South African Navy frigate SAS Amatole visited Plymouth, UK, to mark the sinking of the South African troop ship Mendi 100 years ago off the Isle of Wight which coincides with the nation’s Armed Forces Day. Apart from the commemoration, SAS Amatola will spend a few weeks training with the Flag Offic
Russian fighter jets flew “dangerously close” to the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Porter in the Black Sea in what was the first incident of this kind since the new U.S. president was sworn in. Russian aircraft performed three “unprofessional and unsafe” approaches at the USS Porter in a single day on Feb
Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) has contracted Thales for the delivery of 14 continuous wave illumination (CWI) transmitters for the Danish Navy’s Absalon and Iver Huitfeldt-class vessels. The transmitters are to be integrated in the current ESSM fire control systems on-
Italian Navy amphibious transport dock ITS San Giorgio wrapped up her participation in the EU-led operation Sophia and headed home on February 14. ITS San Giorgio had been part of the maritime group from October 22, 2016, and was in charge of training Libyan Coast Guard and Navy personnel in no-comb
German authorities have received a new centre that will allow a number of authorities to work together, integrated into the Maritime Safety and Security Centre. The centre was officially opened during a ceremony in Cuxhaven on February 9. The Maritime Safety and Security Centre has been acting as th
Spanish Navy’s amphibious assault ship ESPS Galicia departed the navy base Rota to join the European Union counter-piracy operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean. Galicia will serve as the operation’s flagship hosting Spanish Navy Rear-Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado and his staff. This is the fourt
British and American battlefield medics practised wartime operations and procedures off the coast of the United Arab Emirates aboard the UK flagship HMS Ocean. A specialist US medical team joined the helicopter assault group for the casualty drill, one of the tests of the Plymouth-based warship in h
One French ship was replaced by another in the Mediterranean Sea operation Sophia after FS Commandant Bouan took over from FS Commandant Ducuing on February 6. Both ships are D’Estienne d’Orves-class avisos most commonly used for anti-submarine defence and high sea escort missions. Commandant Ducuin
Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Mersey returmed home to Portsmouth on Friday completing a 13-month mission supporting efforts to tackle people trafficking and drug smuggling. The River-class patrol ship left Portsmouth in January 2016, heading for the Caribbean before travelling east to the Mediterranean
Off the west coast of Africa frigate HMS Portland takes on fuel from tanker RFA Gold Rover – the very last time the oldest vessel in the UK’s Naval Service will provide ‘black gold’ to fuel front-line operations. The 11,000-tonne support vessel is due to decommission in the UK next month – 43 years
The first Royal Navy establishment overseas in nearly half a century will be ready for sailors and marines to move into by November, the Royal Navy said. Workers are on track to complete the future HMS Jufair in Bahrain that will provide accommodation, welfare and support facilities for up to 300 mi
NATO’s Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) was recently transported from its headquarters at Royal Navy base Clyde to Norway for exercises. The exercise is called Northern Sun and is designed to test the mobilisation of the NSRS and exercise its capabilities in the frigid waters off Norway. The system, w
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) joined over 2,800 service personnel from Romania, Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine for the at-sea portion of exercise Sea Shield on February 8. Sea Shield is an annual, Romania-led multinational exercise
Spanish Navy sailors supporting EUNAVFOR’s operation Atalanta aboard offshore patrol vessel ESPS Relampago recently took an opportunity to train with AMISOM’s marine unit close to the port of Mogadishu. The training included briefings and exercises on boat handling, search and rescue, first aid and
