Operations
Damen to develop prototype expeditionary survey boat for Dutch Navy
The Netherlands’ Defense Material Organization (DMO) procurement agency has awarded Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Den Helder (DSDH) a contract to design, build and deliver a prototype expeditionary survey boat (ESB) for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ESB is to be optimized for rapid environment
Royal Navy frigate joining NATO’s SNMG1
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster got underway from Portsmouth to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) for a deployment to northern Europe and the Baltic. The Duke-class frigate is scheduled to conduct exercises within her task group as well as a variety of port visits that wil
Final decision on German Navy’s 10,000-ton MKS180 facing delays again
The decision on the preferred contractor for the construction of the German Navy’s new MKS 180 surface combatants could be delayed once more, minister president of the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein has indicated. Speaking to the German Press Agency DPA in Paris, Daniel Günther said a d
Japan-based US Navy ships complete their “most demanding tactical drills ever”
US Navy ships from the Japan-based US 7th Fleet took part in what the navy termed the most advanced tactical training necessary for blue water combat. For the first time ever, three guided missile destroyers, a guided missile cruiser, and two amphibious ships of the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces com
HMS Montrose heads to Bahrain after operations in Japan
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose bid farewell to Japan after a two-week stay which included exercises and a port visit. Montrose spent six days in Tokyo, berthed just three miles from the city center alongside her host, Japanese destroyer Murasame, whose crew introduced the Brits to Japanese cooking
Obangame Express kicks off in Africa
Armed forces from 33 nations gathered in Lagos, Nigeria, for the start of exercise Obangame Express 2019, a US Africa Command (AFRICOM) led exercise which is now in its ninth iteration. Obangame Express 2019 will be conducted in multiple areas at sea and ashore. At-sea operations will be throughout
US Coast Guard joins North Korea sanctions enforcement in East China Sea
US Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf pulled into Sasebo, Japan, earlier this month after supporting the enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) sanctions on North Korea. Bertholf was tasked with preventing illicit ship-to-ship transfers that violate North Korea sanctions. The pa
Attack submarine USS Providence returns from European deployment
US Navy’s Los Angeles-class submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) returned to Naval Submarine Base New London on March 15, completing a deployment to the European Command Areas of Responsibility. This deployment marked 33 years of service and 15 completed deployments for USS Providence (SSN 719). Durin
US Navy teams up with commercial shipping for Gulf of Aden exercise
US 5th Fleet’s Task Force 55 and commercial shipping industry representatives joined forces recently to complete exercise Lucky Mariner 19. The annual exercise concluded March 15 and was led by the task force’s Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) detachment designed to exercise comma
USS Harry S. Truman returns to sea, again
US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed Naval Station Norfolk on March 16. This is the third time the ship is getting underway in less than a year. The carrier left homeport following a three month availability period used to upgrade systems, conduct maintenance
Fire breaks out aboard US Navy ship in Bahrain
US Navy mine countermeasures ship USS Devastator (MCM 6) experienced a fire aboard while it was pierside at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain on March 14. The navy said there were no personnel injuries, adding that the extent of the damage is being assessed. Sailors aboard Devastator, USS Sentry
Royal Navy’s oldest frigate returns from nine-month Asia Pacific deployment
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll returned to her homeport at HMNB Devonport, completing a nine-month deployment to Asia Pacific. The service’s oldest frigate deployed to Asia on June 18, 2018, and sailed all the way to Japan for drills with Japanese and US Navy units. The warship covered the
US guided missile submarine USS Florida stops in Greece
US Navy’s Ohio-class cruise missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) arrived in Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, for a scheduled port visit on March 14. While the Kings Bay, Georgia, homeported USS Florida is on a routine deployment in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, it is rare for the
Second River-class OPV Medway handed over to Royal Navy
The White Ensign was raised for the first time on the second of five Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels, HMS Medway, as BAE Systems handed the ship over to the Royal Navy. Medway was handed over as the crew of lead ship HMS Forth are in the final stages to resume trials and training, [&hell