Operations
World’s largest mine countermeasure exercise kicks off
The International Mine Countermeasures Exercise, considered the largest maritime exercise in the world, kicked off April 4, with international naval and civilian maritime forces from more than 30 nations spanning six continents training together across the Middle East. The exercise is organized and
Spanish auxiliary ship wraps up NATO deployment
Spanish Navy’s auxiliary oiler and replenishment ship (AOR) Cantabria arrived at her home port in Ferrol, Spain on April 1 after after spending two months integrated into the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1). The ship operated in North Sea waters under command of Spanish Navy Rear-admiral J
Third illegal arms haul in the Arabian Sea
The U.S. Navy intercepted on March 28 a dhow carrying a large amount of weapons which the United States estimate to have originated in Iran and was likely bound for Iran. The Coastal Patrol ship USS Sirocco, operating as part of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, intercepted and seized the shipment
GALLERY: Italian Navy parachuters train with submarine component
Photos: Italian Navy A team of Italian Navy parachuters from the San Marco Marine Brigade teamed up with the submarine component to carry out their first 2016 batch of joint training activities in the Ionian Sea. Training activities initially conducted alongside the quay were followed by the operati
USS Stout conducts small boat drill during Ike COMPTUEX
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) completed an inbound, high-speed boat training drill, March 28. Stout is underway conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, the final test the strike group will undergo in preparation for deployment.
Britain sends frigate, fighter jets to boost Baltic security
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke and four Typhoon jets will deploy to the Baltic later this month to support NATO security efforts in the eastern Europe. HMS Iron Duke is due to return to the Baltic region after participating in the bi-annual, multinational Exercise Joint Warrior off the c
HMCS Fredericton engages Black Sea navies
Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Fredericton, assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) entered the Black Sea on March 30 to train with Turkish, Bulgarian and Romanian Navy vessels. During the month of April, HMCS Fredericton will conduct operations in concert with Romanian
Indian sail training squadron visits Thailand
Indian Naval ships Tir and Sujata together with the sail training ship Sudarshini and Indian Coast Guard Ship Varuna entered Phuket, Thailand on April 4 where they are expected to stay until April 8. The four ships comprise the Indian Navy sail training squadron which is on an overseas deployment du
Britain mulls Omani naval port development
Britain is intending to form a joint venture company between the British defence contractor Babcock International and the Oman Drydock Company that would develop the Omani Duqm Port to support naval vessels. During a visit to Oman, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the multi-million pound undert
HMAS Darwin concludes first Middle East patrol
Royal Australian Navy’s Adelaide-class guided missile frigate HMAS Darwin has completed its first patrol in the Middle East region, arriving into the Port of Muscat, Oman. The 23-day patrol within the Combined Maritime Forces will be the ship’s longest single stretch at sea during this deployment. D
Canadian Navy starts experimental ship crewing/deployment program
The Royal Canadian Navy has picked HMCS Montréal for ‘X-ship’ – a program designed to advance innovative naval concepts in all areas of warship deployment, crewing and sustainment. For the next five years, Montréal will have this additional role along with its regular naval requirements. Lieutenant-
British warship shadows Russian naval ships in UK waters
A Royal Navy warship has located and escorted a Russian naval task group which was sailing in British waters, through the English Channel and up the East Coast of the UK, the Royal Navy said. HMS Somerset, a Type 23 Frigate, along with her Merlin helicopter was used to detect and monitor the movemen
HMS Mersey visits Colombia on Caribbean deployment
Royal Navy’s River-class offshore patrol boat HMS Mersey was welcomed by the Band of the Colombian Navy as she docked in the port of Cartagena on the latest stop during her Caribbean deployment. After two weeks of patrols in the western Caribbean on the lookout for drug-runners, the Portsmouth-based
US Coast Guard repatriates 52 Cuban migrants
The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Isaac Mayo repatriated 52 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba, March 30. These repatriations are a result of three separate migrant interdictions at sea in the south Florida Straits. On Saturday, an Air Station Clearwater HC-130 aircrew located a make-shi