Britain’s flagship HMS Albion has passed through the Suez Canal as the Navy’s key deployment of 2011 resumes. Events in Libya saw the assault ship, her escorting frigate HMS Sutherland and tanker RFA Wave Knight, plus helicopter carrier HMS Ocean and ‘floating warehouse’ RFA Fort Rosalie, diverted t
US State Department considers the Sea Breeze 2011 exercise a display of close cooperation between the US and Ukraine, and welcomes Moscow to hold by its own opinion, said Mark Toner, spokesman for US State Department at the briefing on June 13. Russian Foreign Ministry earlier stated that Aegis-carr
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) departed Naples, Italy, June 14 after a three-day port visit. The ship is deployed in support of maritime support operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. This is the ship’s maiden deployment. Throughout the visit
In accordance with defense minister’s order, Baltic Fleet (BF) suspended ammunition recycling works since June 7. BF Commander ordered to set special commission in order to inspect depots and arsenals. The commission will check whether fire safety measures are fulfilled, and ammunitions are stored a
Navy reservists are providing support for Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) teams during Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2011, June 5-17. NCAGS teams provide vital information about civilian vessels to maritime commanders and ensure the safety and security of both merchant ships and mi
Two boats used by Colonel Gaddafi’s special forces were blown out of the water and an anti-aircraft battery destroyed by Apache gunships operating from HMS Ocean. In the latest action involving the Army Air Corps helicopters aboard Britain’s biggest warship, the Apaches were scrambled to intercept h
The Bold Monarch 2011 joint submarine rescue exercise finished on June 10 off Spain. Russia was represented by Black Sea Fleet (BSF) assets – rescue ship Epron, salvage tug Shakhter, mooring lighter KIL-158, and diesel submarine Alrosa. Throughout ten days the joint force practiced search-and-rescue
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 and USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) are providing guidance for Baltic nation mine counter measure (MCM) units practicing their craft during Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2011, through June 17. Lithuanian Navy Cmdr. Andris Sirvys, commander, Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON);
On the morning of 10 June, the EU NAVFOR German warship FGS Niedersachsen detected a suspected Pirate Action Group (PAG) whilst conducting a routine patrol in the Southern Somali Basin. The PAG, which is suspected of carrying out a number of attacks on merchant vessels in the area, consisted of a fi
Royal Navy personnel have joined 2,000 sailors from 13 nations for the world’s largest submarine rescue exercise, off the south-eastern tip of Spain. The ten days of NATO Exercise Bold Monarch witnessed an international effort to bring trapped submariners from four boats to the surface. The exercise
Second phase of the BALTOPS-2011 joint naval exercise is conducted in the Baltic Sea near Bornholm Island; Russian Navy is represented by Baltic Fleet (BF) large landing ship Minsk under command of Capt 2 rank Alexander Morgen. The active phase is to continue until June 16 in four regions of the Bal
A unique dismantling operation over Soviet cruiser Murmansk is conducted in Norway and will cost tens of millions euros. Gun turrets of the rusty ship lying on sea cliffs are still awe-inspiring, although the cruiser’s fate has been determined – dismantling and utilization, reports Komsomolskaya Pra
A historic international milestone was achieved when the Russian submarine, SSK Alrosa, mated with a U.S. submarine rescue system during exercise Bold Monarch 2011, June 7. The coupling of the U.S. Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS) and the Russian submarine established an inte
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) salvage tug Shakhter which took part in international submarine rescue exercise Bold Monarch-2011 near Spain left the exercise area and set a course for US naval base Norfolk. A new task is assigned to the ship; salvage tug Shakhter along with Northern Fleet large ASF ship Admi
