Defense Strategies
Spanish frigate returns home from 3-month NATO deployment
Spanish Navy F100 frigate Álvaro de Bazán (F-101) has returned to the Ferrol Naval Base following a three-month deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1. During her deployment, Álvaro de Bazán sailed more than 16,000 nautical miles and visited seven countries. In mid-April, the frigate set sai
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan returns from NATO tasking in the Med
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan returned to her homeport in Portsmouth after six months of operations as flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). During her time at the helm of SNMG2, Duncan led an international group of frigates, destroyers and patrol ships on operations in the
HMS Montrose on maneuvers in Baltic Sea as part of nine-nation partnership
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose recently sailed to the Baltic Sea for two weeks of exercises as part of a new agreement on military cooperation between the UK and Baltic states. Earlier this month, defense ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and
NATO states plan joint maritime munition acquisition
Several North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) states intend to combine maritime munition purchases with the aim of lowering acquisition costs by achieving economies of scale. Belgium, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain signed a Letter of Intent on Multinational Cooperation f
Romanian Navy deploys two ships to NATO operations in Black Sea
The Romanian Navy has deployed a frigate and a minesweeper to join two separate NATO maritime groups for operations in the Black Sea. Frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand and Musca-class minesweeper Lt. Lupu Dinescu got underway from the naval base in Constanta on July 11 and will spend the rest of the mont
Danish support ship HDMS Esbern Snare becomes new SNMG1 flagship
Royal Danish Navy support ship HDMS Esbern Snare became the new flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), taking over from fellow Danish warship HDMS Niels Juel. The change of command ceremony took place in Frederikshavn, Denmark, on July 10 and further saw Commodore Carsten Fjord-Larsen
19-nation Black Sea drill Sea Breeze 2018 kicks off
The Ukraine-hosted and US Navy-led international exercise Sea Breeze kicked off in Odessa, Ukraine, on July 9. According to the Ukrainian defense ministry, a total of 19 nations are taking part in the drill which is aimed at enhancing interoperability among participating nations and strengthen regio
Anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose concludes
The NATO-led anti submarine warfare (ASW) exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2018 concluded off the coast of Norway on July 6. Ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from 8 allied nations converged on the North Atlantic Ocean while host nation Norway provided support from the Harstad and Narvik harbors as
HMS Enterprise hands over SNMCMG2 flagship role to FGS Rhein
Royal Navy’s HMS Enterprise concluded a year-long stint with NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2, handing over the flagship role to German Navy tender FGS Rhein. The Royal Navy survey ship concluded her deployment in a change of command ceremony in Souda Bay, Crete, on July 6. Enterprise le
ESSM Block 2 passes first live fire test
The upgraded Block 2 Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) recently intercepted a BQM-74E aerial target in a successful flight test, the US Navy announced on July 5. This was the first ESSM flight test to utilize the new Block 2 active guidance seeker-head. ESSM Block 2 will employ both semi-active and
German Navy’s only two tankers out of operation
The German Navy has been forced to withdraw its only two tankers from NATO operations this year. As disclosed, the tanker oldies, Spessart and Rhön, will not be operational until the end of this year. Due to engine issues, both 1974-built ships will undergo repairs in the following months. The compl
Royal Navy hands over command of SNMG2 to Dutch Navy
NATO’s Standing Maritime Group changed command in a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 30. Commodore Mike Utley OBE formally handed over command of the SNMG2 to his Dutch counterpart Commodore Boudewijn G.F.M. Boots. This marked the end of a yearlong UK commitment leading SNMG2. Rear Admiral Jame
RFA Mounts Bay helping British territories prepare for Caribbean storm season
After concluding international exercise Tradewinds 2018, Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay is touring British territories in the Caribbean region to help them prepare for this year’s storm season. The 2017 storm season was among the worst in recent memory with a succession of hurricanes batterin
Croatian Navy to deploy ship to NATO mission for first time ever
The Croatian Navy is preparing to deploy one of its vessels to NATO’s Mediterranean Sea operation Sea Guardian this year. While Croatian Navy vessels took part in NATO drills in the past, including Trident Juncture in 2015, the announced deployment would be the first time for a Croatian Navy vessel