The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) entered the 4th Fleet area of responsibility May 21 in support of Operation Martillo. Operation Martillo (Spanish for “hammer”), a joint operation involving the U.S., European and Western Hemisphere partner-nations, targe
The oceanic patrol vessel ‘Relámpago’, currently participating in the European-led counter-piracy operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean, has organized a meeting with Caluula authorities. This enclave used to be a shelter for pirates operating in the Horn of Africa. The ‘Relámpago’ –currently de
Navy Sailors and Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 found and salvaged a downed T-34C Turbomentor aircraft off the coast of Texas, May 14-27. MDSU 2’s Area Search Platoon (ASP) conducted towed, side-scan sonar searches 200 feet around the suspected crash site May 15 locating the T
A change of command ceremony was held aboard USS Essex (LHD 2), May 28 where Capt. Peter M. Mantz relieved Capt. Joker L. Jenkins as Essex’s commanding officer. “You have worked together time and time again to achieve and exceed our command goals under challenging conditions,” said Jenkins. “You h
James Fisher Defence (JFD), the leading global sub-sea operations and engineering company, has been awarded a four-year contract to provide Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) support services to the Ministry of Defence’s Salvage and Marine Operations (S&MO) team. The contract affords S&MO 24-hour, on
French frigate FS Floréal, which is currently deployed with the EU Naval Force, recently carried out several friendly approaches on dhows and skiffs off Somalia. With the consent of the ships’ masters, direct talks were conducted in order to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the EU
Yesterday afternoon, Bluefin-21 completed its last mission searching the remaining areas in the vicinity of the acoustic signals detected in early April by the Towed Pinger Locator deployed from ADV Ocean Shield, within its depth operating limits. The data collected on yesterday’s mission has been
The UK Royal Navy has seized an £8.5m haul of heroin after a raid on a suspect vessel in the northern Arabian Sea. Nearly 60 kilograms of the drug was seized by sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Somerset, the Plymouth-based Type 23 Frigate, who intercepted the fishing boat in Royal Navy fast boat
Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) held a change of command ceremony, May 27 with more than 300 Sailors, families, members of the local Korean community, and military leaders from the Republic of Korea navy in attendance. Cmdr. Michael Weatherford relieved Cmdr. Quinn Skinner as commander.
The Spanish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Federico Trillo-Figueroa Martínez Conde, yesterday visited the Operational Headquarters of EU Naval Force at Northwood Base, North London. He was met by the Deputy Operational Commander of Operation Atalanta, Rear Admiral Bartolomé Bauz
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) transiting the Black Sea on May 24. The cruiser entered the Black Sea on May 23. Vella Gulf is deployed in a multi-mission role in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility to contribute to regional maritime security and to suppor
Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) held a change of command and retirement ceremony on board Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va. May 23. Capt. Bill McKinley became the fifth commanding officer of CSCS when he relieved Capt. Don Schmieley. Schmieley had been CSCS’ commanding officer since Ap
The boarding squad of the Spanish Navy frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ (F-105) visited a ‘dhow’-type fishing boat north of the IRTC (Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor) in the Arabian Sea. The ‘dhow’ was sailing back to her Iranian home port with 16 people on board: 13 Iranian and 3 Pakistani
The Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV) ‘Tarifa’ has just departed from Cartagena to participate in the International Joint Deployment Plan in the Western Mediterranean Sea to monitor the fishing campaign of the Bluefin Tuna. This operation forms part of the European Fishing Agency initiativ
