Operations
Irish Navy lays keel for fourth Samuel Beckett-class OPV
The keel for the Irish Navy’s fourth Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel was laid in Babcock’s Appledore shipyard on February 28. Named after Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, the vessel will have pennant number P64. It is being built under a contract signed between the Irish ministry of
Spanish frigate joins SNMG1
Spanish Navy frigate Reina Sofía (F-84) departed naval base Rota on February 27 to integrate into the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1). During the two and a half-month mission, the Spanish frigate will participate in several training activities with other NATO units, among them exercise Join
Spanish frigate and oiler join NATO’s SNMG2
A Spanish Navy frigate and an auxiliary oiler left their home port in Ferrol, Spain, last weekend to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in the Mediterranean Sea. Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Méndez Núñez and oiler AOR Patiño will become part of SNMG2’s Task Unit 02 (TU.02), currently under com
US Coast Guard makes largest cocaine bust in Atlantic since 1999
The U.S. Coast Guard said it offloaded approximately 4.2 tons of seized cocaine, worth an estimated $125 million at Coast Guard Sector San Juan on Monday. This interdiction is the largest maritime seizure in the Atlantic since 1999 and was the result of ongoing, multi-agency and international law en
Canadian Navy ship joins international law enforcement efforts in Caribbean
Canadian Navy’s coastal defence vessel HMCS Saskatoon has begun patrols in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean in support of a multinational campaign against transnational criminal organizations. Deploying under Canada’s operation HMCS Saskatoon is joining operation Martillo (Hammer), a U.S., European,
USS Coronado returns to port after brief underway
U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) returned to Changi Naval Base in Singapore, Feb. 25 following a port call in Muara, Brunei and routine patrols in the Sulu Sea and South China Sea. After completing the four-day port visit in Brunei, Coronado conducted a passing exercise and visit,
Iran tests latest home-made missile during naval drill
The Iranian Navy has tested the latest version of the home-made Nasr missile during naval drills held in its territorial waters. According to Iranian English-language news agency Fars News, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said the cruise missile’s accuracy was confirmed aft
US Coast Guard Cutter wraps up migrant interdiction deployment
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Confidence completed a 44-day northern Caribbean Sea patrol returning to its homeport in Port Canaveral on February 25. During their patrol of the Florida Straits and the Windward Passage, the crew conducted alien migrant interdiction operations, conducted search and rescue o
Virginia-class submarine changes command in Pearl Harbor
U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) welcomed a new commander in a ceremony held on the historic submarine piers in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, February 24. Cmdr. Mike R. Dolbec relieved Cmdr. Todd J. Nethercott as the new commanding officer. Capt. Richard Seif, c
BAE Systems boosts railgun efforts with acquisition of IAP research
In an effort to accelerate progress on the electromagnetic railgun development, BAE Systems announced the acquisition of Ohio-based IAP Research. Prior to the acquisition, IAP Research was a major BAE Systems subcontractor on the U.S. Navy-led development of an electromagnetic (EM) railgun. The Dayt
UK’s Trident guardians hone commando skills
Royal Marines 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group took part in an exercise named Revenant Shadow, sharpening their commando skills. The 550-strong Faslane-based unit performs the most important duty of any military personnel in the land – except submariners operating Britain’s nuclear deterrent: name
Spain takes helm of counter-piracy mission off Africa
Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas assumed the role of force commander of the European Union’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta off the Horn of Africa. Rojas assumed command on board his flagship, ESPS Galicia, during a ceremony held in Djibouti on Friday. Djibouti is a
South Africa announces preferred bidders for new navy vessels
Armscor, the acquisition agency for the South African Department of Defence, announced the preferred bidders for the construction of South African Navy’s project “Biro” and “Hotel” vessels. In 2014, Armscor solicited offers on a multi-source tender basis from prospective shipyards for the supply of
Indian Coast Guard commissions fourth Samarth-class OPV
The Indian Coast Guard commissioned the fourth of six offshore patrol vessels in Goa on February 21. Named Shaunak, the 105-meter vessel was commissioned at Goa Shipyards Limited facilities, which is in charge of designing and building these vessels. Shaunak is fitted with a 30 mm CRN 91 naval gun,