On 6 April 2013, Commodore Jorge Palma (Portuguese Navy) took over as Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta from Rear Admiral Pedro Garcia De Paredes (Spanish Navy), following a change-of-command-ceremony in Djibouti. The Deputy Operation Commander of EU NAVFOR
The Royal Navy’s contribution to the alliance has been praised as it approaches 45 years of continuous submarine nuclear deterrent patrols. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen wrote to Defence Secretary Philip Hammond this week to thank the UK for its nuclear commitment to the alliance as t
The US Navy will commission the newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, Arlington, during a 12:30 p.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, April 6, at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The ship is named for the county of Arlington and honors the first responders and the 184 victims who died when Americ
On 3 April 2013, whilst on counter piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes, who is the Force Commander of EU NAVFOR, met with the Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) counter-piracy task force, Rear Admiral Giam Hock Koon. The meeting between the two force
The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam April 2 on an independent deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The ship’s departure, originally planned for Feb. 28, was deferred to better refine sequestration planning and execution. Commanded by Cm
On 3 April, German Frigate FGS Karlsruhe handed over counter piracy duties to her sister ship FGS Augsburg in a ceremony held in the port of Djibouti following a successful 5 month deployment as part of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta. The ceremony was attended by several dis
The German Sachsen-class frigate Hamburg (F220) is the first German ship to fully integrate and deploy with an American carrier strike group, and April 3 marks her second week of operating in the North Arabian Sea with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE). The Hamburg will stay a part of the stri
NATO’s Standing Naval Mine Counter-Measures Group 2, headed by HMS Cattistock, has paid a visit to the country where she hosted NATO and Algerian Officers. While in the country’s capital, visiting officers were offered a capability demonstration as well as a presentation on NATO’s maritime role. Awa
On March 30, off the island of Masirah (Oman), the cargo bulk carrier ‘Atlantic Confidence’, Liberian flag, reported to have a fire in the engine room and requested assistance. Upon receiving the message, Admiral Antonio Natale, Commander of the NATO Task Force engaged in the fight against piracy of
The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser, USS Princeton (CG 59), is scheduled to depart April 3 for a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility in support of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG). Princeton will join NIMCSG off
The Australian-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) has seized a record heroin haul during a boarding on Friday, 29 March 2013. Law enforcement agencies confirm the half a tonne of heroin has an estimated street value at $100 million AUD. According to law enforcement agencies, the 500kg haul is one
The Raytheon Company led Cobra Judy Replacement (CJR) program surpassed expectations during its first tests against a live rocket launch on March 19. From approximately 100 miles off the Florida coast, the powerful X- and S-band radars integrated onboard the USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM 25) succes
Whilst departing from the port of Salalah, Oman, after a brief logistic stop, the EU’s counter-piracy flagship, ESPS Méndez Núñez enjoyed a brief rendezvous with fellow EU Naval Force warship HNLMS De Ruyter, who was about to enter the Omani port. ESPS Méndez Núñez did a ‘pass-by’ on the port side o
Chief petty officers (CPO) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) celebrated the 120th birthday of the chief rank April 1. Chiefs from around the ship gathered for lunch and to listen to their shipmates speak on what it means to be a chief. “We’re mentors, motivators and leaders,” said Chie
