U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Brad Williamson relinquished command of Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) to German Navy Rear Admiral Jörg Klein yesterday during a brief ceremony conducted by NATO Allied Maritime Command’s Deputy Commander, Vice Admiral Bruno Paulmier, in Kiel Harbour where the former
Spanish Navy’s minehunters ‘Segura’ and ‘Sella’ took part in Italian Navy’s Mine Countermeasures (MCM) exercise ITA MINEX-15 in the Gulf of La Spezia and the Ligurian Sea. The exercise brought together a total of 11 minehunters from six nations plus three EOD teams, three AUVs (autonomous underwater
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) departed Kiel, Germany, after a five-day scheduled port visit, June 24. Jason Dunham’s presence in Kiel reaffirmed to NATO allies that the U.S. Navy shares a commitment to strengthen ties while working toward mutual goals of
Royal Navy’s Plymouth-based frigate HMS Portland gave youngsters from a Cornish school a special treat when they were given a taste of life on a warship. The six and seven-year-olds were given the chance of a lifetime to learn about the life of sailors on board an operational warship and learn about
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) participated in a bilateral underway engagement with the Romanian Navy corvette Admiral Eustatiu Sebastian (F-264)in the Black Sea, June 22-23. The exercises are aimed at improving maritime capabilities and reassuring our NATO alli
As a result of the bilateral agreement between the Ministries of Defense of Spain and Algeria, an exercise has been conducted off Cartagena with the Spanish Navy offshore patrol vessel ‘Cazadora’, the rescue ship ‘Neptuno’ and the Algerian Navy patrol boat ‘El-Kanas’. The exercise included damage co
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus met with Commander of the Estonian Navy Capt. Sten Sepper aboard the Estonian Navy’s flagship minesweeper, the ENS Admiral Cowan, June 19. While aboard, Mabus was briefed on regional security issues and the Estonian Navy’s minesweeping capabilities. Estonian participa
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) was scheduled to arrive in the Black Sea on June 21 to promote peace and stability in the region. Laboon’s presence in the Black Sea will serve to reaffirm the U.S. dedication and commitment toward strengthening the partnerships an
Royal Navy’s HMS Quorn brought the curtain down on the largest military exercise of 2015 by sending three quarters of a tonne of high explosive to its maker. Quorn plus half a dozen other minehunters and command ship FGS Donau have been helping to clear a path for some of the 40-plus ships assigned
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) arrived in Kiel, Germany, for a scheduled port visit, June 19. Jason Dunham’s visit to Kiel marked the conclusion of exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2015, a large-scale naval exercise between 17 regional partners and NA
Last week, Commander Submarine Forces NATO (COMSUBNATO) led the 2015 NATO Submarine Commanders Conference to discuss issues of importance to NATO’s thirteen submarine operating nations. Attendees of the two-day conference included leaders and force commanders of submarine operating nations in NATO.
Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) recently completed the final cross-pollination (CROSSPOL) event of the group’s U.S.-led deployment. CROSSPOL is designed to give Alliance Sailors the opportunity to spend one to two days aboard another Allied ship. While aboard, Sailors are assigned running mat
After conducting an extensive maintenance period, the Italian Navy’s replenishment oiler ITS Vesuvius returned to the sea on June 8. The modernization works started at the end of 2013 and lasted for 17 months, covering the complete planned renovation and adaptation works. Prior to deploying, the cre
US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus concluded a two-day visit to Poland June 16 with a stop aboard USS San Antonio (LPD 17) as the ship continues its participation in Exercise BALTOPS 2015. During meetings with, among other officials, Poland’s Minister of Defense Tomasz Siemoniak, Mabus applauded Pol
