Training & Education
SNMG1 joins operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean
Breaking away from its usual duties in the North and Baltic Sea, NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 has sailed to the Mediterranean Sea where it will be contributing to the Mediterranean operation Sea Guardian. Led by Norwegian frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup and commander Petter Kammerhuber, the SNMG1 wi
Italian Navy decommissions ITS Prometeo after 40 years of service
The Italian Navy has decommissioned its deep sea tugboat ITS Prometeo after over 40 years of service. The vessel was decommissioned on October 5 at naval base Augusta in a ceremony attended by the chief of Coastal Defence Forces (COMFORPAT). Prometeo was the second of two Atlante-class tugboats buil
Allies defend against subsonic anti-ship cruise missiles during Formidable Shield 2017
In a live-fire integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) scenario organized as part of exercise Formidable Shield 2017 off the coast of Scotland, ally ships worked together to defend against three subsonic anti-ship cruise missiles on October 7. During the collective self-defense scenario, Canadian
Indian Navy prevents possible pirate attack in Gulf of Aden
An Indian Navy frigate has prevented a possible pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden on October 6. The crew of stealth frigate INS Trishul was escorting merchant vessel MV Jag Amar through the gulf when they noticed a boat carrying out suspicious manoeuvers in the vicinity of the merchant ship. When IN
Virginia-class submarine USS Washington enters service
The US Navy has commissioned USS Washington (SSN 787) – its 14th Virginia-class submarine – in a ceremony on Saturday. The commissioning ceremony took place on board Naval Station Norfolk. Submarine’s sponsor Elisabeth Mabus, daughter of the 75th Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, gave the order to “m
Romanian frigate joins NATO operation Sea Guardian
The Romanian Navy has deployed its flagship frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 for a month of joint operations and exercises. The former Royal Navy Type 22 departed Constanta, Romania, on October 6 and will integrate into the NATO task group for operation Sea Guardian.
USS Sampson joins Theodore Roosevelt CSG from Everett
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) got underway from Naval Station Everett on October 3 to join aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on deployment. Sampson is assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, which has spent the past year preparing for deployment. CSG 9 completed a
Russian Navy to receive navalized Pantsir-ME weapon system soon
The Russian Navy will soon receive the first batch of the Pantsir-ME naval missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapon systems, the weapon manufacturer said recently. Alexander Denisov, general director of the High Precision Complex holding company, which includes Pantsir-ME manufacturer KBP, told jo
Finnish-Estonian drill Baltic Shield underway off Finland
Mine countermeasure ships from the navies of Finland and Estonia met up on October 2 for four days of bilateral drills as part of exercise Baltic Shield 2017. The exercise is hosted by the 4th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron of the Coastal Fleet and is taking place in Finland, in the Archipelago Sea.
Dutch, Royal Navy perform ‘easiest RAS ever’
A Dutch and a Royal Navy ship recently completed what was termed by the Royal Navy as “the easiest RAS ever”, as support vessel RFA Mounts Bay took on fuel from Dutch ship HNLMS Karel Doorman in the Caribbean. A difficult – potentially dangerous – manoeuvre it’s typically performed mid-Ocean between
Brilliant Mariner kicks off in France
Ships from 13 nations are taking part in the French-hosted exercise Brilliant Mariner which kicked off September 29. The exercise is attended by Standing NATO Maritime Groups one and two and the Standing Mine Countermeasure Group 2 in addition to the French Aero-Naval Rapid Reaction Force (FRMARFOR)
Sri Lanka hosts its first CARAT exercise ever
Sri Lankan maritime forces welcomed their US counterparts to Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, on October 1, where the two services will work together as part of the exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). This is the first ever CARAT exercise hosted by Sri Lanka. CARAT Sri Lanka 2017 is p
US Navy, Marines teaming for Dawn Blitz off California
US sailors and marines from the Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade are set to take part in amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz 2017 off the coast of Southern California, October 20-30. Dawn Blitz 2017 is a scenario-driven exercise designed to train the Navy and Marine Corps
UK-led international exercise Joint Warrior begins
Warships taking part in the UK-hosted multinational drill Joint Warrior got underway on October 1 for a fortnight of exercises off the coast of Scotland. This is the second time this year the biannual drill is being held. The first one took place in March and featured or incorporated Information War