Aviation
UK: HMS St Albans Plays Key Role in Major Exercise in Gulf
HMS St Albans has played a key role in a major exercise in the Gulf testing the abilities of naval forces to defend the region’s scores of gas and oil platforms – vital to the UK and global economy. The Portsmouth-based frigate was Britain’s input to the week-long ‘Stakenet’ exercise, alongside the
Traditional Trilateral Joint Exercise Cooperation & Security 2011 Takes Place in Baltic
Having become traditional, the trilateral joint exercise Cooperation & Security 2011 was held on Aug 4 in the Gulf of Finland northeast Seskar Island. The exercise was aimed at cooperation between frontier services of the Russian Federation, Finland, and Estonia in control over surface situation and
Royal Navy Takes Centre Stage in Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The Royal Navy will be taking centre stage in the international spectacular – the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – from Friday (5th August) to 27th August. A worldwide audience of millions (218,425 watching the live show in Edinburgh and a TV audience judged at over 100 million) for the spectacular
Ukraine’s Coast Guard to Receive 39 New Patrol Boats
First Ukrainian patrol boat will be put into service roughly in Aug 2012, reports Interfax-Ukraine referring to Deputy Chief of Ukrainian Frontier Service Pavel Shisholin. As for Mr. Pavel Shisholin, “construction of Orlan-class patrol craft is currently in progress; this project was specially desig
UK: Three Royal Navy Ships Return Home
Three Royal Navy ships return home this weekend bringing to a close an eventful and complex operational deployment to the Mediterranean and Middle East. The Task Force Flagship, HMS Albion, and her escorting Frigate, HMS Sutherland, both arrive back in their homeport of Plymouth on Mon 8 Aug. RFA Ca
Russia, South Korea to Hold Joint Tactical Drill
Patrol ship of South Korea’s National Maritime Police Agency (hull number 5001) will pay a visit to Vladivostok on Aug 9, reports RIA Deita referring to press group of Russian FSB Frontier Service, Primorsky Krai branch. The delegation will be headed by Superintendent General Lee Won Il (Korea Natio
Russia, Finland, Estonia to Take Part in Trilateral Life-Saving Exercise Cooperation & Security 2011
Trilateral life-saving exercise Cooperation & Security 2011 will take place on Aug 4 (if bad weather – on Aug 5) in the Gulf of Finland, told press service of Russian FSB, St. Petersburg branch to Central Navy Portal. Border guards of Russia, Finland and Estonia will take part in the exercise. Each
UK: Short Encounter for HMS Albion, HMS Ocean
The Royal Navy’s Flagship, HMS Albion, and its largest ship, HMS Ocean, are reunited off the coast of Libya for a transfer of stores, ammunition and personnel. The two Devonport based amphibious ships are both part of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group, but for the past six weeks HMS Albion
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to Get New Submarines and Frigates
In the short term Russia’s Black Sea Fleet (BSF) will be reinforced with six Project 636 diesel electric submarines and six new frigates, reported Interfax on June 31 referring to Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Vysotsky. As for him, in total the Navy will receive about 40 new warships unde
UK: Merlin Helicopter Flies from HMS St Albans to Search Seas below for Enemy Boats
The Cold War may be over but Royal Navy fliers have been keeping their submarine-hunting skills fresh. A Merlin helicopter flew from the frigate HMS St Albans to search the seas below for enemy boats. The aircraft from 829 Naval Air Squadron was designed to give the Navy the best chance of finding s
UK: 3,000 People Crowd to HMS Raleigh during Open Day
Around 3,000 members of the public took the opportunity to take a look inside HMS Raleigh when the Royal Navy training base opened its gate to the public on Thursday 28 July. Local people, holiday makers, potential recruits and veterans looking for a trip down memory lane were among the visitors. Vi
Romanian Navy Pilots Conduct Training aboard USS Whidbey Island
Sailors aboard USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) conducted deck landing qualification (DLQ) training with Romanian navy pilots July 31-Aug. 1 as part of the bilateral exercise Summer Storm 2011. The eight Romanian pilots, the only aviators in that country’s navy, are members of “Black Sea Knights” and fly
France: Gowind OPV L’Adroit Starts First Sea Trials
The Gowind offshore patrol boat L’Adroit began its first sea trials on Wednesday 27 July for DCNS to validate the seakeeping and other nautical qualities of the vessel. These initial sea trials mark the beginning of the next phase of the ambitious Gowind OPV programme, which spearheads DCNS’s effort
HMS Albion Visits Valetta, Malta
HMS Albion, Flagship of the Royal Navy, visited Valetta, Malta, between 25 and 27 July 2011 for a short operational stand down following a period East of Suez. The 18,500 tonne assault ship has had a busy few months undertaking amphibious exercises in the Mediterranean in May, supporting NATO mariti