Defense Strategies
Poland decommissions first Kobben-class submarine ORP Kondor
The Polish Navy decommissioned the first of its four Kobben-class submarines – ORP Kondor – in a ceremony at the naval port in Gdynia on December 20. With 50 years of service behind them, the remaining three submarines in the class are also set to be decommissioned in the near future. Kondor and its
HMS Ocean returns from final deployment as commissioned Royal Navy ship
Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean returned home to naval base Devonport on December 19, concluding her final deployment as a commissioned Royal Navy ship. The ship was scheduled to enter Devonport on December 20, welcomed by families and friends, but a forecast of thick fog brought her final o
Russia advances Syrian naval base plans
Russian president Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft bill to the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly which would see Russia develop a fully functional naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus. The port is already in use by Russian warships which have been making port calls there since 1977.
Royal Navy submarine service reaches 350th deterrent patrol milestone
The Royal Navy’s submarine service achieved a major milestone recently as a Vanguard submarine completed the country’s 350th deterrent patrol. As the country’s ultimate weapon, submarine operations and movements are kept a closely guarded secret, but the ‘Silent Service’ has temporarily broken its s
German minehunter FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg returns from SNMCMG1 deployment
German Navy minehunter FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg returned to its homeport in Kiel on December 12, concluding its NATO deployment. The minehunter spent the past five months as part of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1. The group spent time training and clearing mines in areas ranging from F
NATO strengthens ties with merchant shipping community in Mediterranean Sea exercise
A NATO exercise involving warships from Italy, Greece and Turkey and the international merchant shipping community is taking place in the international waters of the central and eastern Mediterranean Sea. This focused security patrol is being conducted in coordination with a Naval Cooperation and Gu
German tanker Rhön concludes NATO SNMG1 mission
German Navy tanker FGS Rhön is scheduled to return to its homeport in Wilhelmshaven on December 12, concluding a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean and North Sea. The ship spent four months with NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), supplying the warships with fuel and fresh water and oc
HMS Queen Elizabeth enters Royal Navy service
The UK’s new fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth entered Royal Navy service on December 7 after being commissioned by Her Majesty The Queen in a grand ceremony in Portsmouth. In her role as the ship’s lady sponsor, Her Majesty addressed guests before the ship’s commanding officer, Captain Jerry Kyd,
Italian frigate trains with Chinese, Korean warships off Somalia
Italian Navy frigate and current operation Atalanta flagship ITS Fasan trained with ships from the Chinese PLA Navy and Republic of Korea Navy off the coast of Somalia recently. Fasan first rendezvoused with South Korean and Spanish Navy ships after delivering medicine to the Somalian port city of H
SNMCMG2 ships join Turkish-hosted exercise Nusret 2017
Ships from the NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) are among the units taking part in the Turkish-led maritime exercise Nusret 2017 in the Aegean Sea off Canakkale, Turkey. SNMCMG2, consisting of flagship Royal Navy ship HMS Enterprise, Turkish minehunter TCG Alanya, Bulgarian m
German frigate Lübeck gets new captain
Frigate Captain Matthias Schmitt is to transfer command over the German Navy frigate Lübeck to his colleague Christoph Sallermann, the navy said in a statement. The ceremony will be held at 10:00 A.M. on November 2017. Frigate Captain Schmitt has been at the helm of the F122 Bremen-class frigate sin
USS San Diego, 15th MEU arrive in Souda Bay, Greece
The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Souda Bay, Greece, for a scheduled port visit, Nov. 27. This is San Diego’s second port visit in Souda Bay during this deployment. While in port, the crew will con
EU NAVFOR flagship’s crew train with Tanzanian Navy
Over the course of three days from 12th to the 14th November, members of the Tanzanian Defence Force Navy trained with members of ITS Fasan to bolster Maritime Capability in the Indian Ocean. During port visits, EU NAVFOR personnel take the opportunity to pass on essential maritime skills to local f
Force Commander of EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta visits Tanzania
On 14th November, the Force Commander of EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Fabio Gregori visited General Mabeyo, Chief of Tanzania People’s Defence Force and Rear Admiral Makanzo, Commander of Naval Forces in Dar Es Salaam. During his visit the Force Commander took the opportunity to invi