Surface Vessels
UK: Giant Piece of QE Jigsaw Slots into Place
The biggest warship ever built for the Royal Navy has taken another big step towards completion. Two huge sections of HMS Queen Elizabeth are being joined on the Clyde to form the largest finished section yet of the future aircraft carrier. In a two-hour operation this section was moved from a large
UK: BMT Isis Validates Portsmouth Approach Channel Design
BMT Isis Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced the completion of its latest project to validate BMT’s design for the Portsmouth Approach Channel, a design conceived to ensure that the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales ca
BSF Large Landing Ship Caesar Kunikov Heads for Constanta, Romania
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) large landing ship Caesar Kunikov representing Russia in the spring activation of the BLACKSEAFOR joint task naval group left Sevastopol on Apr, 5 and set a course for Constanta, Romania. Recall that Russia took over command of that international task force in Aug 2011. Large l
Severnaya Verf Shipyard, Algerian Navy Sign Modernization Contract
Severnaya Verf shipyard and Algerian Navy signed a contract for integrated modernization of third pair of Project 1234E and Project 1159T ships. The contract was concluded under the agreement tied between FSUE Rosoboronexport and Algerian defense ministry. At present, Severnaya Verf is completing mo
French Frigate ACONIT Intercepts Pirate Group
On the morning of 7 April, French Navy frigate ACONIT was heading towards a position in the north of the Horn of Africa to join with Spanish frigate INFANTA ELENA, and take over the escort of a World Food Programme ship. Meanwhile, in Djibouti, Spain was about to hand over command of Task Force 465
Frigate Smetlivy to Continue Deployment off Syria Within a Month
Black Sea Fleet (BSF) frigate Smetlivy will continue deployment off Syria within a month, said an informed military diplomat. “At first, frigate Smetlivy will call at port Tartus to replenish water and food supplies; the crew will have a short rest there. After that, the ship will be deployed to eas
UK, France to Destroy Land Infrastructure of Somali Pirates
Great Britain and France are forming strike task force in order to destroy land infrastructure of Somali pirates, reports BBC. The task force includes French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, British light aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark, and s
Russia: CF Coastal Missile Battalion Destroys “Enemy” Surface Ship
Caspian Flotilla (CF) coastal missile battalion is practicing combat use of newest mobile missile system Bal at Adanak Test Range, Dagestan. During the joint exercise with CF strike group, the missilemen timely detected “enemy” sea target imitated by CF corvette Tatarstan. The battalion command post
Dutch, Spanish Frigates Join EUNAVFOR
EUNAVFOR – the counter piracy task force sent by the European Union to patrol the waters off the Horn of Africa, has been joined by two additional warships. The Dutch multi-role frigate HNLMS VAN AMSTEL has arrived in the area, as well as Spanish frigate ESPS REINA SOFIA. Both ships have helicopters
UK: HMS Dauntless Departs Portsmouth
The second of Britain’s next-generation destroyers yesterday began her maiden deployment as HMS Dauntless departed Portsmouth on a bright but chilly spring morning. The Type 45 destroyer is heading for six months in the South Atlantic, taking over from the current patrol ship, Devonport-based frigat
UK: HMS York Fires More than 200 Rounds
The gunners of HMS York fired more than 200 rounds from the destroyer’s main gun as they let rip against the ranges at Cape Wrath in Scotland. The ship built on the lessons of the Libya campaign – where three Royal Navy warships pummelled targets ashore – to train spotters, gun crews and warfare off
French Navy Aircraft Releived by Atlantique 2
Deployed since 15 March to take part in the fight against piracy, a Falcon 50M from the French Navy has left the operation and been relieved by a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2. It will operate from Djibouti as is also the case since 26 March for the detection and air control aircraft Awacs E
Greece Hosts PE12 Final Planning Conference
Greece continued to host partner navies this week following last week’s Enterprise Carrier Strike Group visit to Piraeus with the exercise Phoenix Express 2012 (PE12) final planning conference, April 3-5. Military and civilian maritime professionals from North Africa, North America and Southern Euro
Russia: Severnaya Verf Shipyard to Launch Corvette Stoiky in May
Corvette Stoiky will leave covered slipway of Severnaya Verf shipyard early in May. Afterwards, the ship will be docked for assembling of bulb fairwater. Launching of Stoiky is scheduled on May 21. Through the next half year, the corvette will be completed afloat; mooring trials will start in Jan 20