Italy has taken command of the four NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group TWO (SNMCMG2), as well as the prospective flagship ITS AVIERE, from Germany during a scheduled port visit in Catania on Thursday, 19 June 2014. SNMCMG2 visited the port as part of the Group’s deplo
Just 7 months after the UK Ministry of Defence ordered the system from Boeing Defence UK, footage released yesterday, 22 June, shows ScanEagle taking flight from HMS Somerset in the Gulf. The system, which can be launched by a pneumatic catapult from Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, i
South-West based Royal UK Navy warship, HMS Argyll is due to sail today on her latest deployment to the North Atlantic and Caribbean. HMS Argyll’s captain, Commander Paul Hammond: said “As we sail from Plymouth we can reflect on nine months of hard work in preparation for this deployment in which
Portsmouth-based warship HMS Iron Duke deployed today for a routine deployment across the Atlantic where she will be visiting various far-flung destinations in all seasons in both northern and southern hemispheres – enjoying summer and winter in the space of three months. During the six months awa
The Irish Naval Service vessels L.É SAMUEL BECKETT, L.É. ROISIN and L.É. AOIFE will be conducting exercises off the South Coast of Ireland, as part of a week long fleet assessment by the Naval Service. Some of the tasks involved include a scenario-based Maritime Interdiction Operation which prepar
After two months of contributing to the European Union’s fight against Somali piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, French warship FS Floréal is sailing towards her home port on La Réunion, which is a French territory in the Indian Ocean. This is the fifth time that FS Floréal has participa
As HMS Scott leaves dry dock and returns to water, a new coating on her hull will save thousands of pounds and will be friendlier for the environment. The coating, called Hempasil X3, is a ‘fouling-release’ material which prevents organisms like barnacles from clinging to the hull. These organisms
Earlier today the Operational Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, welcomed the Defence Advisor to the People’s Republic of China Delegation to the European Union, Major General Luo Wei and his Deputy, Senior Colonel Qiu Yi, to the Operational Headquarters in Northwood. Durin
Friday 13th June saw the hand over of the Commandant General Royal Marines from Major General Ed Davis, CBE to Major General Martin Smith, MBE. The handover ceremony took place in the Commandant Generals Courtyard at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines and was witnessed by Commanding Officers a
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 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
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
Rear-Admiral (ESP N) Eugenio Diaz Del Rio, Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2), handed over command of NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD task force (TF 508) to Commodore (Royal Danish Navy) Aage Buur Jensen, Commander SNMG1 during an operational handover in Souda Bay on Sat
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
