Surface Vessels
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon deploys to Persian Gulf
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon got underway from her Portsmouth homeport on September 17 after a short, unspecified, delay. Dragon is now headed for the Persian Gulf where it is expected to spend several months an operational deployment. The destroyer is scheduled to work alongside coalition and regio
HMS Queen Elizabeth enters Norfolk
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, after evading Hurricane Florence which hit the East Coast of the USA. The ‘WESTLANT 18’ Task Group, which includes the carrier’s escort, HMS Monmouth, was forced to take evasive action to avoid the damaging winds which hav
HMS Diamond wraps up two-month deployment
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond is on her way home after spending two months on operations in the Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. The destroyer has been activated throughout the traditionally busy summer season, as she monitored Russian naval activity twice, visited four ports and helped tra
Video: Belgian minehunter destroys WWII mine in North Sea
Belgian Navy Tripartite-class minehunter BNS Bellis (M916) found an unexploded mine from the Second World War in the North Sea on September 13. Personnel performing unexploded ordnance (UXO) destroyed the mine off the Belgian coast this morning, the navy informed. Breaking! On Thursday night BNS Bel
German Navy frigate Augsburg to join operation Sophia
The German Navy’s frigate Augsburg (F213) will set sail for the Mediterranean Sea next week to participate in the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia. The Bremen-class ship is scheduled to depart its Wilhelmshaven homeport on Monday, September 17. Following an extensive training program, Augsburg is to re
Moorhouse is 1st sea-going captain of HMS Prince of Wales
Commodore Stephen Moorhouse has taken over command of the Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales which is being built in Scotland. The commodore, stepping up to the helm of one of the two biggest warships built for the Royal Navy, will assume the local rank of captain while in comm
German Navy corvette Oldenburg ready for UNIFIL mission
The German Navy’s corvette Oldenburg (F263) is to deploy to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The ship is scheduled to leave its homeport Warnemünde with its Delta crew on September 10, 2018, according to the navy. The patrol of the coast of Lebanon comes twelve months after the
Video: Former Portuguese Navy corvette scuttled in Madeira
Video: Portuguese Navy The Portuguese Navy has scuttled its former corvette NRP Afonso Cerqueira (F488) in order to produce an artificial reef. The ship, sunk on September 4, will now become part of Cabo Girão, a marine natural park in Madeira. As explained, the wreck will serve as an attraction for
UK hands back WWI U-boat propeller to Germany
A World War One U-boat propeller was handed back to the German Navy on August 31 following a joint operation between the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Historic England and North Wales Police. The propeller was formally handed over onboard FGS Bonn, a German replenishment ship which is currently
German minehunter Homburg to join SNMCMG 1
The German Navy is sending its Frankenthal-class minehunter Homburg (M 1069) to participate in the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1). On Tuesday, September 4, the ship is scheduled to depart its Kiel homeport. Homburg, which belongs to the navy’s 3rd Minesweeping Squadron, will
Royal Navy’s HMS Bangor returns home after 3-year deployment
Royal Navy’s Scots-based minehunter HMS Bangor (M109) will return to her home port of HM Naval Base Clyde today, on August 31. For the past three years, HMS Bangor has been operating in the Gulf as part of the UK’s commitment in the region to work with international partners to protect vital shippin
Sweden: Balex Delta 2018 completes
Numerous naval and coast guard assets participated in Helcom Balex Delta 2018, a major Baltic operational exercise in oil spill response. Coordinated by the Swedish Coast Guard and backed by the EU, the exercise took place in the waters of Karlskrona from August 27 to 31, 2018. Balex Delta is an ann
German, Dutch Marines set for evacuation drill aboard HNLMS Karel Doorman
Marines from Germany and the Netherlands will be honing their evacuation skills in the Rostock port aboard the Royal Netherlands Navy’s amphibious ship HNLMS Karel Doorman. Named ‘Schneller Adler 2018’ – which translates to Fast Eagle – the exercise starts on September 3 and will consist of port and
Russia deploys large task group off Syria ahead of potential new Syria attacks
Russia has reportedly amassed a large task group in Syrian waters as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad mulls an assault on rebel positions in the northern Idlib province. With over ten warships deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, this is Russia’s largest naval buildup since the country stated supporti