Spanish submarine Mistral has just returned to her homeport in Cartagena, Spain, after participating in NATO’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise Dynamic Manta 15. The manoeuvers were organized by COMSUBNATO and monitored by his Staff from Northwood, UK. The exercise took place off the coast of S
In the midst of a week long NATO exercise the Royal Navy vessel has helped find and recover six historic mines. Faslane based, HMS Grimsby joined fellow members of NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) for Exercise Northern Coast 15. For a week the minehunter worked with vessels from Belgium,
Spanish Navy’s frigate ‘Almirante Juan de Borbón’ (F-102) set sail on Monday from Ferrol towards Faslane (Scotland) to participate in exercise ‘Joint Warrior 152’. After the scheduled port of call in Faslane for coordination purposes, the F-102 will take part in different conventional and asymmetric
Britain’s newest operational boat, HMS Ambush, made a rare appearance on the surface of the Mediterranean for NATO’s biggest submarine exercise of the autumn. Over 10 days, five surface ships and seven maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters pitted their wits against seven submarines, five conventi
HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy’s amphibious helicopter platform, has sailed from Devonport to take part in Exercise Trident Juncture, the largest NATO exercise since 2002. Carrying Royal Marines from 45 Commando and Merlin, Apache and Chinook helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm, Army Air Corps and RAF, th
The last of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Leaf Class support tankers is to leave the Service on Wednesday (30 September). RFA Orangeleaf, built in Birkenhead and launched in 1975 before being commissioned for service with the RFA in 1984, will complete her service in the port where she was built 40 year
The Spanish F-100 frigate Blas de Lezo set sail on Sunday from Ferrol to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1) where it will be deployed until December. The purpose of the deployment is to become part of NATO’s Immediate Reaction Force, thus demonstrating Spain’s commitment with collect
HMS Bulwark, together with helicopters from HMS Ocean, and elements of The Royal Marines, has been practicing amphibious landings in Cornwall. The elements have landed ashore via landing craft and helicopter at Tregantle fort in a demonstration of capability. These elements form part of the Joint Ex
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain, joining three other destroyers as part of the Forward-Deployed Naval Force, Sept. 25. Carney will be forward-deployed in Rota to fulfill the United States’ phased commitment to NATO ballistic m
Egypt Buys French Mistrals French and Egyptian officials have concluded a contract for two Mistral-class ships in Paris, September 23. France Confident About Mistral Sale French Defense Minister Yves Le Drian has affirmed that France would find buyers for their two Mistral-class ships. HMS Glouceste
Two Royal Navy frigates have demonstrated their spectrum of firepower capability with firings at separate ends of the country. Portsmouth-based HMS Iron Duke blasted through five different weapon systems – her General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), the Minigun, 30mm Cannon, 4.5” Medium Range Gun and
Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO concluded participation in NATO’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 15 (DYMA 15) on September 23. Together with other ships, submarines and aircraft, several exercise serials were conducted around the clock. Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 15 started with a
Submariners from one of the Royal Navy’s newest super-subs paraded through the streets of the Wirral on Sunday, September 20, when they were granted the Freedom of the Borough. The parade, which was organised by Wirral Borough Council, was in honour of the 98-strong crew of HMS Astute and to celebra
The guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) departed Naval Station Norfolk Sept. 21 to participate in Exercise Joint Warrior off the coast of Scotland. Besides The Sullivans, other U.S. Navy units participating in the exercise include the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71), the f
