Operations
German Frigate Transits Suez Canal and Red Sea
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
USS Gettysburg Docks in Toulon, France
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
French, Japanese Warships Join Forces against Pirates
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
First Heroin Bust for HMCS Regina on Operation ARTEMIS
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
Spanish OPV Tornado Comes Home
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
HMS Lancaster Heads to Dover, UK
HMS Lancaster will visit Kent this weekend (April 4-8) with Deal man Lieutenant Commander James Thomson as second-in-command. The 133-metre warship will go alongside at Cruise Terminal 2 in the Port of Dover on Friday April 4 and remain there until Tuesday morning. During her packed weekend’s acti
German Frigate Completes Counter Piracy Mission
On Wednesday 2 April, German Navy frigate, FGS Hessen departed the waters of the Gulf of Aden and headed for home after completing four months of counter piracy patrols with the EU Naval Force. After a short port stop in Malaga, Spain, FGS Hessen will arrive in her home port in Wilhelmshaven on Th
USS Bulkeley Anchors in Italy
Guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) arrived in Civitavecciha, Italy for a scheduled port visit, March 31. 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
UK: Busy Year for Portsmouth-Based Minehunter
Portsmouth-based minehunter HMS Cattistock has just completed operations off Scotland to help protect busy shipping lanes. The ship and her 42 crew carried out route survey operations for two weeks in the approaches to the Clyde Estuary. It was part of ongoing work by the Royal Navy to survey the
US Bolsters Naval Presence in Black Sea
The U.S. Defense Department is deploying additional Marines to enlarge a rotational crisis response force based in Spain, and is also dispatching a naval vessel to the Black Sea to conduct exercises with U.S. allies in the region, a Pentagon spokesman said yesterday. Army Col. Steve Warren told re
US Navy to Commission LCS Coronado
The Navy will commission its newest littoral combat ship, the future USS Coronado (LCS 4), April 5, during a ceremony at Naval Air Station, North Island in Coronado, Calif. Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Susan Ring Keith, a long-tim
USS Iwo Jima Hosts Effective Crisis Response Exercise
Sailors and Marines from several East Coast-based expeditionary commands conducted an in port maritime staff exercise onboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) March 27-31 to refine their collective ability to respond to crises. The exercise scenario tested the group’s evaluation of, and response to, a large s
Royal Australian Navy Remembers ‘Shark 02’
A memorial rededication service held at HMAS Albatross today marked the ninth anniversary of the loss of the Sea King helicopter ‘Shark 02’, which crashed in 2005 while supporting a humanitarian support mission on the Indonesian island of Nias. Nine Australian Defence Force personnel were killed in
USA: Gun Shots at Naval Base Kitsap False Alarm
Naval Base Kitsap Bangor was put on high security alert on March 31 while responding to an incident near the base perimeter. Kitsap County Sherriff and NCIS coordinated with base security conducting security sweeps in response to what was reported to be loud noises sounding like gun shots, Naval Bas