Defense Strategies
DIMDEX: Leonardo unveils new OTO Marlin 40 naval turret
Italian-based defense contractor Leonardo has unveiled its new OTO Marlin 40 naval turret at the 2018 edition of Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (DIMDEX) in Qatar. The new OTO Marlin 40 is a system designed for fast, lightweight vessels and suited for anti-missile defense
Dutch naval ships will not take part in Atalanta in 2018
Dutch naval vessels will not participate in the European Union’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia this year. This was stated in a letter sent by Ank Bijleveld-Schouten, the country’s Minister of Defense, to the lower house of the Dutch parliament on March 7. Problems with t
Royal Navy’s HMS Cattistock clears mines around Oslo
The waters around Norway’s capital are considerably safer after a two-week hunt by the crew of Royal Navy’s HMS Cattistock. Experts from the Portsmouth-based minehunter found more than ten WW2 mines and torpedoes during a concerted search for unexploded wartime bombs with a NATO task group, the navy
NATO ASW drill Dynamic Manta kicks off in Italy
NATO’s major Mediterranean Sea anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Manta is getting underway at the Italian port of Catania on Monday, March 5. The two-week drill will take place in the Ionian Sea and will be joined by navies from 10 allied countries. Dynamic Manta is an annual NATO exercise in
German F123 frigate FGS Bayern joining NATO’s SNMG2 in Aegean Sea
German Navy’s Brandenburg-class frigate FGS Bayern is scheduled to get underway from her homeport of Wilhelmsaven on March 7 to start a six-month deployment to the Aegean Sea. During their time in the Aegean Sea, the frigate and her crew will operate as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SN
US Navy destroyer exits the Black Sea
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) departed the Black Sea on March 3, after conducting maritime security operations. The US Navy vessel entered the Black Sea in February 2018, joining sister ship USS Ross. Carney’s crew visited Varna for a scheduled port visit to st
EU, NATO agencies discuss closer cooperation in the Med
The commanders of NATO’s operation Sea Guardian and EU-led operation Sophia met at sea on February 24 to discuss closer tactical level coordination and information sharing in the central Mediterranean Sea. The task group commander for NATO’s maritime security operation Sea Guardian (OSG) visited the
Photo: Italian FREMM frigate Carlo Margottini on maiden Suez Canal transit
The Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Carlo Margottini, in service since February 2014, recently achieved another first en route to her Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea deployment. Having sailed from her homeport in La Spezia on February 20, ITS Carlo Margottini transited the Suez Canal for the the first
France, US conclude Bois Belleau 100 amphibious cooperation
US sailors and marines have concluded two months of cooperation with their French counterparts aboard the French Navy amphibious assault ship BPC Tonnerre. Approximately 150 US personnel spent the last two months working together with the French task group composed of BPC Tonnerre and Horizon-class
French Navy starts annual Jeanne D’Arc mission
Two French Navy ships, joined by UK marines and sailors and their Wildcat helicopters, got underway from Toulon naval base on February 26 to start a five-month deployment to Asia-Pacific. The Jeanne D’Arc mission is an annual deployment undertaken by French Navy ships over a five-month period. Last
USS Virginia wraps up six-month deployment to Europe
The lead ship of the US Navy’s Virginia-class fast attack submarines returned to her New London homeport in Connecticut following a six-month deployment to Europe. USS Virginia (SSN 774) was welcomed to the base on February 22 . During the deployment, Virginia steamed approximately 27,500 nautical m
NATO mine counter measure group visits Bar, Montenegro
Ships deployed to NATO’s Mine Counter Measures Group Two (SNMCMG2) arrived in Bar, Montenegro, for a port call on February 23. Led by Royal Navy Commander Justin Hains, the group arrived in Montenegro after sailing from Marmaris, Turkey last week. The task group consists of the flagship HMS Enterpri
NATO minehunters discover WWII mines in Oslo Fjord
Mine countermeasure ships deployed to NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) worked with the the Royal Norwegian Navy recently to locate WWII ordnance in the waters of Oslo Fjord. The group detected a total of 23 mines from and four torpedoes over the last two weeks. Conducting min
German Navy corvette deploying to SNMG1
German Navy’s Braunschweig-class corvette FGS Erfurt is scheduled to get underway from her Warnemünde homeport on February 26 to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). The corvette will spend most of her time in the North and Baltic Seas where SNMG1 regularly operates. Erfurt’s deployment