A new crew boarded Royal Navy’s HMS Atherstone Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel. Crew 4 of the 2nd Mine Countermeasures Squadron has relieved Crew 1 taking over responsibility of HMS Atherstone’s maritime security and mine countermeasure operations in the Persian Gulf. The crew of over 40 pers
On July 30, France transferred command of Combined Task Force (CTF 150) to Pakistan, after a four month deployment at sea onboard French Ship Var, the CTF 150 flag ship. This completed France’s 9th command of the Combined Maritime Forces’ multinational maritime security and counter-terrorism task fo
During May and June Australian Navy’s HMAS Newcastle was patrolling with the Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East region. During the patrols, the ship’s company discovered more than 1305kg of narcotics in two boardings. Now in the second half of her deployment, Newcastle has completed five su
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), July 22 after departing their homeport of San Diego, California, July 6. Higgins is conducting an independent deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Middl
Combined Task Force (CTF) 152, which operates in the Persian Gulf, successfully completes another Exercise Falcon Warrior. Naval and Coast Guard vessels from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States along with operational centres from the Gulf Cooperation Council work
In its sixth successful haul in eight weeks, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Newcastle has seized 139kg of heroin, with an estimated street value of around $AUD 41 million, off the East coast of Africa. Under the auspices of the Combined Maritime Forces, the latest haul brings the Australian Navy
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan is working around the clock to support day and night strikes against key ISIL targets in the Middle East launched from the USS Theodore Roosevelt. She’s the latest Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer to take her place with a US carrier battle group on operations in t
US Navy’s coastal patrol ship USS Firebolt (PC 10) fires a Griffin missile during a test and proficiency fire in the Arabian Gulf. The test was conducted on June 28. Firebolt, assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 55, is supporting maritime security operations and theatre security cooperation effo
Operation Atalanta warship, ITS Libeccio, carried out counter-piracy training with the Royal Omani Navy during a port visit to Salalah. As part of the training, the Italian marines gave a demonstration on how to search a suspect vessel, including the bridge and cargo areas. On completion of the trai
The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), June 21. While deployed to the region, the Essex ARG and 15th MEU will conduct maritime security operations, participate in theater security cooperation
A 1000lb bomb has been located and destroyed by Royal Navy minehunter HMS Penzance in the Persian Gulf. Following a five-day exercise with her French and US counterparts designed to improve cooperation between the three nations, the British minehunter then worked with the French to find and blow up
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Newcastle patrolling with the Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East region has seized another 581kg of illegal narcotics with an estimated street value of approximately $520 million. The half-tonne heroin haul is Newcastle’s fifth in two months and comes on t
The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (IWOARG), with embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), departed U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), June 21. The ARG entered U.S. 6th Fleet AOO upon completion of a Suez Canal transit and the 4,000 U.S. Sailors and Marines assigned to the ARG and 24th
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Vice Adm. John Miller paid a visit to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), June 18. Miller met with Iwo Jima Commanding Officer, Capt. Dana Gordon, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8, Capt. Michael McMillan and the Commanding Officer of the 24t
