Operations
Australian, Indian frigates train together in Indian Ocean
The crew of Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate HMAS Arunta recently took the opportunity to conduct exercises with their Indian Navy counterparts after a port visit to Goa, India. After a short period alongside that included games of cricket and volleyball, Arunta sailed from Goa in company
US Navy’s George H.W. Bush carrier strike group begins COMPTUEX
U.S. Navy’s George H.W. Bush carrier strike group (GHWBCSG) departed Norfolk on November 28 to begin preparing for an upcoming deployment with a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). During COMPTUEX, the group will combine technology, training, and tactics into multiple scenarios leading to c
USS Mason, FS Charles de Gaulle commanders meet in the Med
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) commanders and French officials from the Charles de Gaulle Strike Group (CDGSG) met while operating together in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Nov. 25, 2016. Having replaced the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71), Mason is deployed to s
EU extends counter-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa
The European Council extended operation Atalanta’s mandate to deter, disrupt and repress acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia until 31 December 2018. Operation Atalanta’s two-year mandate extension comes amidst concerns within European Union member states that whilst pirate attacks on merchant sh
NATO ships in second Turkish-hosted drill this month
Following the conclusion of Turkish-led exercise Mavi Balina, ships from several NATO countries kicked off a mine-warfare exercise in the Aegean Sea on Monday, November 28. The second Turkish exercise of the month will run through December 4 and will be aimed at testing combat readiness and strength
Turkish-led exercise Mavi Balina 2016 concludes in the Med
Ships from several nations concluded their participation in the Turkish-led exercise Mavi Balina in the Mediterranean Sea. Participating nations included Pakistan, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. NATO Maritime Group 2, as well as observers from Algeria, Nigeria, and Georg
Video: Royal Navy patrol boat rescues kayaker
The crew of a Royal Navy patrol boat rescued a 61-year-old kayaker on Sunday after his upturned kayak was spotted in the Solent following a mayday call. A student aboard HMS Smiter spied a black object in the water off Lee-on-the-Solent as the boat and RNLI responded to an SOS: a kayaker had capsize
German tanker Rhön returns from NATO deployment
German Navy’s replenishment oiler Rhön is set to return to its homeport in Wilhelmshaven after completing a two-month deployment to NATO’s standing maritime group 1 (SNMG1). Rhön is scheduled to enter harbor on November 30 after spending 57 days at sea and sailing 9,000 nautical miles. The ship depa
Royal Canadian Navy ships to test new variable depth ASW sonars
The Defence Research and Development Canada is set to test the TRAPS (Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar), a variable depth ASW sonar on Royal Canadian Navy ships. The department has contracted GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc. to deliver the systems for testing. According to GeoSpectrum, TRAPS is a to
Royal Navy leads US task force 50 during counter-ISIS ops for first time ever
Royal Navy Commodore Andrew Burns, commander of Amphibious Task Group embarked on the U.K.’s HMS Ocean (L 12), took command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force (CTF) 50 in the Arabian Gulf, November 25. This marks the first time a Royal Navy officer has led a U.S. task force in the Mid
Personal data of over 130,000 sailors breached, US Navy says
The U.S. Navy has informed that over hundred thousand of its current and former sailors had their sensitive information compromised in a massive hack that was discovered last month. The navy said that a computer used by a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Services (HPES) employee while working on a navy co
Maritime security operations commanders meet off Somalia
Operation Atalanta’s force commander, Commodore Luyckx, welcomed the Japanese commander, Captain Minami, on board of Dutch flagship, HNLMS Tromp off the coast of Somalia on November 21. The Japanese escort task group (CCD4) is part of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151). CTF151 focuses on the disr
Russian Navy commissions sixth Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class submarine
The Russian Navy has commissioned Kolpino, the country’s sixth and final Project 636.3 Varshavyanka-class submarine. All six were built for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The flag-hoisting ceremony which marked the submarine’s official entry into the fleet took place in St. Petersburg at Admiralty Shi
Albanian Navy starts first ever deployment with NATO
The Albanian Navy joined it’s first-ever NATO maritime mission by deploying its patrol boat ALS Oriku to Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 on Monday. The vessel will support NATO activities in the Aegean Sea as part of the international efforts to stop illegal trafficking and migration. ALS Oriku is an