Amphibious & Support Ships
Germany upgrades minehunters, buys training simulators
Germany is modernizing the last three of ten Frankenthal 332A class minehunters with a new mine countermeasure system. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) announced December 21 that Atlas Elektronik, a joint company of ThyssenKrupp and
USS Cole arrives in 6th Fleet
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations after departing its homeport earlier his month. Cole, assigned to Commander Task Force 65, entered Europe on December 21 to conduct a regularly-scheduled deployment in support of
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Shoreham completes refit
Royal Navy’s Sandown-class minehunter HMS Shoreham has undergone an extensive refurbishment and maintenance programme carried out by Babcock in Rosyth. The shipbuilder improved the vessel’s operational capability and carried out restoration work on the glass reinforced plastic (GRP) hull. This work
USNS Trenton begins first operational deployment
The U.S. Military Sealift Command’s expeditionary fast transport ship, USNS Trenton (EPF 5) departed the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story on December 20 to begin its first operational deployment. The Spearhead-class vessel, built by Austal in Alabama, was launched in September 2014 a
South African, UK navies to commemorate 100th anniversary of SS Mendi sinking
The Royal and South African Navies will gather in February next year to commemorate the sinking of South African troopship SS Mendi. After it was rammed in fog off the Isle of Wight on February 21 1917, SS Mendi took 616 South Africans down with her. To mark the 100th anniversary of the tragedy, the
Finland issues battle systems tender for Squadron 2020 vessels
The Finnish Defence Forces announced it is issuing a tender for a battle system that is to be supplied for its new Squadron 2020 ice-going offshore patrol vessels. The department’s logistics command will send requests to 12 domestic and foreign companies to participate in the tendering. After the Fe
UK Coast Guard contracts Ardent for emergency towage services off Scotland
The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has contracted the maritime services company Ardent for emergency towage off the north and north-western coasts of Scotland. The new ship to be used – the Ievoli Black – is a 70 metre towing vessel of some 2283 gross tonnes and a bollard pull of 139 tonnes
Alewijnse Marine sets up new facility in Den Helder
Dutch system integrator Alewijnse Marine said it has opened a new service and maintenance facility in the port of Den Helder to support its activities at the Dutch Royal Naval dockyard and Damen Shipyards Den Helder. The company said this new facility will allow it to deliver its expertise in all ty
HMCS St. John’s picked as next Canadian ship to deploy to NATO’s SNMG2
The Royal Canadian Navy has selected Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s as the next RCN ship to deploy on NATO’s operation Reassurance in early 2017. The frigate will support the standing NATO maritime group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Mediterranean Sea contributing to regional security and stability. HMCS
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower arrives in Marseille, France
The U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) arrived in Marseille, France, on its way home from the counter-ISIL mission. The nuclear-powered carrier arrived in France for a scheduled port visit on December 16. Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group departed Norfol
German F123 frigate returns from operation Sophia
FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, German Navy’s F123 frigate, is set to return from its Mediterranean Sea deployment on Friday, December 23. The frigate was part of the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia which is aimed at curbing migrant and weapon smuggling activities in the Mediterranean Sea. Mecklenburg-Vor
Spanish OPV returns from West African deployment
Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel ESPS Serviola returned to her home port in Ferrol, Spain, after taking part in different cooperation activities in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. The cooperative security activities with regional navies are organized by the Spanish Ministry of Defense and t
RFA Mounts Bay completes marathon deployment
Home with just seven days to spare before Christmas Day are the sailors and Royal Marines on RFA Mounts Bay which has completed a marathon deployment in the Mediterranean. The amphibious support ship has been away from home for 349 days as one of the first vessels to deploy in 2016… and last to retu
HMS Bulwark returns home
Hundreds of happy families and friends welcomed home their loved ones on board HMS Bulwark on December 14th, as the ship returned home from a three-month deployment in time for Christmas. The crew of the Royal Navy’s amphibious flagship HMS Bulwark arrived to a warm welcome fit for heroes after the