Surface Vessels
Standing NATO groups welcome new flagships in Spain
NATO’s two standing maritime groups welcomed new flagships in a ceremony at naval station Rota, Spain, on July 26. SNMG1, the group that mainly operates in the North and Baltic Sea, has a US Navy ship at its helm again as USS Gravely (DDG 107) was relieved by sister destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101).
HMS Duncan arrives in the Gulf to bolster merchant shipping protection
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in the Persian Gulf where it is set to ensure the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s seizing of tanker Stena Impero on July 19. Last week the government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accom
German minehunter Weilheim joining NATO mine warfare group SNMCMG1
German Navy Frankenthal-class minehunter FGS Weilheim is set to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) for over four months of joint operations. The vessel will depart its Kiel homeport on July 29 for a two-week at-sea phase before heading to the German Navy’s fire and damage
Italian aircraft carrier Cavour docks for F-35B upgrades
The 2008-built carrier will be fitted with capability to operate the Joint Strike Fighter.
German NH90 wraps up mission demonstrations ahead of first deliveries
The German Navy’s new NH90 Sea Lion helicopter performed mission demonstrations for its relevant roles earlier this month, ahead of first unit deliveries later this year. The demonstrations included SAR missions, checking navy reconnaissance capabilities, and dropping off commandos and special force
French Navy receives sixth FREMM frigate Normandie
French shipbuilder Naval Group delivered the sixth FREMM frigate, future FS Normandie, to the Marine Nationale (French Navy) on July 16. The anti-submarine warfare specialized frigate was delivered after being launched in February 2018 and starting sea trials in March this year. Normandie is the las
Royal Navy’s Martlet missile debuts on Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland
The missile will defend against small boat attacks.
French yard launching “world’s largest Aluminium OPV” for Philippine Coast Guard
French shipbuilder OCEA is ready to launch the 84-meter offshore patrol vessel OPV 270 for the Philippines Coast Guard at its Les Sables d’Olonne site on July 17. The shipbuilder says the vessel is the “largest aluminium OPV built in the world”. It is built under a contract from late 2017, which inc
UK sending destroyer Duncan to Persian Gulf amid Iran tensions
The UK is sending Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan to the Persian Gulf in the wake of an escalation of tensions in the region following the scrapping of the Iran nuclear deal and a spate of attacks on commercial tankers. HMS Duncan was operating in the Black Sea when the ship’s new tasking was announced
Royal Navy frigate gears for return to fleet after two-year overhaul
Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster is preparing to welcome crew back on board, two years after starting her overhaul in 2017. Upgrades to the ship included the installation of the new Artisan 3D radar, improved navigational radar and the new-generation Sea Ceptor missile system which replaces the now-
USS Ross returns from eighth forward-deployed patrol
US Navy destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to its Spanish homeport at Naval Station Rota on July 7, completing its eighth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol. The Arleigh Burke-class ship departed for patrol on March 8 to carry out naval operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations. R
Another Australian company brought in as Type 26 frigate supplier
An Adelaide-based composite materials developer has become the latest Type 26 global combat ship supplier, the Australian defense minister announced during a visit to BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Scotland. Linda Reynolds, the Australian defense minister visited Govan to witness the build progress
Internal leak prompts HMS Queen Elizabeth to return to port earlier than expected
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth made a surprise return to Portsmouth on July 9, despite having been expected to spend another week at sea in preparation for a training deployment to the US coast. The carrier was forced to return to its homeport due to an internal water leak which was
Video: HMS Queen Elizabeth tests newly-installed Phalanx CIWS for first time
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has carried out the first test of its two Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS), engaging both air and surface targets. The trial took place on July 7, as the ship is in the final stages of preparations for a departure to the US coast where it will wr