Operations
BNS Louise Marie Apprehends Suspect Pirates at Sea
Just 12 days after EU Naval Force warship BNS Louise Marie apprehended five suspect pirates at sea off the Somali Coast, the Belgium frigate has once again located a suspect skiff – this time with three men on board. The warship, which is operating as part of the European Union’s counter-piracy miss
Top News of 2012
1. January US Navy to Deploy Third Carrier Group to Persian Gulf The US will dispatch another carrier strike group led by USS Enterprise to the Persian Gulf in March 2012, reported US Navy on Jan 25. The carrier group based in Norfolk, VA will also include a guided missile cruiser and three [&hell
HMS Illustrious Visits Mediterranean Island of Malta
HMS Illustrious has arrived at the Mediterranean island of Malta for a five-day visit. More than 1,500 sailors and marines lined the deck of the Portsmouth-based helicopter carrier as she entered the port of Valletta. As well as an onboard reception for the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the ship will
HMS Blyth Returns to HM Naval Base Clyde, UK
HMS Blyth, one of the Royal Navy’s advanced Sandown-Class mine hunters, received an emotional welcomed home from families, friends and loved-ones, when the vessel and its 37-strong crew returned to HM Naval Base Clyde from a six-month NATO deployment. Home in time for Christmas and sporting Santa ha
UK: Royal Navy Warship HMS Diamond Returns Home to Portsmouth
Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond returned home to Portsmouth on today (December 21) from a successful maiden deployment to the Middle East.The new Type 45 destroyer sailed more than 31,000 miles on security and counter-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf. HMS Diamond left
ESPS Méndez Núnez Conducts Her First WFP Escort
During the night of 12 December, EU Naval Force flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez conducted her first World Food Programme (WFP) escort as part of the EU’s counter piracy mission – Operation Atalanta. ESPS Méndez Núnez escorted MV Canarsie Princess along the Somali coastline to ensure the food aid she was
UK: Royal Navy Hands Over Command of CTF after ‘Wholehearted’ Efforts
For the sixth time the Royal Navy has handed over the reins of a task force clamping down on piracy and terrorism in the Middle East. Two dozen sailors and Royal Marines, led by Commodore Bob Tarrant, have directed the operations of Combined Task Force 150 in the Indian Ocean for the past four month
USS John C. Stennis Supports Evaluation of New Materials for Flight Deck Jerseys
Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) were selected to participate in a four-month evaluation of the new design for flight deck working uniform shirts, or “jerseys,” in an effort to meet the long term needs of personnel who work on and around the flight deck.
UK: Royal Navy Ice Patrol Ship Takes to Ice for Charity Santa Run
December has arrived, and so too has the festive spirit onboard HMS Protector, the Royal Navy’s 5,000 tonne Ice Patrol Ship. After breaking ice for the first time this Austral Summer, 20 members of HMS Protector’s Ship’s Company took to the ice dressed as Santa Claus in support of the Ship’s affilia
UK: Merlin Flight Returns Home for Christmas
A team from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has arrived home from their six-month deployment to the Indian Ocean having supported the ongoing fight against piracy and people/drug trafficking. The sailors will now enjoy some well-earned shore leave, being home with their families just in time for Ch
HMS Monmouth Safeguards Supertanker in Major Exercise
HMS Monmouth led Britain’s input to a five-day exercise in the Middle East demonstrating how the region’s naval forces can safeguard merchant shipping. The Devonport-based frigate was charged with protecting two supertankers from mock terrorist attack during Exercise Lucky Mariner 13, working alongs
HMS Penzance to Get Multi-Million-Pound Overhaul
HMS Penzance has arrived in Rosyth – the latest of the Sandown-class flotilla of minehunters to receive a multi-million-pound overhaul. The ship follows her recently-revamped sister Grimsby into the ship shed on the Forth, where she’ll spend five months receiving upgrades, improvements and a general
HMS Portland Arrives at Its Base-Port of Plymouth,UK
The Royal Navy frigate HMS Portland arrived at its base-port of Plymouth following a £27 million-pound refit. The refit, in Rosyth, Scotland, took 50 weeks and was carried out by Babcock at the Fife dockyard. With more than 260,000 man-hours invested in the almost year-long project, the 133-metre HM
UK: HMS Diamond to Return Home on Friday
Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond returns home to Portsmouth on Friday (December 21) from a successful maiden deployment to the Middle East. The new Type 45 destroyer sailed more than 31,000 miles on security and counter-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Oman and the Gulf. HMS Diamond left Po