The guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) approaches the German navy replenishment tanker FGS Spessart (A1442) for a replenishment-at-sea while underway for Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2014. Now in its 42nd year, BALTOPS is an annual, multinational exercise with the goal of enhancing ma
The Royal UK Navy nuclear-powered submarine HMS Tireless is due to be officially retired from active service at a ceremony in Plymouth on Thursday (June 19). The nuclear-powered Trafalgar Class submarine returned to her base-port of Devonport, in Plymouth, for the last time on June 1 before decomm
The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, has announced recently that a new contract to design and manufacture future anti-surface guided weapons (light) (FASGW(L)) missiles will protect more than 60 jobs at the Thales factory in Belfast. The contract will sustain a
The guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) participated in a bilateral underway engagement with the Tunisian Navy’s Patrol Ship 501 La Galite and an Archangel-class patrol boat, June 14. The engagement provided an opportunity to enhance U.S.-Tunisian interoperability and strengthe
After a ten day work-up on-board HMS Illustrious around the Cornish coast, the Merlin Carrier Air Group (MCAG) prepare to “Go Deep” as they sail westwards out into the Atlantic in pursuit of Submarines. Exercise Deep Blue has so far seen the Merlin Mk 2s from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose put t
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain to begin her forward deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, June 16. Ross, departed Norfolk, Va., June 3, and is the second of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to
Sandown class mine hunter HMS Bangor has left Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard for sea trials on Friday, 13 June, following a successful six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)). The SP(D), carried out under the Surface Ship Support Alliance Class Output Management (COM) arrangements by the Babcock-led
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) departed the Black Sea after a series of engagements promoting peace and stability in the region, June 12. Vella Gulf’s mission, while in the Black Sea, was to work with NATO allies and European partners, demonstrating the United
Divers have been given special permission to inspect a 100-year-old Royal UK Navy submarine so people can learn more about shipwrecks and – the pioneers of the Silent Service. Over the next six months, frogmen will inspect the hull of HMS A7 – one of the very first boats built for the fledgling Su
Thales Alenia Space announced on June 9 the completion of the acquisition of the space activities of Systems Engineering & Assessment Limited (SEA), part of Cohort plc. This acquisition will reinforce the perimeter of its new subsidiary Thales Alenia Space UK and will boost its growth in systems e
Hydroid, Inc., a subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime and the leading manufacturer of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), has announced that registration is now open for its REMUS 100 Operations & Training Course, to be held during the week of September 15-19, 2014. Based out of Hydroid’s state-of-
Russian submarine K-119 Voronezh assisted a small boat during a storm in the White Sea on June 8th, reports RT.com. When the crew of the small vessel realised that it was running low on fuel, the crew members sent a distress signal to their home port of Arkhangelsk. The authorities from the port s
Ships from various nations in the Baltic Region and the U.S. 6th Fleet command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) begin the underway phase of Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2014. The annual multinational exercise is in its 42nd year and is conducted to enhance maritime capabilities and interoperability
NATO Standing Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) has wrapped up two weeks of participating in the Italian Navy hosted exercise ITA-MINEX 14. The aim of the exercise was to secure access to commercial ports through effective use of minesweepers and the use of mine hunting capabilities in an
