Participants of the international naval exercise Open Spirit 2016 found several mines just 3 kilometers off the Lithuanian only sea port on May 20. Lithuanian Navy divers subsequently destroyed the German WWII mines. Five naval mines, one torpedo, rocket parts and two still unidentified wrecks have
Royal Navy’s mine hunter HMS Ramsey has returned to home waters and its Faslane base after a deployment as part of Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1. Crew seven from the First Mine Counter Measures Squadron (MCM1), who have most recently been operating the Sandown Class vessel, has been tr
U.S. Navy’s Marine-aviation optimized amphibious assault ship USS America departed its homeport of San Diego for flight deck recertifications on May 16. This was done to prepare the ship for its future role as part of Amphibious Squadron 3 and Expeditionary Strike Group 3. Just short of 36 hours aft
Spanish Navy’s F-100 frigate Méndez Núñez is scheduled to integrate into the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 until the end of September. The Méndez Núñez (F-104) will relieve her sister ship Álvaro de Bazán (F-101). Spanish Navy Rear Admiral José Enrique Delgado Roig took command of SNMG-1 in Decembe
Explosives Ordnance Disposal personnel from Australia, US, Singapore and New Zealand have completed training at Guam Naval Base during Exercise Tricrab 2016. Hosted by US Navy Explosives Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Five, the technicians developed their explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) skills whil
The U.S. Navy christened the amphibious transport dock Portland (LPD 27) on May 20 in front of approximately 1,000 guests. Ship’s sponsor, Bonnie Amos, smashed a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow of the ship, officially christening Portland. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Christopher Owens, direc
The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the lead ship of the Navy’s next-generation of multimission surface combatants, May 20. Ship delivery follows extensive tests, trials and demonstrations of the ship’s hull, mechanical, and electrical systems including the ship’s boat
The Royal Navy of Oman has taken possession of the first High Speed Support Vessel, RNOV Al Mubshir. The RNOV Al Mubshir is the first of two 72 metre High Speed Support Vessels (HSSVs) to be delivered to the Royal Navy of Oman under a US$124.9 million design, construct and integrated logistics suppo
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Cardigan Bay on May 18 joined NATO’s Standing Maritime Group (SNMG 2) sailing in Southern European waters. The Bay-class landing ship deck auxiliary is 176.6 m long and a displaces about 16,000 t. It has the capability to operate several types of helicopters and is equippe
U.S. Navy’s second Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, USS Germantown, held a change of command ceremony in Sasebo, Japan on May 10. Commander Severn Stevens relieved Commander Gary Harrington as commanding officer of the ship. Harrington, who assumed command of Germantown on October 27, 2014, l
Ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two task unit 02 (SNMG2 TU.02) recently concluded a busy port visit in Casablanca, Morocco with a passing exercise and boarding exercise off the coast of Morocco. SNMG2 TU.02 led by Canadian Navy Commander Trevor MacLean included HMCS Fredericton (FFH 3
The international maritime exercise Phoenix Express 2016 was kicked off May 17, in the Mediterranean. Navies from Europe, North Africa, and the United States gathered to begin the 10th iteration of the exercise. Phoenix Express is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and facilitated by U.S. Na
The EU Political and Security Committee on May 18 appointed Brigadier Robert Magowan, an officer from the British Royal Marines, as Operation Commander for the EU Naval Force Somalia, Operation Atalanta. Brigadier Magowan is taking the place of Major General Martin Smith. He is expected to take up h
Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, welcomed his French counterpart, Admiral Bernard Rogel, in Canberra, Australia last week for a series of meetings aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two navies. The visit comes in the wake of the Australian Government’s de
