On Sunday 6 April, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean (French Navy) handed over the Force Command of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen (German Navy) during a Change of Command ceremony held on board FS Siroco in the Port of Djibouti. Deputy Operation C
The crew of amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) started a vigorous shipwide training program to ensure the Sailors aboard are ready for operational status. Training, along with preparation and restoration of the ship, has been the priority during an 18-month, $200 million Dry-dock Planned Ma
Guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) held a change of command ceremony April 4 at Naval Station Mayport. Cmdr. Ken Anderson relieved Cmdr. Chris Follin as commanding officer. Anderson is “fleeting up” after being Simpson’s executive officer since November 2012 and will serve as the ship’s f
After more than 30 years of Naval service, crew members, plankowners, family members and friends gathered at Naval Station Mayport April 4, to bid farewell to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS De Wert (FFG 45) during a decommissioning ceremony. De Wert completed its last deployment Dec. 23
More than 4,000 guests watched as the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) joined the Navy’s surface fleet during a commissioning ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif., April 5. Coronado is the fourth littoral combat ship, the second of the Independence variant, commi
The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) arrived in Palma, Spain for a scheduled port visit, April 3. The port visit is designed to continue Naval Forces Europe-Africa’s efforts to strengthen maritime partnerships with European nations to improve maritime safety and security in the region
On Monday 31st March, the Royal Navy took a major step forward in developing a framework to allow Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) to be deployed from its anti-submarine warfare warships. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Service and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) was signed whi
Guided-missile destroyer USS San Jacinto (CG 56) arrived in Palma, Spain for a scheduled port visit, April 3. The port visit is designed to continue Naval Forces Europe-Africa’s efforts to strengthen maritime partnerships with European nations to improve maritime safety and security in the region.
The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWB CSG) relieved the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) of its duties in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) March 24. The HST CSG deployed July 22, 2013, and since then has conducted maritime security operations, theater securit
Last week German Navy frigate, FGS Brandenburg, completed her transit through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea towards the waters of the Gulf of Aden to start counter piracy operations with the EU Naval Force Somalia, Operation Atalanta. The Suez Canal, which is 162 kilometres in length is an extrem
Guided-missile destroyer USS Gettysburg (CG 64) arrived in Toulon, France for a scheduled port visit, April 2. The port visit is designed to continue Naval Forces Europe-Africa’s efforts to strengthen maritime partnerships with European nations to improve maritime safety and security in the region
On Sunday 30 March, EU Naval Force French flagship, FS Siroco and the Japanese Navy destroyer, JDS Samidare met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. The Japanese Commander of Escort Division 4, Captain Hiroaki Tajiri and members of his staff took the opportunity to visit the Operation Atalanta Force Comman
Canadian Navy ship HMCS Regina successfully disrupted a narcotics shipment during a patrol in her designated area of operations in the Indian Ocean on March 31, as part of Operation ARTEMIS. HMCS Regina’s crew intercepted and boarded a dhow off the east coast of Africa and discovered 132 packages
The Spanish OPV ‘Tornado’ has arrived in Las Palmas Military Arsenal after a four-month deployment participating in operation ‘Atalanta’ fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean. The welcoming ceremony on April 2 was presided over by the Chief of the Canary Islands Naval Command, Rear-admiral Manuel de
