Surface Vessels
UK: HMS Diamond Receives the Highest Praise from World’s Most Famous Aircraft Carrier
Britain’s most advanced warship HMS Diamond received the highest praise from the world’s most famous aircraft carrier as she joined forces with the mighty USS Enterprise in the Middle East. The Type 45 destroyer was invited to join the Big E and her carrier strike group to show what the Royal Navy’s
UK: Drug and Pirate-Busting Merlin Helicopter of HMS Westminster Returns Home
The drug and pirate-busting Merlin helicopter of HMS Westminster is safely back home in Culdrose after seven months making a ‘tangible’ difference in the Indian Ocean. 02 Flight – callsign Red Bull – played a key role in three pirate busts and one drug smuggling take-down, four of the most eventful
Russia: NF Destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov Returns Home
Northern Fleet (NF) destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov returns to the fleet’s naval base Severomorsk after anti-piracy mission off Somalia… (rusnavy) [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, August 16, 2012; Image: Mil
Mine Hunter of Royal Netherlands Navy Clears Mine in Westerschelde Shipping Lane
A mine hunter of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) detonated a heavy sea mine in the Wielingen channel, the very busy southern approach to the Westerschelde. The mine constituted a direct threat to shipping. The previous night, the Navy had received a report of a fishing cutter catching a mine-like
HMS Sutherland, RFA Wave Ruler Conduct RAS in Indian Ocean
Frigate HMS Sutherland joined up with British tanker RFA Wave Ruler in the Indian Ocean to take on much-needed supplies for her counter-terrorism mission. The two ships conducted a replenishment at sea – known throughout the Navy as a RAS – with the tanker providing fuel and stores for the Devonport
Counter Piracy Forces Disrupt Pirated Dhows, Free Crew Taken Hostage in Gulf of Aden
Counter piracy forces from the EU Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) Operation Atalanta and NATO disrupted two pirated dhows and freed the crew taken hostage in the Gulf of Aden. On 10 August, a suspicious dhow, reportedly pirated in Bosaso – Somalia, was located off the coast of Oman by the Spanish EU
UK: Babcock Starts Work on HMS Grimsby
Babcock has started work on Sandown class minehunter HMS Grimsby, now in dock in Rosyth for a six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)). The support period is the first Sandown class refit to be undertaken under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA) Class Output Management (COM) Phase 2 arrangem
Caley Ocean Systems to Supply Rescue Boat Davits for New OPV for INS
Offshore handling systems specialist, Caley Ocean Systems has been awarded a contract by Babcock, to supply rescue boat davits for a new offshore patrol vessel for the Irish Naval Service (INS). The all-weather Caley davits are designed for rapid deployment, enabling boats to be held in readiness an
USS Farragut Departs Tallinn, Estonia
Guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) departed Tallinn, Estonia, following a three-day port visit, Aug. 11. During the visit, Sailors participated in community engagement projects and experienced Estonia’s rich culture. “We were excited about Farragut’s visit,” said Michelle Schohn, public
US Navy to Participate in Exercise Reliant Mermaid
The Navy will participate in the regularly scheduled Exercise Reliant Mermaid in the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 13-16. Reliant Mermaid, in its 11th iteration, is an annual search and rescue exercise designed to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of
Cassidian to Equip New OPV for Finnish Border Guard
Cassidian, the defence and security division of EADS, will equip the new Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Finnish Border Guard with its proven TRS-3D naval radar. The STX Shipyard in Rauma/Finland has awarded Cassidian a contract to deliver the radar by mid-2013 for integration into the new ship. “To p
UK: Work Under Way on Another Giant Section of HMS Prince of Wales
Another giant section of the second of the Navy’s future aircraft carriers is beginning to take shape after work began in Scotland. Engineers at BAE’s Govan yard have started to create the 11,000-tonne Lower Block 04, which will house the engine rooms, sickbay and some mess decks of HMS Prince of Wa
UK: HMS Westminster to Return Home Today
Portsmouth-based warship HMS Westminster returns home today (August 13) from a deployment to the Middle East which included a £14m drugs bust. The Type 23 frigate seized more than 70 bales containing pure heroin – which would have funded terrorist activity – from a dhow in the Indian Ocean. During s
USS Farragut Sailors Strengthen Bonds in Latvia
The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) continued to strengthen relationships with Baltic nations as it began a four-day port visit in Riga, Latvia, Aug. 4. During the port visit, Sailors played a game of basketball against members of the Latvian National Armed Forces and participated in