U.S. Navy’s Blue Ridge-class command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) on May 16 departed Gaeta, Italy, to prepare for the upcoming BALTOPS 2016. BALTOPS is an annually recurring multinational exercise designed to demonstrate resolve of allied and partner forces to defend the Baltic region. Mount Whit
One Spanish and one Royal Morocco Navy frigate met in the Gulf of Cadiz to conduct the bilateral exercise MAES-16 from May 4 – 12. Spanish Santa Maria-class frigate Canarias and Moroccan Sigma-class frigate Allal Ben Abdellah carried out a series of training activities in the Gulf of Cadiz under the
EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta has welcomed back the Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Santa Maria. The ship was previously deployed on Op Atalanta in 2011 and will be conducting counter-piracy patrols over the coming five months. ESPS Santa Maria has an embarked Seahawk helicopter on board, allowing her to
Dutch Navy’s air defense and command frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802) intercepted 320 kilos of drugs in the Caribbean Sea between Venezuela and Jamaica. Four suspected drug smugglers were arrested during the operation. A Caribbean Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft discovered a small, fast
Great Britain is looking to sell its 2014-decommissioned light aircraft carrier for scrap. The Ministry of Defence has issued a notice of the potential sale of the HMS Illustrious “for recycling only”. Illustrious was commissioned into the Royal Navy in December 1977 and has clocked in 32 years of s
Russian Gorky Zelenodolsk Shipyard will hold a laying ceremony for the Russian Navy’s fourth Project 22160 patrol boat. The ship, which will be laid down May 8, was named Sergei Kotov, honoring a Russian WWII Rear Admiral. The lead vessel of the class was laid down in February 2014. All vessels of t
Australia has contracted Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to build two replacement replenishment ships for the Royal Australian Navy. Although the ships would be built in Spain and not in Australia, what the government opposition objected to, Australian Defence minister Marise Payne said that more than
French Navy’s multi-mission frigate FS Provence recently wrapped up her action-packed five month deployment as she returned to her homeport in Brest, France on April 21, 2016. Commissioned into service in June 2015, the Provence sailed from Brest November 15, 2015 for her first deployment which led
Spanish Navy frigate Santa María (F-81) set sail from Rota Naval Base to integrate into the EU-led counter-piracy Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean until the end of September. The farewell ceremony was presided over by Commander 41st Escort Squadron, Captain Ramón Godín. Operation Atalanta is a
Turkey began construction of the nation’s first amphibious assault ship with a steel cutting ceremony on April 30. Based on the Spanish Navy’s landing helicopter dock (LHD) Juan Carlos I and designed by Navantia, the Turkish version of the ship will be named TCG Anadolu and have the pennant number L
A Tri-Service exercise designed to test the Anglo-French working partnership has completed on April 22nd, after a fortnight of exercising on sea, land and air. Eight warships from the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale took part – Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean, HMS Bulwark, HMS Sutherland, as well as R
Belgian Navy’s multi-purpose frigate Louise Marie F931 has returned to its homeport in Zeebrugge, Belgium, after undergoing modernization in the Netherlands. The frigate was docked in Den Helder, where she was fitted with new weapons and communications. BNS Louise Marie will now be performing operat
A United States Navy destroyer sailing in the Baltic Sea experienced several close interactions by Russian aircraft April 11 and 12. USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) encountered multiple, aggressive flight maneuvers by Russian aircraft that were performed within close proximity of the ship. According to the
French Naval ships Tonnerre and Guepratte have arrived on a visit to Kochi, India. Amphibious assault helicopter carrier Tonnerre and the La Fayette-class frigate Guepratte arrived on April 12 and are scheduled to stay until April 16. Captain Laurent Sudrat and Commander Claire Pothier are the comma
