Defense Strategies
USS Ronald Reagan Welcomes UK Officials Aboard
The U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), hosted nine officials from the United Kingdom (U.K.), on January 8. Rear Adm. John Alexander, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet, and Capt. Brett Crozier, Ronald Reagan’s executive officer, welcomed aboard the Right H
EGV Bonn becomes NATO SNMG2 flagship
The German Navy replenishment ship EGV Bonn will depart its homeport of Wilhelmshaven on January 9 to join NATO’s Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. Commanded by Rear Admiral Jörg Klein, the crew of EGV Bonn will take part in several international maneuvers during their upcoming deployment. Looking for
HMCS Fredericton deploys to the Mediterranean
Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-Class frigate HMCS Fredericton departed the Canadian Forces Base Halifax on January 5 to deploy to the Mediterranean Sea. The ship’s deployment is part of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Operation Reassurance that is aimed to support NATO’s efforts in promoting security and
Finnish Navy designates €1.2bn for new vessel class
Finnish Minister of Defence, Jussi Niinistö, has authorized the nation’s Defence Forces to start the Finnish Navy project, Squadron 2020. The aim of the project is to construct four new corvette-size fighting ships for year-round operation in the special weather and ice conditions at the Baltic Sea.
SNMG2: 2nd half 2015 in review
German Navy frigate FGS Hamburg entered her homeport in Wilhelmshaven, Germany on December 20 thereby concluding her duty as flagship of the Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG2) during the second half of 2015. On June 25, Rear Admiral Jörg Klein (German Navy) assumed command of SNMG2 in Kiel, German
Spain takes over SNMG1
Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Jose Enrique Delgado Roig took command of Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) December 18, during a ceremony at Cartagena harbor in Spain. Admiral Delgado Roig received the command from the Portuguese Rear Admiral Alberto Manuel Silvestre Correia, while the new flagshi
Canadian Navy sub returns home
The Canadian Navy’s hunter-killer submarine HMCS Windsor returned to Halifax December 17 after a three and a half month deployment to Western European waters. HMCS Windsor, along with HMC Ships Athabaskan, Halifax, Montréal, Goose Bay, and Summerside left Halifax in the early fall. The submarine is
FGS Hamburg departs NATO after 6-month deployment
The German frigate FGS Hamburg will return to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven, Germany after spending six months as a NATO unit flagship on December 20. Hamburg was flagship of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. The 200 men and women of the FGS Hamburg were commanded by Rear Admiral Jörg Klein, who w
Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO visits Haifa
Two Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) ships, the flagship, FGS Hamburg, and HDMS Absalon, arrived for a port visit to Haifa, Israel on December 7. The crews of the ships will have opportunities to interact with their Israeli counterparts. On conclusion, NATO and Israeli naval forces plan to p
HMS Bulwark Returns from Cougar 15
Royal Navy amphibious assault ship, HMS Bulwark, has returned to Plymouth from operations in the Mediterranean after leading a major Royal Navy deployment. The Plymouth-based ship was leading this year’s exercise Cougar comprising exercises with the French Navy off Corsica and then Exercise Trident
UK MoD: Defence Procurement Will Boost Economy
UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited defence companies in Scotland December 7 to highlight the impact last month’s Strategic Defence and Security Review will have on the economy. Over the next decade, the MOD plans to spend around £8 billion on conventional warships for the Royal Navy, all
German, Turkish Navy Train in Aksaz, Turkey
The German frigate FGS Hamburg, SNMG2 flagship, sailed into the Turkish navy base Aksaz two weeks ago to train with the Turkish Navy. Shortly thereafter, the joint at-sea training with the Turkish Navy’s frigate TCG Gaziantep commenced. After participating in the NATO’s exercise Trident Juncture in
HMS Duncan Returns from Middle East
HMS Duncan returned to naval base Portsmouth from her maiden nine-month deployment to the Middle East on November 27. The Type 45 destroyer – the UK’s newest warship – left the UK in March and has sailed 43,000 nautical miles and visited 14 countries. She has policed busy shipping lanes in seven dif
NATO Mine Countermeasures Ships Dock in London
The six ships of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group ONE (SNMCMG1) arrived in London for a routine port visit on Thursday, November 26, 2015. SNMCMG1 is visiting London as part of the Group’s deployment to enhance maritime security and NATO’s readiness in the region. Under the command of the Ro