Sailors and marines were buffeted by high winds and pelted by snow and ice as Arctic war games got under way. A blizzard brought flying operations aboard helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious to a standstill in northern Norway, but nearby flagship HMS Bulwark continued to put Dutch marines ashore by la
Military and civilian maritime professionals from West Africa, Europe, and the United States finalized a challenging training agenda for exercise Saharan Express 2012, March 14. This week’s final planning conference at the Counternarcotics and Maritime Security (COSMAR) interagency operations center
Adviser to the Chief of Russian General Staff and Black Sea Fleet (BSF) ex-commander Igor Kasatonov criticized Ukraine’s stand on replacement of Black Sea Fleet ships, reports UNIAN. Kasatonov says Russia does not increase number of ships in full accordance with agreements. However, when trying to r
Servicemen of Caspian Flotilla (CF) coast defense missile battalion began mastering of newest mobile coastal missile system Bal at the Adanak Range in Dagestan. During a month-long field exercise, CF missilemen study tactics and technical maintenance, conduct firing and driving drills. High emphasis
In 2012, crews of Black Sea Fleet (BSF) ships will take part in a number of joint naval exercises and diplomatic activities at seaports of Mediterranean countries. In April and August, BSF will attend activations of BLACKSEAFOR joint task force which is presently headed by Russian Navy’s representat
Delegation of Baltic Fleet (BF) officers headed by the chief of BF Combat Training Dept Capt 1 rank Sergei Volkov left for Denmark to participate in the DANEX-2012 exercise planning conference. Representatives of participating countries will discuss organization of the exercise and determine its mai
Governor of Omsk region Leonid Polezhayev on March 12 met with Valery Savon, commanding officer of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Omsk. The submariner told the regional governor about service of the sub’s crew at Pacific Fleet while SSBN Omsk passes modernization. Recall that the
The ship has just been fitted with two new engines, replacing her old Rolls-Royce Deltics which have been used in the Royal Navy’s minor war vessels for decades. The work is part of a major mid-life upgrade to the Navy’s eight Hunt-class minehunters being carried out by BAE Systems in Portsmouth. Th
Babcock has been awarded a three year contract to supply High Modulus PolyEthylene (HMPE) Rope and Technical Services to all classes of Royal Navy surface ships. Under the contract, Babcock will provide services including management activities, new manufacture, engineering support, post-design servi
Pacific Fleet (PF) servicemen held joint exercise and released a civil ship “captured” by pirates in the last day of the visit to Seychelles on March 5. According to the PF task unit commander Capt 1 rank Ildar Akhmerov, Russian servicemen demonstrated anti-piracy skills to their Seychelles counterp
Visit of Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief ADM Vladimir Vysotsky to Netherlands finished on March 10. Vysotsky arrived in Netherlands on March 7. Russian Navy CinC met with Dutch defense minister Hans Hillen, Royal Netherlands Navy Commander Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom, and Russian Ambassador to Ne
DEFENDER, the fifth Type 45 destroyer built by BAE Systems, two days ago set sail from the company’s Scotstoun shipyard to embark on her second and final stage of sea trials off the west coast of Scotland, ahead of her handover to the Royal Navy later this year. During 28 days at sea, DEFENDER will
Russian Navy will not modernize Dmitry Donskoy-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN, Project 941 Typhoon), reported Jane’s Defence Weekly referring to ARMS-TASS. Complete modernization of one Project 941 submarine is equivalent to construction of two new Yury Dolgoruky-class SSBN
The U.S. ambassador to Spain and Andorra toured Naval Station Rota, Spain, March 8, as part of a regional tour. Alan Solomont received updates from base leadership concerning key issues that are impacting personnel and families stationed at the Naval Station Rota. He also spoke with several service
