Defense Strategies
Danish MPA Challenger Rounds Off OCEAN SHIELD Deployment
During the last two months, a Danish Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Challenger (CL604) from the Royal Danish Air Force provided support to NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD (OOS) under the control of Maritime Air Directorate (MARAIR). This MPA was stationed in the Seychelles between 23 Se
Operation Atalanta: Last RAS for ESPS Meteoro
On Thursday 28 November EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Meteoro made its ninth and last replenishment at sea (RAS) with the logistic American ship USNS Joshua Humphries. The meeting between both ships was close to the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor in the Gulf of Aden, and five days befor
NATO Ships Call at Haifa, Israel
Two NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2), flagship ESPS ALVARO DE BAZAN and FGS SACHSEN, arrived Wednesday 27 November 2013 for a visit to the historic port city of Haifa, Israel. In conjunction with the port visit, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson, Commander of NATO Allied Marit
Surgery Conducted aboard Ukrainian Frigate
On November 28, the medical staff of the Hetman Sahaydachny frigate from Ukraine, participating in the NATO’s Ocean Shield counter-piracy operation, completed an appendectomy aboard the ship. The gas machine-room operator needed the emergency aid. A group of medical personnel led by Lt. Col. Serhiy
Dutch Navy Takes Over MPAS for Its NH90 NFH Fleet
The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has taken delivery of a Mission Planning & Analysis System (MPAS) in the Final Operative Configuration for its fleet of NH90 NFH medium twin naval helicopters, AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced. This delivery of MPAS follows the one released into ser
Spanish Navy Takes Part in MNEX-13
Between the 12th and 20th of November, the Spanish Navy Maritime Action Staff participated in the multinational exercise ‘MNEX-13’ of naval-cooperation with merchant shipping. This exercise, organized every two years, is designed to enhance interoperability and training of NCAGS personnel (Naval Coo
SNMG2 Crews Conduct Boarding Exercise on French Oiler
On Saturday, 23 November 2013, Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) performed an opposed boarding exercise on the French oiler FS VAR, the culmination of four months of intense combined training that demonstrated the interoperability of the Group’s three ships. The Group’s flagship ESPS ALVARO D
Delegation of Ukrainian MoD Meets with Leaders of International Secretary and NATO
The delegation of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence held talks with the leaders of the International Secretary and the NATO International Military Staff. During the meeting with Terry Stamatopoulos, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, the parties discussed t
ESPS Meteoro Conducts SAR Exercise at Sea
During the evening of November 22, a search and rescue exercise was conducted by ESPS Meteoro and her embarked helicopter. The exercise was part of an intensive air-sea training programme. During the exercise, two qualified rescue divers from the embarked air wing simulated two men who had been wash
Dutch, Chinese Warships Meet in Gulf of Aden
On Friday 22 November 2013 a delegation from EU Naval Force’s flagship HNLMS Johan de Witt visited the Chinese Force Commander and his staff on board the Chinese flagship CNS Jing Gang Shan in the Gulf of Aden. The visit was an opportunity to discuss counter piracy operations. The Royal Netherlands
HMS Illustrious Head for Philippines
HMS Illustrious departed Singapore en route to the Philippines on Friday, November 22. During 48 hours alongside Sembawang naval shipyard in Singapore, over 500 tons of disaster relief aid was loaded into the hangar by the men and women serving in HMS Illustrious, a team from the Department for Inte
UK: HMS Blyth Finishes Sea Training Package
Having participated in the NATO exercise Joint Warrior, HMS Blyth began her Operational Sea Training (OST) package in late October. This meant undergoing a demanding programme of world renowned intensive training, designed to train crews in a series of realist challenging scenarios. The first two we
RFA Lyme Bay Completes Counterpiracy Operation off Somalia
UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary, RFA Lyme Bay is heading for home having completed a 32 day tour of duty with Operation Atalanta – the European Union’s counter piracy operation off the coast of Somalia. RFA Lyme Bay departed the UK in mid August to form part of the Cougar 2013 Response Force Task Group (RF
Italian Ship Holds Replenishment at Sea
In the early morning of Tuesday 19 November, EU Naval Force warship ITS Libeccio carried out a replenishment at sea (RAS) with the American auxiliary ship, USNS Arctic. The RAS, which was conducted in coordination with the US Fast Combat Support Ship, required the two ships to sail very close togeth