Amphibious & Support Ships
Philippine Navy acquires two anti-submarine helicopters
The Philippine Department of Defense has signed a contract with Finmeccanica to deliver two AgustaWestland AW159 helicopters to the Philippines Navy. Finmecanica’s UK division of is scheduled to deliver the helicopters in 2018 from the Yeovil plant in the United Kingdom. Valued at over €100m, the or
Britain mulls Omani naval port development
Britain is intending to form a joint venture company between the British defence contractor Babcock International and the Oman Drydock Company that would develop the Omani Duqm Port to support naval vessels. During a visit to Oman, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the multi-million pound undert
France receives first multi-mission ship d’Entrecasteaux
The French Navy on March 25 received its first new multi-mission ship built by Kership, a joint venture between DCNS and Piriou. d’Entrecasteaux, as it was named by the French Navy, is the first of three B2M ships which were expected to be delivered in 2015 and 2016. France will operate the 65-metre
British warship shadows Russian naval ships in UK waters
A Royal Navy warship has located and escorted a Russian naval task group which was sailing in British waters, through the English Channel and up the East Coast of the UK, the Royal Navy said. HMS Somerset, a Type 23 Frigate, along with her Merlin helicopter was used to detect and monitor the movemen
Spanish auxiliary ship concludes collaboration with Canadian Navy
Spanish Navy’s auxiliary oiler and replenishment (AOR) ship Patiño (A-14) returned to its port in Ferrol, Spain on March 30, after a two-month deployment with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Patiño started its collaboration with the Royal Canadian Navy on February 12 when it arrived to Halifax, Nova
German combat support ship rescues 105 in the Mediterranean
German Navy’s combat support ship EGV Frankfurt am Main, part of EUNAVFOR’s Op Sophia mission saved 105 migrants 50 kilometers north of the Tripoli coast on March 29. Once all migrants were taken on board the warship, sailors sunk the rubber boat which was used by migrants. EGV Frankfurt am Main lat
RFA Argus completes overhaul after Ebola mission
UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus on March 25 departed the Falmouth dock after undergoing a year-long overhaul at A&P’s shipyard. Prior to the overhaul, the 28,000-tonne support ship supported efforts to curb the spread of Ebola in West Africa. During her 172 days in support of Operation Gritroc
SNMG 1 docks in Riga, Latvia
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), under the command of Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Jose Enrique Delgado, visited Riga, Latvia, for a scheduled port visit last week. The group is currently deployed to the North and Baltic Seas. SNMG1 is currently composed of three ships: the Spanish F100 class fr
Royal Navy Merlins train with HMS Ocean
New helicopters that will serve the Royal Marines have joined Britain’s flagship HMS Ocean off the south coast for basic amphibious training. The Sea King helicopters that were recently retired are replaced by the battlefield Merlin, which is, according to the Royal Navy, bigger, faster, more powerf
Photo of the day: USS Virginia visits UK submarine base
U.S. Navy’s fast attack submarine USS Virginia, maneuvered by the two harbor tugs in the above shown picture, visited Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde on March 22, 2016. Virginia, the lead boat of the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarines, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of o
German frigate returns from Counter Daesh mission
German Navy frigate FGS Augsburg returned to her homeport after taking part in the French mission against the Daesh by protecting the aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle during its operations. Having spent 126 days deployed, the ship’s Commander, Frigate Captain Jörg Mascow and his crew entered Wi
Belgian Navy minehunter joins NATO group
Photos: Belgian Navy Belgian Navy’s minehunter BNS Primula officially joined the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 on March 14 and on March 21 began its deployment as it, together with other ships from the group, sailed out of the Zeebruge harbor in Belgium. During the three months the shi
Germany assumes command of counter-piracy operation
German Navy Rear Admiral Jan Kaack took over the role of the Force Commander of EUNAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta from the Italian Navy Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri on March 23. Rear Admiral Kaack will command the EU Naval Force Somalia from his flaghsip, FGS Bayern for five months. Speaking about his
US creates European ballistic missile defense task force
The U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet operating in Europe and Africa has established a new task force that will be solely responsible for ballistic missile defense in Europe. On March 24, Commodore Jeffrey Wolstenholme assumed command of the newly established Commander, Task Force 64, as the unit was named. U.S