The Spanish Navy’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Infanta Cristina has just completed a third of her scheduled deployment in operation ‘Atalanta’ in the Indian Ocean. The ‘Infanta Cristina’ integrated into the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) on March 6th. Her main mission is to patrol the IRTC (
After the latest Mediterranean Sea migrant tragedy, the European Council made a decision on April 23 to bolster efforts in preventing further loss of lives at sea. Many EU member states immediately pledged to provide assistance by sending additional vessels and aircraft to avoid future tragedies. Ac
French Navy’s frigate Cassard (D 614) recently carried out a series of exercises with the Lebanese Armed Forces. The frigate, currently deployed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, trained with two Lebanese patrol boats, Al-Kalamoun and Tabarja, as well as two semi-rigid boats. The vessels conducted a
The guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) fires its MK 45 5-inch lightweight gun during a passing exercise with the French navy Horizon-class frigate FS Forbin (620). The exercise was undertaken on April 26 in the Mediterranean Sea. Laboon is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet
Italian Navy received the fourth vessel of the FREMM program at Fincantieri’s Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard. The frigate, named “Carabiniere” in 2014 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Carabinieri Force, is the fourth FREMM unit built by Fincantieri. With a length of
Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 completed their annual Fleet Synthetic Training – Joint Exercise (FST-J) 15-72 aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) April 20-24. FST-J brings together the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines into a computer-based synthetic training environm
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain answered a distress call yesterday morning issued by the Maersk Tigris container ship, after an Iranian Navy ship fired shots across its bridge and Iranian personnel boarded the commercial vessel, a Pentagon spokesman said. Army Col. Steve Warren told mem
French Navy’s stealth frigate Aconit is taking a rest in the Port Klang Cruise Centre, Pulau Indah. The vessel departed Toulon, France, on March 5 and sailed into Pulau Indah on April 22 for a week-long visit. Aconit will continue its deployment tomorrow. According to The Star Online, the visit is p
Royal Navy mine hunter HMS Pembroke returned home on Thursday, April 23, to HM Naval Base Clyde following a four-month deployment. The Sandown Class Mine Counter Measures Vessel has been assigned to NATO’s Mine Counter Measures Group 1 since January this year, operating in the Baltic and North Sea.
The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) prepares to come alongside the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200). At the time, the vessels were sailing in the Pacific Ocean. Ships comprising the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group are participating in a
Huntington Ingalls Industries will christen the US Navy’s future destroyer John Finn (DDG 113) on Saturday, May 2. The christening ceremony for the company’s 29th Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer will be held at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. DDG 113 is named John Finn after t
Spanish Navy’s frigate Blas de Lezo (F103) started a journey to the North Sea and Norwegian Sea. The vessel left its homeport of Ferrol to take part in NATO’s annual antisubmarine exercise “Dynamic Mongoose 2015”. Eleven countries with a total of nine frigates, two tankers, four submarines, three ma
The officers and crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) welcomed a congressional delegation (CODEL) led by U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) for a ship tour, April 18. Cmdr. Bryant Trost, Shoup’s commanding officer, led the tour which consisted of a combat systems equipment room, com
The commanding officer of USS Lake Erie (CG 70) was relieved of his duties April 27, due to loss of confidence in his ability to command. Capt. John Banigan was relieved by Rear Adm. Dee Mewbourne, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11. The decision was based on the findings of an investigation into
