Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset has begun a nine month docking period being undertaken by Babcock at Devonport – marking the first refit to be undertaken under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA) Class Output Management (COM) Phase 2 arrangements, which officially came into effect last month (Apri
In order to strengthen its knowledge and expertise regarding cyber threats, the Netherlands Defence organisation has joined the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. The official membership ceremony was held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, on 24 April. The Netherlands is the eleve
An aircraft at the cutting edge of naval airpower will return to RNAS Yeovilton for its annual Air Day on 23 June. Living up to its name, the Dassault Rafale (‘Squall’, or ‘Hurricane’) will tear through the skies over this key Royal Naval Air Station. The Dassault Rafale M is the French Navy’s most
Fleet Base West has experienced a busy first half of 2012, with both HMAS Stirling and West based Fleet Units playing host to several high profile international visitors since January. April was particularly busy with a flurry of VIP visits to the West. The first was from the United States Secretary
A&P Falmouth yard has had a very busy first quarter to 2012 working on 34 projects including six ferries, four of which were from P&O, tankers, MOD vessels, offshore supply vessels, tugs, barges and manufacturing the first wave energy device to go onto the FabTest site in Falmouth Bay. Some of these
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Royal Navy, with the support of BAE Systems, are hosting a weekend of free events this Saturday and Sunday to commemorate the Naval and local contribution to the liberation of the South Atlantic islands 30 years ago. There will be displays and the opportunity to
Sailors, Soldiers, Airman and Royal Marines from the UK, Australia and New Zealand held a moving and poignant service to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice made by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli during World War I. The ceremony was held aboard the Devonp
Crew members from Royal Navy submarine, HMS Vanguard, used a recent support crew period to strengthen their ties with affiliates. Back in November there was an opportunity for Vanguard’s support crew to reinforce the submarine’s links, beginning with a trip to Derby. In 2002, Derby awarded all subma
Commander Matt Syrett Royal Navy took Command of HMS ECHO during the Ship’s recent formal visit to Mumbai, India and is looking forward to returning to Sea as the Captain of one of the Royal Navy’s most modern Hydrographic Survey Vessels. His early career saw service in HMS Sheffield, Orkney and Lee
An enhanced helicopter facility has opened at HMS Raleigh to help with the training of British and NATO warships off the coast of Devon and Cornwall. In their distinctive blue livery, two Dauphin helicopters which serve the RN’s premier training organisation are parked on new landing pads at HMS Ral
USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) departed the Republic of Albania, April 27, after a scheduled port visit where the crew participated in numerous events including a reception and a community relations (COMREL) project. Gunston Hall Sailors and Marines will leave with many lasting memories of strengthened r
The crew of the Hunt-class ship have been given seven weeks of intensive training to prepare them for their impending mission – training which culminates this week off Scotland alongside some 30 British and foreign warships. Atherstone must be able to operate alone or as part of a NATO or coalition
Survey ship HMS Echo became the first Royal Navy vessel in ‘the gateway of India’ in five years when she sailed into the metropolis that is Mumbai. It allowed a change of some crew (the ship regularly rotates around one third of her sailors to sustain her mission away from the UK) and a chance [&hel
Swooping low over the Firth of Clyde a Hawk jet banks as it approaches Ailsa Craig, preparing to make another pass of HMS Blyth. It’s just one action-packed episode from the largest military exercise in Europe, now approaching its climax in and off Scotland. Whilst much of the media attention is foc
