NATO Standing Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) has wrapped up two weeks of participating in the Italian Navy hosted exercise ITA-MINEX 14. The aim of the exercise was to secure access to commercial ports through effective use of minesweepers and the use of mine hunting capabilities in an
An Taoiseach and Irish Minister for Defence Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D. has announced that an order has been placed with Babcock Marine for the 3rd Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Irish Naval Service. A vessel replacement strategy for the Naval Service has been in progress since 2007 to provide for the re
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) participated in a bilateral underway engagement with the Turkish navy corvette TCG Bykada (F 512) in the Black Sea, June 10. The engagement provided U.S. Navy assets an opportunity to work with Turkey to improve maritime capabilit
Defence and security company Saab announces that the Polish Navy has chosen the Double Eagle system for the Kormoran II MCMV. The Double Eagle is in service with several navies, in the Baltic Sea, in the North Sea and around the world as a state of the art, well proven, low risk and extremely [&he
The third of a total of four 125 class frigates for the German Navy was laid down on June 4 at the Hamburg site of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, a company of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions. The keel laying ceremony, attended by representatives from politics, defense and industry, marks an import
The British Armed Forces are to take part in three additional exercises in the Baltic region as part of a series of measures taken to support and reassure NATO allies in Eastern Europe. The Armed Forces’ participation in these exercises is a public demonstration of the UK’s continuing commitment t
A Royal UK Navy minehunter has been working alongside NATO forces in the Mediterranean to practise hunting and destroying mines as part of an international task force. HMS Blyth exercised her skills as part of Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) which is made up of ships from the
Four NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1) arrived in Karlskrona on Thursday, 5 June 2014, for a scheduled port visit and pre-sail conference in advance of the annual BALTOPS exercise. SNMCMG1 is visiting the port as part of the Group’s deployment to the Ba
Thousands of people from across the UK descended on Southsea in Portsmouth for the 70th anniversary commemorations of D Day. Veterans were given pride of place at a special Drumhead ceremony near the war memorial with 144 members of all three Services on parade as a ceremonial guard of honour as w
For the first time in history a member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has actively participated in the Eternal Flame Ceremony, which is conducted every evening beneath the world-renowned Arc De Triomphe in Paris. Petty Officer Don Blackley is in France as part of a small contingent of Australi
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) welcomed aboard U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel during a scheduled port visit to Constanta, Romania, June 5. Vella Gulf’s presence in Romania reaffirms the United States’ commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and
USS Ross (DDG 71) departed its Norfolk homeport June 3 on her way to Rota, Spain, as the second of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to be forward deployed there. To enhance the security of the European region, two additional ballistic missile defense (BMD)-capable destroyers – US
Thirteen nations are scheduled to participate in the 42nd annual joint exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2014, set for June 6-21, in the Baltic Sea. BALTOPS aims to enhance multinational maritime capabilities and interoperability, while improving involvement in the larger Baltic region theater
At the end of May the EU Naval Force flagship, FGS Brandenburg, made a port visit to the island of Mayotte. Uniquely, Mayotte is the only part of the European Union located inside Operation ATALANTA’s area of operations. Mayotte, which is located in the south west corner of the Indian Ocean, becam
