The Navy bade farewell to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) after more than 28 years of service during a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Everett, Oct. 31. The ceremony featured former USS Ford commanding officers, plankowners and family of the ship’s na
HMS Illustrious has had to fend off a succession of attacks from Omani jets off the coast of Oman during the opening stages of the last major exercise by the UK’s amphibious task group east of Suez. The veteran warship was expected not just to thwart the attackers, but put Royal Marines ashore on th
“A milestone”. This is how Brigadier General Dick Swijgman, Flag Officer Caribbean, described the seizure of 1,450 kilogrammes of cocaine by the CARIB guard ship HNLMS Amsterdam, earlier this week. The drugs represent a market value of over € 40 million. “This last drug haul brings the total of drug
The Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG), currently deployed on Cougar 13, has successfully completed a six day exercise, Omani Cougar, with the Royal Omani Armed Forces. The maritime exercise tested the full integration of the Royal Navy and Royal Navy of Oman by conducting conventional ma
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with embarked Carrier Strike Group 11, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, and Destroyer Squadron 23 arrived in Naples, Italy for a port visit, Oct. 30. The visit allows Nimitz Strike Group Sailors and Marines the chance to experience the local culture and cust
Army and RAF personnel have been getting their sea legs on board HMS Richmond while on her patrol of the South Atlantic. The Yorkshire Regiment and 230 Squadron RAF are affiliated to the Portsmouth-based Type-23 frigate and seven personnel were given the opportunity to stay on board and experience l
German frigate FGS Niedersachsen, which is currently deployed with the EU Naval Force, recently carried out two friendly approaches on dhows. To help strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU Naval Force and local seafarers, as well as obtain first hand information about possible pira
Amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark welcomed His Highness Mohammed Bin Salim Al Said, Head of Protocol Department for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the official reception and capability demonstration held during her recent visit to Muscat, Oman. The event was to demonstrate the capabilities of
HMS Sutherland has returned to her home port of Plymouth with a gunfire salute. The Type 23 frigate has been on a short deployment for training and diplomatic visits before beginning a long upgrade. The refit package in Devonport will see her return to service almost a year later. The 13-gun salute
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines are putting all their core war fighting skills to the test as they launch into Exercise Omani Cougar. As the fourth major exercise of the ongoing Cougar 13 deployment, personnel are working alongside the Royal Navy of Oman to hold the intense six-day exercise. Royal
FREMM frigate Normandie, the second of the Aquitaine class for the French Navy, was put to sea for the first time on 25 October. This milestone marks the beginning of the ship’s sea trials, which will take place off Brittany and are expected to last several weeks. The main aim of these preliminary t
UK Warship Passes Through One of the World’s Narrowest Waterways Not every warship’s company can claim to have squeezed through one of the world’s narrowest waterways – but a Royal Navy mine hunter now has bragging rights. US Navy Awards Contract for Ex-USS Forrestal Scrapping The Navy awarded a $0.
On Tuesday 22 October, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Peter Lenselink and members of his staff, visited RFA Lyme Bay. RFA Lyme Bay recently joined EU Naval Force’s Operation Atalanta. During the visit, the Force Commander visited the different departments on board and met the crew members of t
HMS Bulwark, the Plymouth based Fleet Flagship, hosted a Capability Demonstration and Official Reception during her recent visit to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Over 150 guests including Her Majesty’s Consul General to Dubai, Mr Edward Hobart, and a number of guests from the Emirati and British busi
