Operations
Standing NATO groups welcome new flagships in Spain
NATO’s two standing maritime groups welcomed new flagships in a ceremony at naval station Rota, Spain, on July 26. SNMG1, the group that mainly operates in the North and Baltic Sea, has a US Navy ship at its helm again as USS Gravely (DDG 107) was relieved by sister destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101).
HMS Duncan arrives in the Gulf to bolster merchant shipping protection
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in the Persian Gulf where it is set to ensure the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s seizing of tanker Stena Impero on July 19. Last week the government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accom
Special Operations Forces drill Trojan Footprint expanding from the Baltic
Personnel from ten nations rehearsed the rapid deployment of special operations and armed forces in a drill that is no longer confined to the Baltic region. Taking place this June in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, exercise Trojan Footprint 19 was led by Special Operations Command Europe and included
German minehunter Weilheim joining NATO mine warfare group SNMCMG1
German Navy Frankenthal-class minehunter FGS Weilheim is set to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) for over four months of joint operations. The vessel will depart its Kiel homeport on July 29 for a two-week at-sea phase before heading to the German Navy’s fire and damage
Italian aircraft carrier Cavour docks for F-35B upgrades
The 2008-built carrier will be fitted with capability to operate the Joint Strike Fighter.
Royal Navy’s Martlet missile debuts on Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland
The missile will defend against small boat attacks.
UK sending destroyer Duncan to Persian Gulf amid Iran tensions
The UK is sending Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan to the Persian Gulf in the wake of an escalation of tensions in the region following the scrapping of the Iran nuclear deal and a spate of attacks on commercial tankers. HMS Duncan was operating in the Black Sea when the ship’s new tasking was announced
Dutch Navy modernizing support, hydrographic ships
The Netherlands defense ministry has awarded Dutch shipbuilder Damen a contract for the refit and upgrades of three Royal Netherlands Navy ships. As part of the midlife upkeep (MLU) contract, Damen Shipyards Den Helder will modernize support ship HNLMS Pelikaan, along with hydrographic survey vessel
USS Ross returns from eighth forward-deployed patrol
US Navy destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to its Spanish homeport at Naval Station Rota on July 7, completing its eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol. The Arleigh Burke-class ship departed for patrol on March 8 to carry out naval operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations. R
Internal leak prompts HMS Queen Elizabeth to return to port earlier than expected
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth made a surprise return to Portsmouth on July 9, despite having been expected to spend another week at sea in preparation for a training deployment to the US coast. The carrier was forced to return to its homeport due to an internal water leak which was
Video: HMS Queen Elizabeth tests newly-installed Phalanx CIWS for first time
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has carried out the first test of its two Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS), engaging both air and surface targets. The trial took place on July 7, as the ship is in the final stages of preparations for a departure to the US coast where it will wr
UK MOD awards £85M contract to Rolls-Royce to boost Type-23 fleet capabilities
The UK Ministry of Defence has signed an £85 million contract with engineering company Rolls-Royce to maintain the engines of the Royal Navy’s Type-23 frigate fleet. The contract includes a comprehensive support package to Spey gas turbines, including the overhaul of engines, provision of spares, as
French submarine Saphir arrives in Cherbourg before retiring
On July 3, the French Navy’s nuclear attack submarine Saphir (S602) reached the Cherbourg port, prior to her retiring from the navy’s fleet. After 35 years of service, Saphir will be the first of six Rubis-class submarines to be retired from active duty at the end of this month. Launched in 1981 and
HMCS Toronto joins SNMG2 in Black Sea
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has entered the Black Sea to conduct routine patrols with NATO allies. Starting July 2, 2019, Canadian Halifax-class frigate HMCS Toronto is sailing the Black Sea with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) to enhance interoperability with allies and build on cooperat