Aviation
Australia: Commanding Officer Thanks Community for Successful HMAS Cerberus Open Day 2011
Captain Mark Hill, Commanding Officer of HMAS Cerberus, has thanked the community for making this year’s Open Day another huge success, in the establishment’s 90 year history. Approximately 6,000 people interested in the Royal Australian Navy, a Navy career or just wanting a great family day out wer
USA: Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 78 Prepares for Establishment
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78, the second HSM squadron to stand up in San Diego, prepared for its establishment at Naval Air Station North Island by hanging the squadron’s sign Oct. 25. The squadron’s establishment ceremony is scheduled for March 2012, but until then the pre-commissio
UK: Royal Navy Frigate Departs on Atlantic Deployment
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose has set sail for a six-and-a-half month deployment to the South Atlantic to maintain a continuous presence protecting British interests. Leaving her home port of HM Naval Base Devonport, Plymouth, on Monday 24 October 2011, HMS Montrose passed Devil’s Point to the sou
Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Delivers OPV Zeeland to Royal Netherlands Navy
On Thursday 20 October, the second of four Holland Class Oceangoing Patrol Vessels, “Zeeland” built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Netherlands Navy, was transferred to the Defence Materiel Organization of the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands. Immediately after delivery, the
Russia: Baltic Fleet ASW Helicopter Squadron Conducts Flight Drills
Pilots of Baltic Fleet (BF) ASW Helicopter Squadron conducted flight drills. The plan included practice of takeoff and landing techniques at Donskoye military airfield, flights to assigned sea zone for air reconnaissance, and search of “enemy” submarines in day and night time. Night flights take spe
UK: HMS Illustrious Begins Training off South Coast
The flight deck of Britain’s aircraft carrier hums and throbs again as two months of rigorous training begin for HMS Illustrious off the South Coast. Lynx helicopters from 702 Naval Air Squadron in Yeovilton and Merlins of 820 Naval Air Squadron in Culdrose have joined Lusty in the Channel ahead of
Australian Defence Force Formally Takes Over Largs Bay Ship
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Largs Bay, now ADF Ship Choules, had been formally handed to the Australian Defence Force at Falmouth Dockyard in the United Kingdom. ADF Ship Choules will set sail for Australia next month, arr
Royal Navy Warship Frees Fishermen from Pirate Captivity on “Good Day for UK”
A Royal Marines Commando guards suspected pirates off the Somali coast after the Royal Navy liberated its second hijacked vessel in a week. It’s thought they were using the fishing boat Hibid Fidi as a ‘mother ship’ – until HMS Somerset pounced, boarded the dhow, freed its Pakistani crew and detaine
NSPS Secretariat Announces Results of Request for Proposals to Build Large Ships for Canada
The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) Secretariat today announced the results of a Request for Proposals to build large ships for Canada. This strategy will create jobs and generate significant economic benefits in shipbuilding and related industries across Canada. This will involve
Canada: Defence Forces Award Series of Military Contracts to CAE
CAE announced that it has been awarded a series of military contracts from the defence forces of seven countries valued at more than C$125 million. They include a contract to develop two multi-crew simulators for a new undergraduate program of the United States Navy, additional work for the United S
UK: HMS Argyll Prepares for Gulf Mission
Pilot Lt Ralphie Lorenz safely guides his Lynx helicopter back to ‘mother’ as HMS Argyll conducts an intensive training package in the Mediterranean on her way to the Gulf. In the coming weeks, the Devonport-based frigate will take over from HMS St Albans on the key maritime security mission in the
German Frigate FGS KOELN Escorts WFP-Vessel
The German frigate FGS KOELN, participating in European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta, has recently escorted M/V CAROLINE SCAN to the Kenyan port Mombasa. The ship is chartered by the World Food Programme and will be loaded with urgently needed food for the people in Somalia. Additi
UK: Royal Marines from HMS St Albans Help Save Lives of Three Sailors
Sailors and Royal Marines from HMS St Albans helped to save the lives of three Bangladeshis who were thrown into the ocean by pirates. The frigate offered medical assistance to the men, who were plucked from the water by a passing dhow after spending three days clinging to flotsam. This is the momen
USA: Essex Amphibious Ready Group Helps 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Complete CERTEX
Ships from forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) worked with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to complete its certification exercise (CERTEX) Oct. 16. CERTEX is an evaluated event that determines if the 31st MEU is capable of doing certain missions such as humanitarian