Defense Strategies
In pictures: Here’s how the Norwegian Navy plans to raise its sunken frigate
The Norwegian defense ministry has shared a detailed, and illustrated, plan of how it plans to salvage the HNoMS Helge Ingstad which has been sitting on the sea bottom in the Hjeltefjorden fjord after colliding with a tanker on November 8. While the plan provides no timetable on when the operation w
USS Harry S. Truman trains with Italian Air Force in Mediterranean Sea
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) worked out with the Italian Air Force in the Mediterranean Sea on November 29. F/A-18s from Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier worked with Italian Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft. “Every time we fl
NATO SNMG2 ships visit Marmaris, Turkey
After concluding a visit to the Algerian port of Algiers last week, NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) arrived in Marmaris, Turkey, for a port call on November 27. The group is conducting the visits after resuming regular Mediterranean Sea patrols following their participation in NATO’s major
German combat support ship Bonn joining NATO’s SNMG2
German Navy combat support ship EGV Bonn is getting underway from her Wilhelmshaven homeport on November 30 to join NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Aegean Sea. The 173-meter-long Berlin-class replenishment ship is joining SNMG2 after completing an overhaul which started in August 20
SNMG1, SNMCMG1 ships visit Sweden
Navy ships deployed to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group One (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) stopped in Karlskrona, Sweden, for a port visit from November 23 to 25. The port visit included visits to local military and civilian officials as well as tours of the ships f
Second Royal Navy aircraft carrier fires up engines for first time
The second of the Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers has fired up her engines for the first time. Engineers aboard HMS Prince of Wales turned on the diesel generators in a milestone on the road to sending the 65,000-ton warship to sea in the second half of next year. In the bo
Russia fires on, seizes three Ukrainian Navy ships in Sea of Azov dispute escalation
Months of rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the Sea of Azov escalated on Sunday when Russian forces first fired upon and subsequently seized three Ukrainian Navy vessels as they were trying to enter the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait. Latest reports say six Ukrainian sailors were i
Royal Navy destroyer, amphibious assault ship return home from operations
The UK Royal Navy has welcomed two major warships home from operations in Europe and Asia Pacific. On Friday, Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond returned home to Portsmouth after two months of operations in the Mediterranean while amphibious assault ship HMS Albion returned to Plymouth after a ten-month
USS Donald Cook starts European patrol
US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) got underway from its forward-deployed homeport of Naval Station Rota, Spain, On November 19 to start its eighth patrol in the US 6th Fleet area of operations. Donald Cook deployed two days after sister ship USS Carney (
International submarine escape and rescue drill concludes in Italy
A major submarine escape and rescue exercise hosted by Italy concluded in the Gulf of Taranto on November 8. In addition to two submarines and multiple ships, the exercise was attended by International Submarine Escape & Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO) based in Northwood, United Kingdom. Greek subma
Raising HNoMS Helge Ingstad to take three weeks
An operation to raise the almost-submerged Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad following a collision in the Hjeltefjorden fjord on November 8 is expected to be completed within some three weeks, the navy has said. Should all go according to plans, the stricken frigate will be loaded on
Keel laid for third Italian Navy PPA ship
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri held a keel laying ceremony for the third Italian Navy multipurpose patrol ship at its Riva Trigoso shipyard on November 8. The third Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) ship will also be the first in a “Light+” configuration. It is expected to be launched in 202
France’s Naval Group opens Dutch office in bid for submarine, MCM work
French shipbuilder Naval Group has established a Dutch subsidiary, Naval Group Netherlands, in a bid to secure a role in the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Walrus-class submarine and Tripartite-class mine countermeasures ship replacement programs. Led by Mark van Rooij, Naval Group Netherlands will serve
After Trident Juncture, USS Harry S Truman docks in Portugal
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, for a port visit on November 10, after completing its participation in NATO exercise Trident Juncture. The carrier dropped anchor in Portugal after over a month of operations in the North Atlantic and becoming the first US carr