Surface Vessels
Germany returns lead F125 frigate to builder, report
The German defense procurement agency BAAINBw has reportedly returned FGS Baden-Württemberg, the lead ship of German Navy’s new class of F125 frigates, to the Blohm+Voss shipyard. According to a report in the German Kieler Nachrichten, BAAINBw has requested Blohm+Voss – which is part of the ARGE F12
Britain’s second aircraft carrier afloat for the first time
UK Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been floated and moved to her fitting-out berth at Rosyth, the navy informed. In an overnight operation, sluices were opened and water gradually filled the dry dock, specially enlarged for the 65,000-tonne warship and her older sister HMS
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll tests Sea Ceptor missile against multiple targets
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll recently carried out a test firing of the Sea Ceptor missile to verify the weapon system upgrade. The first firings of Sea Ceptor were conducted from HMS Argyll at the Hebrides range off the coast of Scotland and involved firing the system to assess its perfor
Italian auxiliary Etna becomes flagship of EU migrant rescue mission
The Italian Navy has taken over command of the operation Sophia task force from the Spanish Navy in a ceremony at Italian naval base Taranto. On the occasion, Italian Navy Rear Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto replaced Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Javier Moreno as the new deputy force commander. Durin
Crimean shipyard lays keel for Russian Karakurt-class Project 22800 corvette
The Russian state-owned shipyard More has laid the keel for the overall seventh Russian Navy Karakurt-class Project 22800 corvette in a ceremony on December 19 in Feodosia, Crimea. The ship will be named Vikhr and is the third in the class to be built at the More shipyard. The other two ships in the
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth taking on water
The recently-commissioned Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is taking on water due to a propeller shaft leak, the Royal Navy has confirmed. A Royal Navy spokesman said the issue with a shaft seal has been identified during the carrier’s sea trials earlier this year. The Royal Navy said
Italian FREMM frigate ITS Virginio Fasan concludes counter-piracy mission off Somalia
The Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Fasan has returned home from a five-deployment to the EUNAVFOR counter-piracy operation Atalanta. Fasan and her 133 crew departed the mission earlier this month and entered their homeport in La Spezia on December 18. During her time off the coast of Somalia, the
Ravestein delivers another caisson to Royal Navy
Dutch steel-construction manufacturer Ravestein has delivered a new caisson to the UK Royal Navy for installation at Portsmouth Naval Base. With the new caisson in place, the naval base has reopened the former “14” dry dock for the first time since 2002. Reopening this dock takes the base capability
Russia advances Syrian naval base plans
Russian president Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft bill to the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly which would see Russia develop a fully functional naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus. The port is already in use by Russian warships which have been making port calls there since 1977.
US Marines start combat rehearsal off Djibouti aboard French assault ship
Members of the US Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5) on December 13 started a bilateral amphibious combat rehearsal in international waters off the coast of Djibouti, Africa. They will be teaming up with the French Task Group 473.1 which is composed of
US destroyer concludes Malta visit
The crew of US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) concluded the first port call of their forward-deployed patrol, departing Valletta, Malta, on December 12. USS Carney also became the first US Navy ship to moor in Valletta since 2014. “We are thankful for the hos
German minehunter FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg returns from SNMCMG1 deployment
German Navy minehunter FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg returned to its homeport in Kiel on December 12, concluding its NATO deployment. The minehunter spent the past five months as part of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1. The group spent time training and clearing mines in areas ranging from F
HMS Queen Elizabeth enters Royal Navy service
The UK’s new fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth entered Royal Navy service on December 7 after being commissioned by Her Majesty The Queen in a grand ceremony in Portsmouth. In her role as the ship’s lady sponsor, Her Majesty addressed guests before the ship’s commanding officer, Captain Jerry Kyd,
French frigate FS Guepratte bound for Romania and final Black Sea port visit
French Navy’s La Fayette-class frigate FS Guepratte (F-714) is scheduled to enter the Romanian port of Constanta on December 5 for the final port visit on her Black Sea tour. Guepratte is visiting Romania after paying a visit to Ukrainian port of Odessa along with US Navy destroyer USS James E Willi