Boarding teams from five Gulf of Guinea countries are using the German navy frigate FGS Brandenburg (F215) to enhance their abilities to complete visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations during Exercise Obangame Express 2015, from March 19 to 27, 2015. After boarding the ship, the boarding
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland left Babcock’s Devonport Royal Dockyard for sea trials yesterday, 24 March. The vessel has increased structural sustainability and fighting capability, as part of a significant upgrade and substantial maintenance programme by Babcock, including extensive i
NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) welcomed the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Philip M. Breedlove, and the Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), Vice Admiral James Foggo, to observe MARCOM’s full operational capability (FOC) certification Exercise
Members of Beachmaster Unit One (BMU 1) Beach Party Team (BPT) Delta returned to homeport Feb. 23 after completing a seven-month deployment with the Makin Island Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of operation. After several months of predeployment work-ups, B
Royal Navy sailors are taking part in an exercise in the Gulf of Guinea to increase maritime safety and security in the region. Currently on her way home from Atlantic Patrol Tasking (South), HMS Dragon is taking part in Exercise Obangame Express with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, Gold Rover alo
During the joint German-Italian military exercise SMART HUNT 2015, the Navies conducted a crew exchange. From February 15th to March 6th an Officer of the Italian Navy Submarines Command and Submarine Training Instructor, worked on board of the German submarine U33. Several different military exerci
Canadian Navy’s HMCS Fredericton completed its participation in joint NATO training exercises in the Black Sea as part of NATO assurance measures. As part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) Fredericton will now resume its role as part of NATO maritime operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Thro
The NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) joined the operation FR HOD (Historical Ordnance Disposal) Baie de la Somme. The group will be working in an area facing the Dieppe harbour in a series of activities such as WW2 mines clearing operations and the sharing of operative procedures concerni
The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) began Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) March 23, 2015. FOST is based out of naval bases in the United Kingdom (UK); it delivers operational training across all disciplines for the Royal Navy and other Navies that wish to make
The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), March 22. Paul Hamilton is an independent ballistic missile defense (BMD) ship that will be involved in a variety of operations in U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AO
The Center for Security Forces (CENSECFOR) announced the successful implementation of changes to the Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Boarding Officer course, March 20. William Goodnoh, who serves as the course curriculum model manager for VBSS and advanced tactics, said: The changes to the c
The crew of HMS Diamond have been reunited with their ship after spending months ashore while it received a multi-million pound upgrade. The Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer has undergone extensive maintenance and improvements since it returned from operations last July. Work included installation
Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and its embarked detachment of U.S. Navy Sailors, civil service mariners, and U.S., Spanish and British Marines began taking part in Exercise Obangame Express 2015, March 20. Spearhead is functioning as a platform for Nigerian and Cameroonian forces to
The Royal Australian Navy Oiler HMAS SUCCESS (OR 304) joined NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD on Monday, 23 March 2015, joining New Zealand (2014) and Ukraine (2013) as partner contributors to the operation in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. HMAS SUCCESS, commanded by Captain Justin J
