The Royal Navy and Royal Marines are putting all their core war fighting skills to the test as they launch into Exercise Omani Cougar. As the fourth major exercise of the ongoing Cougar 13 deployment, personnel are working alongside the Royal Navy of Oman to hold the intense six-day exercise. Royal
FREMM frigate Normandie, the second of the Aquitaine class for the French Navy, was put to sea for the first time on 25 October. This milestone marks the beginning of the ship’s sea trials, which will take place off Brittany and are expected to last several weeks. The main aim of these preliminary t
On Tuesday 22 October, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Peter Lenselink and members of his staff, visited RFA Lyme Bay. RFA Lyme Bay recently joined EU Naval Force’s Operation Atalanta. During the visit, the Force Commander visited the different departments on board and met the crew members of t
Italian frigate ITS Libeccio carried out a ‘Friendly Approach’ on Sunday 20 October. During the approach, the warship’s crew received information about the movements of maritime traffic in the area and strengthened relationships with local seafarers. The understanding between the maritime community
HMS Illustrious has been escorted through the Strait of Hormuz by frigate HMS Montrose as she continues on her Gulf deployment. The helicopter and commando carrier is due to begin exercises in the Gulf of Oman as part of Cougar 13 – the annual workout of the Royal Navy’s rapid reaction force known a
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met with Russia’s Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu two days ago during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Ministerial in Brussels, Belgium. The leaders discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, to include updates from the August 2+2 meeting,
The mighty 4.5” gun of HMS Iron Duke pounded the waves off Dorset, proving that she remains a fighting force, ready for operations around the globe. The Type 23 Frigate tested her Main Gun near Dorset, firing rounds from the newly refurbished weapon. The practice firings test both the weapons system
Army Apache helicopters have joined Navy Sea King, Merlin and Lynx helicopters on board HMS Illustrious for two weeks in the Gulf as part of the ongoing Cougar 13 deployment. The Apache helicopters from 656 Squadron 4 Regiment Army Air Corps joined Illustrious in the waters off the United Arab Emira
A Royal Navy warship has joined forces with Indian colleagues for a demonstration of capability and improving mutual understanding. HMS Westminster, currently on deployment in the Indian Ocean, has arrived in the Indian port of Mormuguo, Goa in preparation for Exercise Konkan. The exercise will run
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal paid a special visit to HMS Sultan on Friday 18 October 2013 as the Guest of Honour at the establishment’s Ceremonial Divisions. In addition to inspecting the Guard of Honour the Princess Royal presented awards and medals to worthy recipients. Escorted by Captai
HMS Lancaster has returned to counter narcotics patrols in the Caribbean Sea following a stopover in Curacao for the island’s national day. Lancaster sailed into the city of Willemstad, on the Dutch administered island, following another successful counter narcotics patrol that saw her seize a vast
1st Helston Scout groups, ‘Poldark Beaver Colony’ had a special insight into background activities of Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose during an informative visit to the Navy’s Cornish Air Base. Lead by group leader ‘Otter’, Amanda Court, who works in Culdrose Dental department the ‘Eager-Beavers’ w
In late October and early November the Latvian and Polish territory and the Baltic Sea will be the theatre of the largest NATO and Alliance partner-countries exercise this year, codenamed Steadfast Jazz 2013. The operations at sea will be carried by twelve ships representing eight NATO countries. Po
Since her departure from her home port of Las Palmas in the Canary Isles on 15 July 2013, Spanish Ocean Patrol vessel, ESPS Meteoro, has certainly been very busy. The warship has sailed over 14,000 nautical miles and the crew has carried out a range of activities off the Somali Coast. ESPS Meteoro c
