Defense Strategies
UK: HMS Argyll to Be Back Home Today
The Royal Naval frigate HMS Argyll is due to return to the South West on Thursday (12 Sept) after a successful maritime policing patrol. HMS Argyll’s deployment has seen the ship conduct a range of operations in the seas around Africa, the Falklands, the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. This scope
UK: New Commander for HMS Ledbury
Royal Navy warship HMS Ledbury has a new commanding officer, but links with a West Sussex village live on. Outgoing captain, Lieutenant Commander Justin Hains, has welcomed a childhood friend to take over the helm of the Portsmouth-based minehunter. After two years in charge Lt Cdr Hains has handed
FGS Niedersachsen Members Evacuated to Hospital
On Saturday 7 September, two members of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) warship FGS Niedersachsen were evacuated due to medical reasons to a hospital in Salalah, Oman. The ship had been conducting counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. The ship broke from counter-pira
SNMCMG1 Tests Its Skills within Exercise NORTHERN COASTS 2013
On Monday, 9 September 2013, the ships of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) joined more than 40 ships, 10 helicopters, and 2500 participants from 15 nations in Exercise NORTHERN COASTS 2013. The annual exercise, which runs through September 19, follows a fictitious scenario in w
Latvia: Final Planning for Upcoming Military Exercises Underway
The Final Coordination Conference for the upcoming military exercises “Steadfast Jazz 2013” and “Baltic Host 2013” is currently underway in Riga, Latvia. The conference, which is taking place from the 9th – 11th September, includes over 250 participants from NATO military staff as well as participat
Three SNMCMG2 Ships Dock in Batumi, Georgia
On Friday, 6 September 2013, three NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) arrived in Batumi for a scheduled visit to the Black Sea port. Under the command of Commander Matthias Seipel, German Navy, the Group includes the flagship FGS MOSEL and FGS ROTTWEIL of
Mozambican Government Orders 30 Ships from CMN
The Mozambican Government has placed an order for construction of 30 ships with Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie (CMN) from France, Agence France-Presse writes. The ships are estimated to be worth up to EUR 200 million. The order includes three 32-metre patrol ships, 24 trawls and another three
ESPS Meteoro Assists Yemeni Dhow
On Thursday 5 September, Spanish warship ESPS Meteoro, which is part of the European Union’s counter piracy Naval Force operating off the Horn of Africa, gave assistance to a Yemeni dhow, which had suffered steerage difficulties, with a faulty rudder. In the early morning, the ship’s SH60B helicopte
UK: JFD Announces Launch of Its New Range of SDVs
James Fisher Defence (JFD), the leading global sub-sea rescue, operations and engineering company, today announced the launch of its new range of Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) known as The SEAL Pod. The launch further strengthens its Special Operations division as well as the breadth of products
HMS Illustrious Welcomes aboard Hellenic Chief of Naval Staff
Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) for the Hellenic Navy visited HMS Illustrious on Friday 6 September while the Ship briefly visited Souda Bay, Crete for fuel and stores. Accompanied by Commodore Ionnes Korakakis, Director of Operations, Commodore Dimosthenis Chelmis, Co
Northern Coasts 2013 Exercise Launched off the Coast of Sweden
“UN Security Council resolution is providing the background for international maritime, air and land forces to avert local conflict on the Baltic. The aim of the multinational armada of ships is to ensure the safety of navigation through the disputed area and to deter the violence from spreading to
UK: HMS Blyth Takes Part in Regional Forces West Exercise
After a necessary period of maintenance in base port and a period of summer leave, HMS Blyth and her Ship’s Company sailed from HMNB Clyde on the 26th August bound for the Bournemouth Air Festival and the Regional Forces West Exercise 2013. HMS Blyth joined a number of other Royal Navy warships incl
HMS Illustrious Hosts President of Albania
The ship’s company of HMS Illustrious has hosted the President of Albania, His Excellency Mr Bujar Nishani, as exercise Albanian Lion draws to an end. Albanian Lion was the first major workout for the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG) as part of Cougar 13 – a long planned deployment that
UN & Arab League Envoy Pushes for Political Solution to Syria Crisis
The Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on September 6 stressed that he and other senior diplomats were working “extremely hard” to bring Syrian an other concerned parties together for a conference to find a political path out of the crisis in the country