Training & Education
EU Navfor Ship HNLMS Johan de Witt Hosts CGPCS
On Monday, 11 November 2013, the EU Naval Force Operation Atalanta Flagship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, has hosted the Contact Group of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) during the Counter Piracy Week in the port of Djibouti. Government representatives from all over the world took the opportunity to
Steadfast Jazz 2013: Ukrainian Marines among the Best
The personnel of the Marine Company of Feodosia Detached Marine Battalion returned to Crimea after NATO Response Force Exercise Steadfast Jazz – 2013. During military maneuvers, the marines skillfully completed combat training tasks and were highly praised by the exercise leaders. According to Deput
The Med: SNMG2 Ships Extend Endurance with 800,000 Litres of Fuel
The operating area for NATO’s counter-terrorism task group, Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2), covers 2.5 million square kilometres of vast open space from Gibraltar to the Suez Canal, from the shores of Tripoli to the Turkish beaches. A NATO maritime force tasked with covering so much water
First NH90 Step B Delivered to Italian Navy
The first NH90 NFH Step B has been delivered to the Italian Navy. This fully operational naval helicopter will be assigned to the 5th Helicopter Squadron of the Italian Navy at the Sarzana-Luni base. The Italian Navy has ordered 56 NH90s, 46 of which in the NFH variant. “This NH90 Step B will allow
First Gunnery Shoot for Britain’s Final Type 45 Destroyer
Britain’s final Type 45 destroyer fired up her guns for the first time with sustained period of shooting off the Dorset gun. Every one of the Portsmouth-based warship guns was fired – from her hand-held General Purpose Machine-Guns and Miniguns, through the 30mm automated cannon and the main 4.5in w
UK’s RFA Ship Fort Victoria Refuels Two Ships Simultaneously
The UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship, Fort Victoria, simultaneously refueled the Australian ship, HMAS Melbourne, and the Norwegian ship, HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen, in balmy conditions off the north-eastern coast of Somalia. This risky manoeuvre requires nerves of steel from each ship’s captain and
Maritime Exercise Cutlass Express 2013 Kick Starts
Maritime forces from the United States, 10 East African and two European nations, along with several international organizations, commenced the multinational maritime exercise Cutlass Express 2013, Nov. 11. Exercise Cutlass Express 2013, held in several operational areas in waters off East Africa, i
British, Omani Sailors Switch Ships for the Day
HMS Illustrious, part of the Response Force Task Group deployed on Cougar 13, has participated in Exercise Omani Cougar. During the six day exercise around 20 sailors were given the opportunity to switch ships for the day to experience how their Omani counterpart’s ships operate and get a chance to
RFA Lyme Bay Keeps Operational Capability
Onboard RFA Lyme Bay, which is part of European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta, the Boarding teams from the Fleet Contingency Troop and K Company 43 Commando Royal Marines have taken advantage of the Lynx MK 8 that embarked from RFA Fort Austin to practice fast roping techn
Ukrainian Prydniprovya Corvette Trains in Black Sea
The Ukrainian Navy Prydniprovya Corvette (U155) headed out to sea to carry out a range of training tasks. The corvette crew will build up the single ship navigation skills and prepare for combat operations. The ship is expected to complete gun practice against imitated air and surface targets and ex
Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Returns to US 5th Fleet AOR
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group reentered the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) after transiting the Suez Canal, Nov. 8. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with embarked Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11, Carrier Air Wing 11, and Destroyer Squadron 23, spent nearly three weeks in
HDMS ESBERN SNARE Arrests Nine Suspected Pirates
On Sunday NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD warship HDMS ESBERN SNARE boarded two small craft and detained nine suspected pirates, following an attack in the area the previous day. On the previous day, the Danish flagged vessel TORM KANSAS reported she was attacked unsuccessfully by pirat
Lithuanian AVPD Safeguards WFP Ship MV Caroline Scan
The Lithuanian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), deployed with the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta since August 2013, is tasked with the protection of the World Food Programme (WFP) ship MV Caroline Scan. Embarked on the Caroline scan around the clock, the AVPD en
British Naval Duo Show Off Engineering Skills at Sea
Two British naval vessels, RFA Diligence and HMS Montrose, have proven that heavy duty engineering work can be done at sea, anywhere in the world. HMS Montrose and RFA Diligence joined forces for the finale of a large scale exercise named OMAR 13 (Operational Maintenance and Repair) in which HMS Mon