Friends and families of Sailors aboard the Los Angeles-class, fast-attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) welcomed home the submarine’s crew Dec. 15, following a six-month deployment to the western Pacific. The deployment supported the nation’s maritime strategy, which includes maritime security
The Spanish auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship, the SPS PATINO, Flagship of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, with the Force Commander, Captain Jorge Manso Revilla embarked, has recently completed a “first” for the mission by escorting a three ship convoy of ships chartered by the World Fo
The Royal Australian Navy’s Sea King helicopters and 817 Squadron have made their final flight as part of a decommissioning ceremony held at HMAS Albatross in Nowra today. The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon and Chief of Navy, VADM Ray Griggs, were on hand to welcome the f
Residents of Sydney, Canberra and the Shoalhaven had their last chance to see the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea King helicopters in the air today as they said farewell to the nation with a formation flypast. The formation launched from the Naval Air Station at HMAS Albatross in Nowra at 10:00am, proce
Royal Australian Navy’s Commodore Jonathan Mead has assumed command of Combined Maritime Operations in support of counter-terrorism in the Gulf region of the Middle East. Supported by a team of Australian and New Zealand naval personnel, Commodore Mead now commands Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150)
The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, has promoted Commodore Robyn Walker to the rank of Rear Admiral in the Royal Australian Navy. Admiral Walker is the first female in the Navy to attain the rank of Rear Admiral and to take on the job of Surgeon General for the Australian Defence Force. “Thi
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Largs Bay has won the Firmin Sword of Peace for her role in the Haiti disaster relief effort last year. RFA Largs Bay supplied hundreds of tonnes of rations and equipment to Haiti after a terrible earthquake struck the Caribbean island last year. The ship, which has
Deputy Commander Operation ATALANTA Rear Admiral Christian Canova and newly appointed EUNAVFOR Force Commander Captain Jorge Manso paid a visit to NATO Operation Ocean Shield Force Commander, RADM Sinan Azmi Tosun, onboard his Flagship TCG Giresun. With representatives of NATO and coalition Counter-
Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, today released the report of Phase 1 of the Review of the Sustainment of Australia’s Collins Class submarines, the Coles Review. The review is being led by Mr John Coles, an independent expert from BMT Defence Servi
The Royal Australian Navy now has enhanced amphibious warfare capability with the commissioning in Fremantle today of Australia’s newest warship, the Bay Class Landing Ship HMAS Choules. Choules, a former Royal Fleet Auxiliary which served the Royal Navy under the name Largs Bay, was renamed after C
A team of 24 troops from Uganda, part of the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) received vessel protection training from French and Estonian troops in Mombasa onboard FS FLOREAL, which is operating as part of the EU NAVFOR. The training was planned as part of ongoing improvements in capability and
In Djibouti on 7 December, RAdm Christian Canova FRAN, Deputy Commander EU NAVFOR, transferred six powerful outboard motors which had been confiscated from Somali pirates to Colonel Abdourahman Aden Cher, Chief of the Djiboutian Navy. The engines were taken from small skiffs which had been stopped b
The current year has brought a record-breaking income to Somali pirates hijacking ships and crews for ransom, said deputy director of EU NAVFOR – Operation Atalanta in the interview to online Bruxelles2. According to the admiral, pirates have obtained over $135 mln ransoms in 2011, while in the past
In Djibouti on 6 December the Change of Command ceremony of Commander Task Force 465 was held on board the EU NAVFOR German frigate FGS BAYERN. Rear Admiral Thomas Jugel handed over the responsibility to Captain Jorge Manso, Spanish Navy, in a ceremony attended by military and civilian guests, inclu