Training & Education
ESPS Meteoro, EUCAP NESTOR Focus on Capacity Building in Seychelles
During their recent logistical visit to the Seychelles, Spanish Ocean Patrol Vessel (OPV), ESPS Meteoro, held a number of very productive meetings with EUCAP Nestor and the Seychelles Coast Guard. On the 25th of October, ESPS Meteoro was visited by 18 members of the Seychelles Coast Guard, in conduc
NATO Ships Get Underway for Steadfast Jazz 2013
Shortly after dawn the alarm breaks the silence on board HNLMS De Ruyter as the crew of the flagship prepare to head out to sea. After months of planning, a week in port and some final preparations during the pre-sail conference, everyone is focused and excited about what is going to happen in the c
USS Mason, HSM 74 Team Up for SAREX
Surface rescue swimmers from guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) and aviation rescue swimmers from the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, “Swamp Foxes”, conducted a combined search and rescue (SAR) exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 29. An MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from HSM 7
HMS Westminster, Indian Navy Train Together
HMS Westminster has just visited Goa where the ship’s company had the opportunity to exercise alongside the Indian Navy. The Type 23 frigate took time out from her busy counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics operations in the Gulf for a workout with Indian Navy Ship (INS) Delhi and her company. Exe
HMS Dragon, HMS Talent Work Together in Mediterranean
Anti-submarine warfare may not be the usual forte for a destroyer – an air defence warship – but HMS Dragon snapped up the chance to work alongside nuclear submarine HMS Talent. As both were working in the Eastern Mediterranean at the same time, the units practised advanced underwater training with
HMS Daring Arrives in Singapore
Working alongside the navies of Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, Daring will shortly take part in Exercise Bersama Lima under the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA). The FPDA was established in 1971 and provides for defence co-operation between the five signatories. But before the
Ukrainian Navy Contributes to NATO’s Anti-Piracy Efforts
The Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, General Knud Bartels, travelled to the Gulf of Aden on 28-30 October 2013 to visit the Ukrainian Navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy deployed there as part of Operation Ocean Shield, NATO’s counter-piracy mission. “Ukraine’s ability to plug in and out of NATO’
Standing NATO Groups Flex Their Muscles in the Med
Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine-Countermeasures Group TWO (SNMCMG2) met on Wednesday, 30 October 2013, for a joint training opportunity at sea near Crete, Greece. Both Groups have been operating in the Mediterranean in support of the counter-terrorism Operation ACTIVE
SNMG-2 Ships Train with Tunisian Navy
During the scheduled port-call at Tunis, the frigate ‘Álvaro de Bazán’ (F-101) and the Turkish frigate ‘Salihreis’, integrated into the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2), have trained with naval units from the Tunisian Navy. These PASSEX-type exercises are intended to assure that the participa
HMS Illustrious Fends Off Air Attacks amid Middle Eastern Exercise
HMS Illustrious has had to fend off a succession of attacks from Omani jets off the coast of Oman during the opening stages of the last major exercise by the UK’s amphibious task group east of Suez. The veteran warship was expected not just to thwart the attackers, but put Royal Marines ashore on th
Poland: HMS Ledbury Ready for Nato Exercise
HMS Ledbury has sailed into Poland for the start of a NATO exercise involving ships from partner nations including Norway, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Estonia. The two-week exercise will see the personnel take part in a number of warfare serials including hunting for dummy mines, di
Royal Navy Completes Bilateral Exercise with Omani Forces
The Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group (RFTG), currently deployed on Cougar 13, has successfully completed a six day exercise, Omani Cougar, with the Royal Omani Armed Forces. The maritime exercise tested the full integration of the Royal Navy and Royal Navy of Oman by conducting conventional ma
UK: Army, RAF Experience Life on Board HMS Richmond
Army and RAF personnel have been getting their sea legs on board HMS Richmond while on her patrol of the South Atlantic. The Yorkshire Regiment and 230 Squadron RAF are affiliated to the Portsmouth-based Type-23 frigate and seven personnel were given the opportunity to stay on board and experience l
Two NATO Ships Assigned to SNMG2 Visit Port of Tunis
This past weekend, two NATO ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) paid a visit to the port of Tunis. The port visit provided the crew of the SNMG2 ships a welcome break from the high tempo supporting NATO’s counter-terrorism Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR (OAE), actively deterring t