Operations
Change of Command in UK carrier’s primary squadron
820 Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, whose Merlin’s are set to be the first helicopters on the Queen Elizabeth carrier, now have a new commander. On February 8, Commander Jon Holroyd took the helm of RNAS Culdrose’s 820 Naval Air Squadron from his predecessor Commander Ros
Pakistani Navy Chief visits UK
Pakistani Navy Chief, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, paid a visit to EU NAVFOR’s operational headquarters in London, UK, February 11. He was welcomed by the Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Jonas Wikstrӧm. During the visit both Admirals welcomed the good cooperation that exists at sea between Operation A
USS Coronado passes ship survivability trial
The U.S. Navy has informed that a ship of its much debated littoral combat program recently completed the Navy’s Total Ship Survivability Trial (TSST). Littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) performed the test off the coast of California, USA on January 28. During the test event, the crew handled
South African, Royal Navy of Oman naval ships dock in Sri Lanka
Two Royal Omani Navy ships and one South African Navy frigate arrived at the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 12. The Royal Navy of Oman ships Al Shamikh and Al Seeb are on their way home after participating in the bilateral Indian Navy-Omani Navy exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ conducted in the Ara
UK doubles support for NATO’s maritime missions in 2016
Speaking at the NATO Defence Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced that UK would almost double its deployments to NATO at sea in 2016. For the first time since 2010 the UK will contribute to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), an enduring com
Change of Command in Op Atalanta
German corvette FGS Erfurt which has been deployed to EUNAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta at the Horn of Africa since August 2015 recently welcomed a new crew. The corvette sailed 22.000 sea miles under the command of the outgoing Corvette Captain Robert Schmidt. Now, the crew of another corvette, the FGS
ITS Carabiniere, FS Floreal train in waters off Seychelles
Operation Atalanta flagship ITS Carabiniere conducted a joint exercise with the French frigate FS Floreal in the waters off Seychelles’ main harbour on February 5, 2016. The exercise was coordinated by the ships’ commanding officers, Commander François Xavier Waroux and Commander Francesco Saladino.
HMAS Melbourne concludes Middle Eastern Deployment
Having seized almost a tonne of heroin and made more than 50 boarding operations, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Melbourne is now returning home to Australia. The guided missile frigate handed over maritime security responsibilities to sister ship, HMAS Darwin, after five months of operations in
USS Higgins concludes independent deployment
The U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) is scheduled to return to its Naval Base San Diego homeport on February 11. The ship is on its way back from a 225-day independent deployment to the Arabian Gulf, Western Pacific, and Indian Oceans. While deployed to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fl
HNLMS De Zeven Provinces starts Caribbean patrol
The Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (The Seven Provinces) left her homeport Willemstad, the Netherlands, for the Caribbean Sea. The first ship of the De Zeven Provincien class will be used as a station ship in the Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea. A Belgian Navy Alouette III h
Royal Navy Sea Kings support Charles de Gaulle in the Gulf
Helicopters from the Royal Navy Auxiliary Fort Victoria have been providing direct front-line support to daily strikes from the French carrier Charles De Gaulle against Daesh in the Middle East. The distinctive Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control Mk7 helicopters are scouring Gulf skies and se
US Navy Boxer ARG ready to deploy
More than 4,500 sailors and marines from the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are scheduled to depart U.S. Navy Base San Diego for a deployment to the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations, February 12. Before being certified to deploy, the indivi
Aircraft carrier jumps to the rescue of distressed mariners
U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) rescued distressed mariners at sea, February 7. Ike received a distress call via bridge-to-bridge communications from the U.S.-flagged sailing vessel (S/V) Selket. The vessel was located 40-miles from Miami, with reports of a b
ESPS Tornado joins Operation Atalanta
Images: EUNAVFOR 2016 Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Victoria on February 6 left EUNAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta after four months of counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. Led by Commander Fernando José Suarez Fonseca, the ship’s crew contributed to Operation Atalanta which deters and disrupts pir