Ten Royal Netherlands Navy vessels will be fitted with sixteen Optimarin Ballast Systems (OBS) by 2017, the company responsible for the installation of the systems announced May 26. Dutch Defence Material Organization has awarded three contracts to Golten Worldwide and its Green Technologies busines
U.S. Navy’s amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Lisbon, Portugal May 24. The ship is in port to embark Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) staff members and to refuel before heading to the Baltic Sea to participate in BALTOPS 2016. Mount Whitney is designe
The Belgian Defense Minister will attend the multinational mine countermeasures (MCM) operation Open Spirit 2016 and observe participating ships conduct MCM tasks in the Baltic Sea on May 26. Minister of Defense Steven Vandeput will also meet the Lithuanian Defence Minister aboard the LNS Jotvingis
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin Sippican a $72,8 million contract for the procurement of MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedo guidance and control sections. Under the contract, Lockheed will also provide MK 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System upgrade kits, test
A new centre containing facilities to support the British Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers is nearing completion at Portsmouth Naval Base. Mark Lancaster, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans visited Portsmouth Naval Base to see how it is preparing to accommodate the Royal Navy’s two n
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
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
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
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
Two ships assigned to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 made a port call in the Lithuanian Port of Klaipeda. Spanish frigate ESPS Alvaro de Bazan and Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke came alongside May 16 and will stay until May 18. The two ships have recently completed participation in the
