Defense Strategies
ESPS Rayo Ensures Safety of MV Royal Grace on Way to Salalah
After MV Royal Grace was released by pirates on Friday 8 March, it was EU Naval Force Spanish Offshore Patrol Vessel ESPS Rayo who ensured that the chemical tanker and her crew stayed safe as the vessel sailed north towards Omani waters. ESPS Rayo was conducting counter piracy patrols last Friday 8
VIDEO: Giant Bridge Section Fitted to UK’s Aircraft Carrier
An enormous 700-tonne bridge section was fitted to the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth at Rosyth shipyard on March 14. This magnificent endeavor was conducted in the presence of Defence Secretary Mr. Philip Hammond, who paid a visit to the shipyard so as to oversee the bridge s
HMS Northumberland Takes Part in Major Exercise Hosted by Pakistani Navy
HMS Northumberland flew the flag for Britain when she was Britain’s participant in a major naval exercise involving more than two dozen nations in Karachi. Hosted by the Pakistani Navy, Exercise Aman – Urdu for ‘peace’ – demonstrates the united resolve of the nations taking part to combat criminal a
HMS Argyll Arrives in Dakar, Senegal
Royal Navy warship HMS Argyll has arrived in Dakar, Senegal for the start of a huge multi-national exercise off the coast of West Africa. The Type-23 frigate will represent the UK at Exercise Saharan Express which has been designed to improve cooperation for the participating nations while they oper
ESPS Méndez Núnez Assists Super Tanker MV Smyrni after Release from Somali Pirates
It has been a busy couple of days for EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez. The Spanish warship, which is conducting EU counter piracy patrols off the Somali coast, was once again able to provide much needed protection, this time to super tanker MV Smyrni, after the vessel was relea
Spanish Marines within EU NAVFOR Celebrate 476th Anniversary of Marine Corps
Spanish Marines serving in the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) celebrated the 476th anniversary of the Spanish Marine Corps. Founded in 1537, during the reign of Carlos I, the Spanish Marine Corps is the oldest extant Marine Corps in the World. Unable to
Next Generation of British Submarine Commanders Tested to the Limit
HMS Richmond and her sister HMS Westminster have been charging around the fjords of Norway as the submarine commanders of tomorrow were tested to the limit. The two frigates joined some 20 NATO warships and aircraft trying to hunt down two submarines carrying students on the world-famous internation
ESPS Mendez Nunez Provides Assistance to Chemical Tanker
EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez provided much-needed assistance to the crew of chemical tanker MV Royal Grace after the vessel was unexpectedly released by Somali pirates. The pirates had held the vessel after attacking it over a year earlier, on 2 March 2012 in the Gulf of Oma
UK Warship Welcomes Chief of Joint Operations on Board
During a port visit to Bahrain, HMS Monmouth has hosted the Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General David Capewell OBE, along with senior officers, Ministry of Defence civil servants and senior Component Commanders from across the 3 services. Alongside Bahrain for a brief overnight visit, HMS
ESPS Méndez Núnez Conducts Training with Djiboutian Coast Guard
On 04 March, during a port visit to Djibouti by the European Union Naval Force flagship, ESPS Méndez Núnez, her crew welcomed on board a group of ten members of the Djiboutian Coast Guard in order to conduct training exercises. The purpose of the visit was to conduct training for the Djiboutian Coas
EU NAVFOR Force Commander Holds Talks on Improving Security, Stability in Somalia
During a port visit to Djibouti by Spanish EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez, and warship ESPS Rayo, Force Commander Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes held meetings with other EU leaders to demonstrate the commitment of EU NAVFOR to work together with other missions towards a
Russia, NATO Discuss Fuel Resupply in Gulf of Aden
Within the framework of anti-piracy cooperation in the Gulf of Aden Russia and NATO are negotiating about fuel resupply of the warships, participating… [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, March 8, 2013; Image: Mil
SNMCMG1 Disposes of 8 Pieces of UXOs from English Channel
The last day of February for the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 was also the last day of “Beneficial Cooperation”. During the two-week operation in the English Channel the ships of SNMCMG1 located and disposed of 8 individual pieces of underwater explosive ordnance (UXOs) with a total of
Merlin Helicopters Stalk Subs in the Mediterranean amid NATO’s Proud Manta
Three Merlin helicopters from 829 and 814 Naval Air Squadrons based at Culdrose in southwest Cornwall as well as 75 supporting air and ground crew are the UK’s input to Proud Manta– the biggest anti-submarine exercise run by NATO. Ships, submarines and aircraft from 14 nations have converged on Sici