UK Navy’s HMS Defender has been exercising her boarding team at a state-of-the-art facility during her maiden deployment. HMS Defender’s boarding team is a combination of Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines who are specially trained to conduct safe and secure boarding. During a week-long visit to
Four NATO warships, that entered the Black Sea earlier this month, are taking part in the multinational Exercise BREEZE 2014 to enhance NATO solidarity and readiness. The ships are from the Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group Two (SNMCMG2), one of the four NATO fleets that operate on a rotat
Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) is now under the leadership of the United States following a Change of Command Ceremony in Malaga, Spain on Tuesday, 8 July 2014. For the last 12 months, SNMG2 has been under control of Spain, specifically Rear Admiral Eugenio Diaz del Rio and his three fla
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) arrived in Burgas, Bulgaria for a scheduled port visit July 8. Vella Gulf’s presence in Bulgaria reaffirms the United States’ commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and partners, while working toward mutual goals of promoti
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) entered the Black Sea, July 7, to promote peace and stability in the region. While in the Black Sea, Vella Gulf will conduct a port visit in Bulgaria, then head back out to sea to participate in the Bulgarian-led exercise Breeze;
On Friday 4 July 2014 Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, who is the Force Commander of the EU’s counter-piracy Operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia, met with his counterpart, Rear Admiral Cho Young-joo from the Combined Task Force 151. During the meeting, which took place on board the Republic
The three ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) arrived in Burgas, Bulgaria, on Friday, 4 July 2014, for a scheduled port visit during their deployment to the Black Sea. Led by Captain Giovanni Piegaja (ITA N), SNMCMG2 is currently composed of ITS AVIERE (flagsh
Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2), one of NATO’s four Standing Maritime Forces, entered the Black Sea on Thursday, 3 July 2014, in a regularly scheduled deployment to enhance NATO’s solidarity and readiness in the region. Led by Captain Giovanni Piegaja (ITA Navy), SNMCMG2 is
The frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ (F-105) has participated in a ballistic missile defense (BMD) exercise in the Mediterranean Sea on June 26th and 27th, providing air protection to the US Navy cruiser ‘USS Vella Gulf’ (CG-72) whose combat system is capable of intercepting ballistic targets outside the e
On 2 July 2014, German Auxiliary Replenishment Tanker FGS Rhön completed her time deployed as part of EU Naval Force Somalia Operation Atalanta. The ship has significantly contributed to the success of the EU’s Counter Piracy Operation off the coast of Somalia for the last three months. FGS Rhön h
The MV Cape Ray docked in the southern Italian port of Gioia Tauro and will transfer Syrian chemical agents and precursor materials soon, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters yesterday. The Cape Ray will receive about 600 metric tons of material from the MV Ark Futura,
On board HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën the Maltese Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team (MSDEBT) works hard to maintain their skills by conducting regular training. Before the deployment started, the MSDEBT visited the Royal Netherlands Navy base in Den Helder to train on the ship with the onboard te
The guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) arrived in Gdynia, Poland, for a scheduled port visit, July 1. The port visit in Gdynia is part of an ongoing effort by U.S. military forces to strengthen ties with NATO allies and regional partners, while working toward mutual goals of promot
From 26 June to 1 July 2014, the second and last I2C campaign coordinated by DCNS and its partners is taking place in the Bay of Toulon. This innovating maritime security and surveillance project, supported by the European Union, is entering its last phase of testing before the conclusion of the p
