be delivering its rigid hull inflatable boats to the United Arab Emirates and the Indian Navy after signing the contracts earlier this year. Announcing the contracts, the company said it is set to deliver a total of 34 special operations boats to the Unite
Italian frigate trains with Chinese, Korean warships off Somalia
Italian Navy frigate and current operation Atalanta flagship ITS Fasan trained with ships from the Chinese PLA Navy and Republic of Korea Navy off the coast of Somalia recently. Fasan first rendezvoused with South Korean and Spanish Navy ships after delivering medicine to the Somalian port city of H
After drills with Egyptian Navy, French warships embark US Marines in Jordan
After concluding several days of drills with the Egyptian Navy, the French task group composed of helicopter carrier BPC Tonnerre and destroyer FS Chevalier Paul pulled into Aqaba, Jordan, to embark US Marines on December 4. The French Task Group 473.1, together with sailors and marines from Naval A
France ready to host Royal Marines if UK amphibious assault ships are axed
The French Navy is considering allowing UK’s Royal Marines greater access to its amphibious ships should the Royal Navy’s HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion amphibious assault ships be axed as part of defense cuts. This was revealed by senior French officials, according to a report in Financial Times, who s
Dutch, Swedish sailors return from piracy mission off Somalia
A team of Dutch and Swedish sailors and marines have returned from a three-month deployment to the Horn of Africa as part of the EU counter-piracy operation Atalanta. Dutch Navy landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam returned to her homeport Den Helder on December 3 with an embarked Swedish boarding
Russian Navy commissions Project 21180 icebreaker ‘Ilya Muromets’
The Russian Navy commissioned the Project 21180 icebreaker ‘Ilya Muromets’ in a ceremony at the Admiralty Shipyards on November 30. Though it is likely to remain the only vessel in its class due to high construction costs, Ilya Muromets is the first icebreaker built for the navy in 40 years. The ves
HMS Monmouth returns from nine-month deployment
Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth returned to Plymouth on December 1, concluding a nine-month deployment. Since leaving Devonport in March, the ship has travelled over 40,000 miles through the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and wider Middle East regions. While on counter-narcotics patrols
Finnish Pansio-class minelayers complete midlife upgrade
The Finnish Navy’s three Pansio-class minelayers have completed their midlife upgrade program, Atlas Elektronik Finland Oy – the prime contractor on the project – announced. FNS Pyhäranta, the third and final vessel to undergo the upgrade, was delivered to the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Comman
USS San Diego, 15th MEU arrive in Souda Bay, Greece
The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Souda Bay, Greece, for a scheduled port visit, Nov. 27. This is San Diego’s second port visit in Souda Bay during this deployment. While in port, the crew will con
This is where Royal Navy frigates will be homeported after reshuffle
The UK defense ministry has announced a new homeporting plan for the Royal Navy’s thirteen Type 23 frigates. After the relocation is complete, all eight anti-submarine warfare frigates will be calling Plymouth their home, while the remaining five general-purpose variants will be based in Portsmouth.