Amphibious & Support Ships
NATO kicks off new operation Sea Guardian
Three NATO ships and two submarines began a new NATO maritime security operation in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday. Italian frigate ITS Aviere, Bulgarian frigate BGS Verni, Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik, Greek submarine HS Papanikolis and the Spanish submarine ESPS Mistral – will conduct the first
German tender Werra returns from EU mission off Libya
German Navy’s Elbe-class replenishment ship Werra is set to return to its homeport in the Kiel Navy base after spending five months underway supporting EU’s maritime operations. Werra departed port in June to join EUNAVFOR’s operation Sophia to help tackle people smugglers, deaths of migrants at sea
British explorer’s South Georgia expedition revisited by Royal Navy icebreaker
Having spent last Antarctic summer celebrating the deeds of one British polar hero, the crew of Royal Navy icebreaker HMS Protector have opened the 2016-17 survey season honouring his rival. A century after Sir Ernest Shackleton landed at King Haakon Bay on South Georgia in a makeshift lifeboat – th
Belgian Navy, US Coast Guard complete law enforcement drill in Cabo Verde
Members of the Belgian Navy and U.S. Coast Guard recently completed a week-long maritime law enforcement exercise with partners from the Cabo Verde Coast Guard (CVCG), Maritime Police (CVMP), and Judicial Police (CVJP). The major participating units in the exercise were the Belgian command and suppo
Sole survivor of Battle of Jutland undergoes hull restoration
HMS Caroline hasn’t been out of the water for 32 years so it’s not surprising to see the hull of the sole surviving vessel from the Battle of Jutland covered in barnacles. Two tugs spent an hour easing HMS Caroline from her home at Alexandra Dock in Belfast to Harland and Wolff’s Heavy Industries Do
UK finally starting work on Type 26 frigates
UK’s Defence Secretary announced on Friday that first steel for the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates would be cut in summer 2017. Michael Fallon made the announcement during a visit to Govan in Scotland and added that the deal was subject to final contract negotiations. Fallon also announced a £100
Belgian Navy to receive new research vessel by 2020
Belgian Navy research ship R/V Belgica is scheduled to get a successor by 2020, the Belgium government announced on October 28. The 32-year-old ship has reached an end of its service life and needs a replacement, secretary of state for science Elke Sleurs said. RV Belgica is owned by the Belgian Sci
EU naval force increases patrols off Somalia after pirate attack
The EU naval force in charge of safeguarding shipping off the Horn of Africa has increased its patrols after Somali pirates attacked chemical tanker CPO Korea off the east coast of Somalia on October 22. During the attack a number of shots were exchanged between the six armed pirates, who were in a
HMS Albion a step closer to joining Royal Navy next year
HMS Albion – the Royal Navy amphibious assault ship that has been mothballed in 2011, just eight years after she joined the fleet – is gradually coming to life one step at a time. In her latest milestone, the amphibious command ship been placed in long term lay-up with her own generators now powerin
UK engineers are aboard USS America for F-35B trials
The U.S. Navy recently shared news of the Marines’ F-35B stealth fighter jet conducting trials aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America. A total of seven of the STOVL (short take-off vertical landing) variants of the Lockheed Martin-built jet are embarked on USS America for both developmental
Canadian Navy chief visits NATO’s London headquarters
Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy met with the commander of the Allied Maritime Command at the headquarters of NATO’s maritime forces in the United Kingdom’s Northwood facility near London. Vice Admiral Ron Lloyd (Royal Canadian Navy) and Vice Admiral Clive Johnstone (Royal Navy) talked about the
US Navy amphibious assault ship Wasp departs Greece following mid-deployment repair
U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) departed Greek Souda Bay port on November 1 following an eight-day port visit to complete her mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR). While the port call’s primary focus was a MDVR to ensure the ship is in fully operational condition for the remainde
Royal Navy tanker refuels French helicopter carrier on counter piracy mission
Royal Navy tanker RFA Gold Rover recently refueled French helicopter carrier FS Dixmude and joined it for a piracy patrol off the Ivory Coast. Joined by Ivory Coast patrol boat Sekongo, the ships patrolled 200 miles of coastline and waters off shore, stretching from the Ivory Coast’s principal port
Australian Navy’s new replenishment ships to feature Saab’s combat systems
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has contracted Swedish defense contractor Saab to deliver an integrated combat system for the two new Royal Australian Navy replenishment ships. According to Saab, the contract is worth SEK 226 million (approx US$25 milion). Helicopter control radar and decoy system are