Defense Strategies
GALLERY: Danish frigate Peter Willemoes joins NATO’s SNMG1
Photos: Sánchez Oller/Spanish Navy Danish Iver Huitfeldt class frigate Peter Willemoes has recently joined NATO’s Standing Maritime Group One. The ship met the group at sea and was welcomed by the Commander of SNMG1, Spanish Navy Rear Admiral José E. Delgado. After the visit was completed, crews of
Switzerland to renew its patrol boat fleet
Despite being landlocked, Switzerland has been maintaining a small navy force of 11 Acquarius-class patrol boats used to patrol lakes Konstanz and Geneva, which form the country’s international boundaries. According to local media, Switzerland is now set to acquire 14 Watercat 1250 Patrol boats from
Britain sends frigate, fighter jets to boost Baltic security
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke and four Typhoon jets will deploy to the Baltic later this month to support NATO security efforts in the eastern Europe. HMS Iron Duke is due to return to the Baltic region after participating in the bi-annual, multinational Exercise Joint Warrior off the c
HMCS Fredericton engages Black Sea navies
Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Fredericton, assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) entered the Black Sea on March 30 to train with Turkish, Bulgarian and Romanian Navy vessels. During the month of April, HMCS Fredericton will conduct operations in concert with Romanian
German submarine joins NATO group ahead of Exercise Joint Warrior
German Navy submarine U 34 left its homeport in Eckernförde, Germany on March 30 to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. The submarine is headed for Scotland where it will meet with the group ahead the Joint Warrior exercise scheduled to take place from April 11 – 22. Apart from SNMG 1 the exerc
British warship shadows Russian naval ships in UK waters
A Royal Navy warship has located and escorted a Russian naval task group which was sailing in British waters, through the English Channel and up the East Coast of the UK, the Royal Navy said. HMS Somerset, a Type 23 Frigate, along with her Merlin helicopter was used to detect and monitor the movemen
SNMG 1 docks in Riga, Latvia
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), under the command of Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Jose Enrique Delgado, visited Riga, Latvia, for a scheduled port visit last week. The group is currently deployed to the North and Baltic Seas. SNMG1 is currently composed of three ships: the Spanish F100 class fr
Spanish Navy minesweeper departs NATO’s mine counter-measures group
Spanish Navy minesweeper ESPS Tambre concluded its deployment to the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 and returned to Cartagena, Spain on March 28. The Segura-class minesweeper spent two months integrated into the maritime group which was comprised of ships from different NATO member stat
Belgian Navy minehunter joins NATO group
Photos: Belgian Navy Belgian Navy’s minehunter BNS Primula officially joined the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 on March 14 and on March 21 began its deployment as it, together with other ships from the group, sailed out of the Zeebruge harbor in Belgium. During the three months the shi
US creates European ballistic missile defense task force
The U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet operating in Europe and Africa has established a new task force that will be solely responsible for ballistic missile defense in Europe. On March 24, Commodore Jeffrey Wolstenholme assumed command of the newly established Commander, Task Force 64, as the unit was named. U.S
Royal Navy upgrades Falklands harbor
The UK Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded a £19 million (approx $26M) contract for the Mare Harbour, Falklands, to be upgraded to host larger Royal Navy ships. UK-based civil engineering company VolkerStevin will design and construct a facility suitable to cater for the Point-class ship
More ships for NATO’s Aegean mission
French patrol ship FS Commandant Bouan joined NATO’s Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) in the Aegean Sea last week. Commandant Bouan is the second ship to reinforce the mission against human traffickers as the Dutch frigate HNLMS Van Amstel sailed for the Aegean on March 10. SNMG2 is conducting
NATO mine counter measures group visits Montenegro
Led by the Turkish tender TCG Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasa, ships from NATO’s mine counter measures group two (SNMCMG2) arrived in Bar, Montenegro, March 18. The ships are on a scheduled port visit during the group’s deployment to the Mediterranean to enhance maritime security and readiness. The visit
Swedish general visits NATO’s Dynamic Move 2016
Swedish Marine Brigadier General Ola Truedsson on March 10 visited the participants of NATO exercise Dynamic Move 16 (DME16) taking place in Oostende, Belgium. DME16 is an annual Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) tactical-level Mine Counter Measure Command Post Exercise and is designed to train parti