Warships from NATO’s standing mine countermeasure group 2 (SNMCMG2) joined the underway portion of the Romanian-hosted exercise Poseidon that is taking place between March 5 and 13. The exercise as a whole is hosted by Romania this year and will include more than 1,500 sailors and 17 warships from s
Royal Navy frigate HMS Iron Duke set sail for the first time this year having spent the winter in her home port undergoing a sustained period of maintenance. The Type 23 frigate, which spent the first half of 2016 on NATO duties in the Baltic and waters of northern Europe, is now headed for operatio
U.S. Navy’s Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), together with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations on March 7. While in theater, more than 4,000 sailors and marines of the ARG and MEU will train to share information, experiences, and work together.
The Royal Australian Navy’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit (UASU) showcased the navy’s newly acquired Schiebel Camcopter S-100 vertical take-off UAV at the Avalon airshow that concluded on March 5. The UASU is tasked with trialing and testing two different unmanned aircraft types – the ScanEagle (fi
The U.S. Navy recently demonstrated a new mine sweeping technique during a test in which a MH-60S helicopter deployed a MK-18 Mod 2 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). This demonstration proved a possible lighter, less time intensive way to sweep for mines in theatre, compared to a MH-53E helicopter
Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean visited Beirut en route home, becoming the first Royal Navy vessel in five years to visit the Lebanese capital. The helicopter carrier arrived in Lebanon on March 4 having concluded a six-month deployment in the Middle East. Ocean’s captain, Capt Rob Pedre, was joined b
U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived at White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, on March 4. During the port visit, the ship will embark Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), along with their vehicles and cargo, prior to departing for a routine patrol. “We are go
U.S. president Donald J. Trump visited the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, future Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), in what was seen by many as a push for military procurement. The president landed on the flight deck on Thursday on Marine One accompanied by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. They were wel
A Lynx helicopter embarked on the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Portland carried out one final Sea Skua anti-ship missile firing. Royal Navy will no longer be using the Sea Skua missile as the Lynx helicopters carrying it are set to retire in March. This will leave the Royal Navy with a helicopte
Spanish Navy frigate Reina Sofía (F-84) departed naval base Rota on February 27 to integrate into the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1). During the two and a half-month mission, the Spanish frigate will participate in several training activities with other NATO units, among them exercise Join
U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) returned to Changi Naval Base in Singapore, Feb. 25 following a port call in Muara, Brunei and routine patrols in the Sulu Sea and South China Sea. After completing the four-day port visit in Brunei, Coronado conducted a passing exercise and visit,
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed amphibious assault ship, departed Sasebo, Japan for a regularly-scheduled patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility on February 27. Bonhomme Richard is scheduled to finalize shipboard certifications and conduct joint force operation
In a new aviation milestone, Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Canberra will be embarking two Army Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters for the first time. The two Tigers, will join two MRH-90 Taipan medium lift helicopters and one MH-60R Seahawk conducting first of class flight trials onboard the amph
Over ten ships from four nations are participating in the annual, Royal Navy of Oman-hosted exercise Khunjar Haad that takes place in the Gulf of Oman. Ships from the Royal Navy of Oman are joined by U.S., French and Royal Navy ships in gunnery and air defense exercises aimed at maintaining the sail
