Two of the Royal Navy’s fishery protection vessels practised fast, complicated manoeuvres and live firing skills as part of an annual exercise in the Solent. HMS Mersey and HMS Severn paused their operational duties for several days to take on the rare opportunity of working together for a programme
On 24 February 2013, whilst on counter piracy patrols in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) the Force Commander of EU NAVFOR, Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes, met with the Commander of the NATO counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield, Rear Admiral Antonio Natale. The meeting be
Sri Lanka Navy’s Fast Missile Vessel “Suranimala” is sailing for Karachchi in Pakistan to take part in the Multi-national Naval Exercise, “AMAN-13”, which is scheduled to be held from 04th to 08th March 2013. The aim of the exercise is to draw the attention towards non-traditional threats such as ma
Exercise Proud Manta 2013 (POMA 13), NATO’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise, began in the Ionian Sea, Feb. 23. Participants in POMA 13 include four submarines, 16 aircraft and eight surface ships from 10 NATO nations, including the United States. POMA is an annual at-sea exercise focused on
The U.S. Pacific Fleet announced yesterday that the Navy’s first littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) will depart her homeport of San Diego on March 1 and deploy to the Asia-Pacific region. Making good on a pledge made initially by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the 2011 Shangri-La
A naval airman from Ramsgate serving in the helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious recently played his part in raising the profile of the forthcoming Battle of the Atlantic 70th anniversary. HMS Illustrious – known to her crew as Lusty – visited Liverpool recently and Naval Airman Chris Heale, 31, was a
At the end of February the Luxembourg Maritime patrol and Reconnaissance (MPRA) Detachment returned to the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta counter piracy mission, having taken over MPRA duties from the Swedish Coast Guard MPRA unit operating from the Seychelles. During their pr
On Monday 25 February Dutch EU Naval Force frigate HNLMS De Ruyter transferred nine suspected pirates to the Seychelles authorities for prosecution. The transfers happened after HNLMS De Ruyter, who was conducting counter piracy patrols, stopped two skiffs on 19 February 120 nautical miles off the S
The University of Notre Dame Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) hosted their 17th annual Naval Leadership Weekend to promote the development of midshipmen into strong ethical leaders, 21-24 Feb. The keynote speaker, Coast Guard Vice Adm. John P. Currier, Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
Commander, Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN, Capt. Cathal O’Connor hosted six Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officers aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), as part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group’s completion of exercise Cobra Gold 2013 (CG 13), Feb. 22. O’Connor said it w
Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed the multinational, joint exercise Cobra Gold 2013 (CG 13), Feb. 22. Cobra Gold 2013 is in its 32nd iteration and was designed to advance regional security by exercising a robust multilateral force from n
The crew of the landing dock ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), the Coast Guard and the Virginia Beach Fire Department participated in Citadel Shield 2013 at Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek-Fort Story Feb. 21. This annual exercise is designed to enhance the training and readiness of Navy
The Australian Department of Defence has joined forces with the Department of Fisheries WA to monitor and manage marine pests in Western Australian waters. The Defence Support Group (DSG), the Royal Australian Navy and the Department of Fisheries specialist Marine Biosecurity Research and Monitoring
Exercise DARDANELLES held at HMAS Creswell on 17 February, tested the teamwork skills of members of New Entry Officer Course (NEOC) 48 as their second week in the Navy came to a close. Held just weeks after many had joined the RAN, the exercise was an introduction to the challenges of working with o