Seventeen NATO and partner nations will participate in the 43rd iteration of the multinational maritime exercise BALTOPS 2015 in Poland, Sweden, Germany, and throughout the Baltic Sea, June 5-20, 2015. BALTOPS is an annually reoccurring multinational exercise designed to enhance flexibility and inte
The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departed the Black Sea June 3, 2015, after a series of engagements to promoted peace and stability in the region. Ross’ presence in the Black Sea reaffirmed U.S. commitment toward the region and increased joint operational capabiliti
Portsmouth based Minehunter HMS Quorn has spent the past two weeks taking part in a NATO operation to clear historic minefields off the coast of Estonia. Called “Open Spirit”, the operation is an annual event carried out by NATO with ships from member states locating, and neutralising, some of the 8
The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) kicks off a two-day underway exercise with the Ukrainian navy Frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy (U 130), June 1, 2015. The 2-day exercise is being conducted in international waters and is scheduled to end today, June 2. The purpose of Ross
One of the Royal Navy’s smallest ships, patrol boats HMS Biter and HMS Pursuer, joined the Cunard Line for its 175th birthday celebrations on the Mersey. For the first time Cunard’s three Queens – Mary 2, Elizabeth and Victoria – were brought together in the city where the company began operating in
The German submarine U34 joined Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1) in Tallinn on May 30 for a scheduled port visit. The submarine will be operating in the Baltic under operational control of Commander Submarine Forces NATO (COMSUBNATO
Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1) ships arrived in Tallinn Friday for a port visit. Led by Rear Adm. Brad Williamson (USA N), SNMG2 is currently comprised of the flagship USS VICKSBURG (CG 69), HMCS FREDERICTON (FFH 337), TCG GOKSU (
More than 5,000 migrants trying to reach Europe have been rescued in the Central Mediterranean over the weekend. British, Maltese, Belgian and Italian vessels and Icelandic and Finnish planes deployed in EU operation Triton coordinated by Frontex were fully engaged in this rescue effort. Frontex Exe
UK Ministry of Defence Orders NATO Submarine Rescue System The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £12.1m contract to JFD for the provision of the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS). HMS Ocean to Replace HMS Bulwark as Fleet Flagship Royal Navy’s very high readiness helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean,
Royal Navy and Army units are taking part in a series of exercises, alongside thousands of personnel from dozens of participating nations. From early June, UK military personnel will be deployed to Eastern Europe and the Baltic states to take part in a series of military exercises. Collectively name
NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) welcomed U.S. Naval Force Central Command/U.S. FIFTH FLEET/Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Commander, Vice Admiral John Miller, and Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia (EUNAVFOR)/Commander United Kingdom Amphibious Forces Major General Martin Smit
Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel ‘Rayo’ has just returned to her home port in Las Palmas, Canary Island, after a six-month deployment participating in the EU-led operation ‘Atalanta’ against piracy in Indian Ocean waters. The OPV, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Rafael Samaniego, had
Royal Navy’s very high readiness helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean, will shortly assume the duties of Fleet Flagship. The Plymouth based ship takes over from HMS Bulwark on the morning of Monday, June 1. The ship will sail next month for the first of a series of exercises that will demonstrate the flexi
Detonating historic ordnance in the waters around Estonia Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) vessels are currently engaged in OPEN SPIRIT 2015, an annual Historical Ordnance Disposal operation, which is led this year by the Estonian Navy. The group joined the operation on May 18.
