Defense Strategies
Hetman Sahaydachnyi Rests in Salalah after NATO Anti-Piracy Patrol
Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachnyi, participating in the NATO Ocean Shield counter-piracy operation, completed its fourth patrolling in the Gulf of Aden and on December 4 the ship entered the Salalah port (Oman). On this occasion, some servicemen got awards for their decisive actions and professi
France Takes Over Force Command of EU Navfor Counter Piracy Operation
On Friday 6 December, Commodore Peter Lenselink (Royal Netherlands Navy) handed over the Force Command of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to Contre Amiral Hervé Bléjean (French Navy) during a Change of Command ceremony held on board HNLMS Johan de Witt in the Port of Djibouti.
NATO Duo Transits Suez, Heads for OCEAN SHIELD
Last week, two ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) passed through the Suez Canal en route to taking command of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD. SNMG2 flagship ESPS ALVARO DE BAZAN and Turkish frigate TCG GELIBOLU will soon join the Ukraine frigate UPS HETMAN SAGAIDACHNY
HMS Exploit Back at Sea after Refit
Cardiff based P2000 HMS Exploit has returned to the front line Fleet after a period of refit in Holyhead. HMS Exploit successfully finished her Annual Slip and Repair Period at Holyhead Boatyard which sees her ready for another busy year of high tempo URNU operations. Starting as she means to go on,
ESPS Tornado Joins EUNAVFOR
On Tuesday 3 December, Spanish Ocean Patrol Vessel, ESPS Tornado joined the European Union’s counter piracy task force operating off the coast of Somalia. The warship will be part of the EU Naval Force for four months as Spain’s contribution to Operation Atalanta. Commissioned in 2012, ESPS Tornado
USA: GDBIW Lands USD 73.9 Million DDG 51, FFG7 Contract
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (GDBIW) has received a USD 73.9 million worth DDG 51 and FFG 7 contract. Within the contract, GDBIW will provide expert design, planning, and material support services for both maintenance and modernization of the said class of ships. Design of USS Arleigh Burke (DDG
UK: Royal Navy Reservists Conduct Tests
A biting wind whistled across Portsmouth Harbour as six Royal Naval Reservists plunged into the dark waters of the diving training lake at the Navy’s Horsea Island training site, swimming across the lake, completing a timed set of circuits and leaping several times from the highest platform (over 30
HMS Illustrious’ Busy Bees Render Relief to Philippines
Since arriving in the Philippines, HMS Illustrious and her ‘floating warehouse’ of emergency supplies have been a hub of activity. The Royal Navy’s amphibious aircraft carrier arrived in the Philippines on 25 November after a short stop in Singapore to load up 500 tonnes of humanitarian aid under th
EU Navfor Medal Parade Held aboard HNLMS Johan De Witt
During the medal ceremony which was held on the flight deck in the Gulf of Aden, the international staff and ship’s company were decorated by the Force Commander of Atalanta, commodore Peter Lenselink of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Commodore Lenselink praised the EU flag staff and ship’s company “Yo
Serbian Forces Take Over EU Navfor Vessel Protection Duties
On Saturday 1 December, an EU Naval Force Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) handover ceremony was held in Djibouti between Lithuanian and Serbian Forces in Djibouti. Members of the Lithuanian Forces have spent the past four months embarked in the World Food Programme (WFP) aid ship, MV
Production of NATO’s First Global Hawk Aircraft Begins
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Moss Point, Miss., Unmanned Systems Center started production of the first NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Block 40 Global Hawk aircraft, enhanced to meet NATO operational requirements. NATO representatives, state dignitaries, community leaders and Northrop Gru
Turkish Mine Warfare Exercise NUSRET 13 Draws to a Close
Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) successfully joined 11 additional ships in the annual Turkish Mine Warfare Exercise NUSRET 13 in Saros Bay November 22-30. The SNMCMG2 units FGS MOSEL, FGS ROTTWEIL and TCG ERDEMLI were joined by the Hellenic Navy HS EVROPI. The Turkish Navy, u
OCEAN SHIELD Flagship Saves Dhow Crew off Somalia
On Sunday, 1 December 2013, the NATO counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD task group flagship HNoMS FRIDTJOF NANSEN rescued the crew of a Somalia-based dhow, which contained broken steering gear and two ill crew members. While patrolling the Gulf of Aden, NANSEN received a call from a Japanese Mari
Hetman Sahaydachnyi Praised for Contribution to NATO’s Anti-Piracy Efforts
Leaders of the tactical group of the Ocean Shield operation discussed the operation results aboard the Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachnyi in relation to the rotation term completion. The parties analyzed the interoperability and summarized the joint work during this counter-piracy operation. Comm