Marines and sailors assigned to the amphibious ready group (ARG) led by USS Boxer have completed an amphibious landing exercise in Djibouti. Amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs) from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) descended on Djibouti’s Arta Beach after departing the well deck of the amphib
USNS Carson City (T-EFP 7), a military sealift command Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship, departed Rota, Spain, on July 2, as part of the US Navy’s second deployment to the Gulf of Guinea this year. Sailors and embarked personnel will work alongside regional partners on an Africa Par
Ships from the Royal Canadian navy made their Phoenix Express debut as they joined the exercise on March 29. The 15th edition of the training event kicked off in the western Mediterranean Sea, in and around the territorial waters of various North African countries. For the next week, they worked coo
Armed forces from 33 nations gathered in Lagos, Nigeria, for the start of exercise Obangame Express 2019, a US Africa Command (AFRICOM) led exercise which is now in its ninth iteration. Obangame Express 2019 will be conducted in multiple areas at sea and ashore. At-sea operations will be throughout
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, after completing its eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol of Europe and Africa. Donald Cook began its patrol Nov. 17, 2018 to conduct naval operations in the US 6th Fl
The eighth iteration of the annual multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express taking place in the vicinity of Djibouti, Mozambique and Seychelles began on January 28. Maritime forces from East Africa, West Indian Ocean nations, Europe, and the United States, as well as several international org
An Indian Navy frigate reached a milestone recently as it became the first Indian warship to escort a vessel of UN’s World Food Program. INS Sunayna completed the escort for the first time since counter-piracy deployments began in 2008, following an escort request by EU NAVFOR. A WFP dhow was transp
Personnel from the US Navy and US Army integrated with Djibouti Port Authority assets for what was described as the first-ever port exercise to include the Djibouti Port Authority, December 19. “The purpose was to synch up coordination between Navy Combat Riverine Squadron 8, Bravo Company, Delta Co
The European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) celebrated ten years of maritime operations on December 8. Commanded from its military HQ in Northwood, London, the European Union Naval Force was officially launched on December 8, 2008. Codenamed Operation Atalanta, it is a naval force generated by EU Mem
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) trained with Egyptian Navy vessels after concluding a visit to the Egyptian Navy base in Alexandria on December 4. Although hampered by the weather conditions, the passing exercise consisted of a tactical maneuvering exercise, helicopter operatio
French shipbuilder Naval Group officially opened Alexandria Naval for Maintenance and Industry, its Egyptian subsidiary which will be responsible for the maintenance of Egyptian Navy vessels built and delivered by Naval Group. “The strategic alliance between Naval Group and Egypt contributes activel
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) completed a four-month patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, returning to Naval Station Rota, Spain, November 17. Carney departed Rota July 27, 2018, and began its fifth Forward-Deployed Naval Force patrol in Europe and Africa. “From Va
Spanish sailors assigned to EUNAVFOR’s operation Atalanta captured and destroyed a pirate whaler in an operation off the Somali coast on October 28. The pirate vessel was detected following an attack on Hong Kong-flagged Bulk Carrier KSL Sydney. The attack against the KSL Sydney took place on Octobe
The annual IBSAMAR maritime exercise organized between the navies of Brazil, India and South Africa kicked off at Simons Town, South Africa, on October 1. The two-week exercise changes hosts every year, with the previous edition taking place in India. The exercise is designed to build interoperabili