Exercise Obangame Express 2013 (OE-13), an at-sea naval exercise focused on counter-piracy and maritime security operations wrapped up in the Gulf of Guinea, Feb. 28. OE-13 provided African, European and Atlantic partner maritime services the opportunity to work together, share information and refin
Two of the Royal Navy’s fishery protection vessels practised fast, complicated manoeuvres and live firing skills as part of an annual exercise in the Solent. HMS Mersey and HMS Severn paused their operational duties for several days to take on the rare opportunity of working together for a programme
On 24 February 2013, whilst on counter piracy patrols in the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) the Force Commander of EU NAVFOR, Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes, met with the Commander of the NATO counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield, Rear Admiral Antonio Natale. The meeting be
Exercise Proud Manta 2013 (POMA 13), NATO’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise, began in the Ionian Sea, Feb. 23. Participants in POMA 13 include four submarines, 16 aircraft and eight surface ships from 10 NATO nations, including the United States. POMA is an annual at-sea exercise focused on
A naval airman from Ramsgate serving in the helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious recently played his part in raising the profile of the forthcoming Battle of the Atlantic 70th anniversary. HMS Illustrious – known to her crew as Lusty – visited Liverpool recently and Naval Airman Chris Heale, 31, was a
At the end of February the Luxembourg Maritime patrol and Reconnaissance (MPRA) Detachment returned to the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta counter piracy mission, having taken over MPRA duties from the Swedish Coast Guard MPRA unit operating from the Seychelles. During their pr
On Monday 25 February Dutch EU Naval Force frigate HNLMS De Ruyter transferred nine suspected pirates to the Seychelles authorities for prosecution. The transfers happened after HNLMS De Ruyter, who was conducting counter piracy patrols, stopped two skiffs on 19 February 120 nautical miles off the S
VIDEO: Queen Elizabeth Class Brought to Life BAE Systems, together with Thales UK, Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence (the Aircraft Carrier Alliance) has ventured on a major endeavor with the construction of the biggest aircraft carrier ever to be built in Britain, HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is
Large ASW ship Severomorsk of the Northern Fleet will participate in a NATO anti-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden… [mappress] Source: Russian Navy, February 22, 2013
After navigating the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb strait, French frigate FS Courbet has joined EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta. The French frigate replaces the FS Surcouf, who has been operating within the EU counter-piracy operation since last December. On Monday 18 February
Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith visited Stockholm, Sweden on Wednesday 20 February. Australia and Sweden have shared values, a common strategic interest in peacekeeping and stabilisation operations and a longstanding history of cooperation on submarines. Minister Smith met with Swedish Min
After a three-month absence, HMS Bristol is back where she belongs – at the foot of Whale Island – after being moved to a new berth. Tugs moved the veteran destroyer to her new berth, created to allow larger vessels to use the nearby international port. The Falklands veteran, which serves as floatin
The Royal Navy’s new and most technologically advanced warship, HMS Dauntless, will visit Tyneside this weekend (February 22-26), her first regional engagement with the area since her inaugural visit to her affiliated city of Newcastle in April 2010. The ship will be open to visitors on Sunday 24 Fe
On 19 February, HNLMS De Ruyter, has stopped the activities of a group of suspected pirates approximately 120 nautical miles east of Eyl off the coast of Somalia. Nine suspected pirates were apprehended and taken on board of the De Ruyter. The Dutch frigate that is deployed with the European Union N
