Defense Strategies
Dutch, Spanish EU Navfor Warships Conduct Helicopter Exercise
On the morning of 27 March, the helicopter of Dutch EU Naval Force warship HNLMS De Ruyter landed on the flight deck of the Spanish EU Naval Force vessel ESPS Rayo, becoming the first helicopter from another Operation Atalanta unit to land on the Spanish warship. This helicopter landing occurred as
UK: Duke of York Tours Queen Elizabeth Carrier Facilities
The Duke of York paid a special visit to HMS Collingwood recently to view the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers bridge simulator runs developed for Royal Navy Navigators in Endeavour Building. He also visited Lyster Building for a tour of the integration facility for the Mission System that wi
EU NAVFOR Deputy Commander Visits Djiboutian CG, EU NAVFOR Units
The Deputy Operation Commander of EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Eric Dupont (French Navy) recently visited Djibouti when on a regional visit to the Operation Atalanta area of operations. During the visit he met with Lieutenant Colonel Wais O. Bogoreh the Commander of the Djiboutian Coast Guard. Admir
UK: St Albans Makes History
HMS St Albans has shot her way into Royal Navy history – bringing an end to 40 years of gunnery with the legendary 4.5in gun. For four decades the distinctive round Mod 0 gun – fitted to all Type 42 destroyers, Type 23 and later Type 22 frigates – has been the Fleet’s principal weapon […]
Bahrain: HMS Monmouth’s Crew, Rear Admiral Discuss Personnel & Welfare Issues
During a recent visit to Bahrain, the company of HMS Monmouth had the opportunity to discuss key welfare and operational matters. Rear Admiral Jonathan Woodcock OBE, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and NAVSEC, visited HMS Monmouth to discuss personnel and welfare issues. He met a wide cro
ESPS Rayo Trains with Djiboutian Navy and Coast Guard
The Spanish Oceanic Patrol Vessel ESPS Rayo, as part of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta, has taken advantage of her second port visit in Djibouti to conduct training on 20 and 21 March 2013 with the Djiboutian Navy and Coast Guard. The Boarding Team of ESPS Rayo and Spani
IMO to Assist in Implementation of West & Central Africa Piracy Code
IMO has pledged its support to assist in the implementation of a new Code of Conduct concerning the prevention and repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa, which has been adopted at a Ministerial meeting in Cotonou, Benin. The Code i
Senegal: Exercise SE-13 Success for HMS Argyll
A Plymouth based frigate has played a starring role in a maritime security exercise off the coast of West Africa. Whilst on deployment on Atlantic Patrol Task (South) reassurance duties, the Type 23 frigate, HMS Argyll, has successfully completed the multi-national exercise, Saharan Express, off the
Estonian Vessel Protection Detachment Operating on French Vessel
Some contributing nations support the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta with specialised assets to counter piracy off the Horn of Africa. Estonia supports Operation Atalanta with a Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) on board the French frigate FS Courbet. VPDs are ready to emba
UK: HMS Edinburgh Heads Home
The Royal Navy’s last Type 42 destroyer has left New York and is heading home following a highly successful visit to the Big Apple. At the end of this month, HMS Edinburgh will return to her home port of Portsmouth and bring to an end 30 years of loyal service to the Royal Navy as […]
EU NAVFOR Reaffirms Counter Piracy Cooperation with Oman
On 17 March, during a visit by the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez to Salalah, the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes, met with Omani officials in Salalah. The EU NAVFOR Force Commander met the Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman’s
UK: Royal Navy Sailor Gets Medal for 17 Years of Service
A Portchester sailor has been presented with a medal for 17 years of service to the Royal Navy while serving on the icebreaker HMS Protector. In an unusual setting, Leading Seaman Scott Black was given the medal standing on an iceberg off Detaille Island on the edge of Antarctica – one of the most r
Finland Takes Over Responsibility over WTP’s Protection
On 15 March, the German Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), deployed with the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, transferred the responsibility for the protection of the World Food Programme (WFP) ship MV Caroline Scan to an AVPD from Finland. The German AVPD returns
Cape Verde: HMS Argyll Rescues Injured Fisherman
Sailors on board a Royal Navy warship operating off the coast of Africa have saved the life of a Japanese fisherman who had suffered a serious head injury. HMS Argyll was on operations approximately 20 miles off the Cape Verde coast when she received the news that a fisherman onboard the Trawler Wak