On 18 September 2013, FREMM frigate Provence was floated out of its building dock at the Lorient shipyard. With five FREMM multimission frigates at different stages of assembly and construction, this float-out (or pre-outfitting launch) – always a major milestone – highlights the Group’s expertise i
Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ‘Juan Carlos I’ has been presented with the Battle Ensign in Cádiz by Spain’s Queen Sofia, the sponsor of the LDH. The ceremony was attended by military and civilian authorities, among them Spanish Minister of Defense, Pedro Morenés, the Chief of Naval Staff (AJEMA), Ad
British warships have taken part in their first major exercise in the Persian Gulf since passing through the Suez Canal last week. Three Royal Navy ships – fleet flagship HMS Bulwark, helicopter and commando carrier HMS Illustrious and Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster – joined with 3 warships from th
The Fleet Commander visited Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose to meet service personnel from across the Base, discuss current operations and see for himself the Navy’s next generation anti-submarine maritime patrol helicopter, Merlin Mk 2. Vice Admiral Philip Jones CB, Fleet Commander & Deputy Chief
An eagle eyed aircraft engineer, from York, has helped ensure the safety of a Royal Navy helicopter and its crew by spotting a serious problem on the aircraft. Working on the busy flight deck of HMS Kent, AET Ali Dale has been praised by the ship’s Commanding Officer for discovering a defect on one
The MoD has awarded a £367 million contract to provide engine maintenance for two of the UK’s helicopter fleets. The six year agreement, with Rolls Royce Turbomeca will deliver essential support for the Army’s Apaches and the Merlin helicopters used by the Royal Navy and RAF. The new contract will d
HMS Northumberland will visit her affiliate County of Northumberland from Friday, September 13 to Monday September 16 and will be berthed at Whitehill Point, which is just upriver from the Ro-Ro berths within the Port of Tyne complex. Numerous events are being planned for the Type 23 frigate and her
As part of the Response Force Task Group (RFTG), HMS Montrose Is currently in the Mediterranean as part of the COUGAR 13 deployment. One of the main aims of the RFTG and COUGAR 13 is to promote interaction with our allied forces in the region, and as such HMS Montrose Seized the opportunity to colla
The crew of the Royal Naval frigate HMS Argyll was given a rousing hero’s welcome yesterday (Thursday) by hundreds of cheering relatives and friends when the ship returned from a successful maritime policing patrol. About 500 banner-waving family members and friends welcomed the ship back home to Pl
The Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) has sailed through the Suez Canal on its way to operate in a number of countries as part of the long planned Cougar 13 deployment. The RFTG left UK waters in August briefly visiting Gibraltar, Rota, Lisbon and Palermo before arriving in Albania to co
As part of her Atlantic Patrol Tasking, HMS Richmond has conducted an informal visit to the British overseas territory of Saint Helena to provide support to their emergency services and also engage with key personalities on the island. The visit also provided the opportunity for one of Richmond’s sa
The Royal Naval frigate HMS Argyll is due to return to the South West on Thursday (12 Sept) after a successful maritime policing patrol. HMS Argyll’s deployment has seen the ship conduct a range of operations in the seas around Africa, the Falklands, the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. This scope
On the 13th of August in the Arabian Sea, HMAS Newcastle reaffirmed an old friendship with the British replenishment ship, RFA Fort Victoria. In May, Newcastle’s first Replenishment at Sea (RAS) in the Middle Eastern Area of Operations (MEAO) was with Fort Victoria and the ships met again in Augus
On Saturday 7 September, two members of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) warship FGS Niedersachsen were evacuated due to medical reasons to a hospital in Salalah, Oman. The ship had been conducting counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. The ship broke from counter-pira
