Training & Education
UK: RN Reservists Assume Key Roles in Two International Exercises
Royal Naval Reservists from HMS President in London played key roles in two large international exercises in the closing months of 2012. Lieutenant Commanders Howie San and Pat Shinner swapped their civilian careers, the former with US shipping giant AT&T and the latter for a financial software firm
USS Makin Island Sailors Start “Biggest Loser” Competition
Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) began a “Biggest Loser” weight-loss and fitness competition Jan. 16, to help promote physical readiness during 2013. The competition, sponsored by the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) division, is based on the popular te
RN Sailor Recognized for Accurate Weather Reports during Libyan Conflict
Leading Seaman Freddie Noakes stepped up into the role normally occupied by a Lieutenant during board HMS Liverpool’s deployment on operations on Libya, when the ship was providing naval gunfire support from the sea into Misrata during the Libyan conflict. He received his Joint Commanders Commendati
UK: First Sea Lord Talks Leadership with Next Generation of Naval Leaders
The Royal Navy’s most senior Officer has shared his thoughts on leadership with the next generation of naval leaders during a visit to Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth. Meeting a group of Officer Cadets undergoing their initial naval training, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope led a discuss
HMS Monmouth Sailors Visit USS John C. Stennis within PASSEX
Several guests from the Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Jan 15. Royal Navy Cmdr. Gordon Ruddock, Monmouth’s commanding officer, and 15 Monmouth sailors met with Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3,
NATO ACO Updates on Weekly Piracy Related Activities
During the reporting period of 09 – 16 January 2013 there were no piracy related incidents in the High Risk Area (HRA). The last of the hostages from the MV Orna have been released. The ship was pirated in Dec 2010 and freed in Oct 2012. However, a number of crew members had been kept […]
Polish Navy Takes Command Over Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One
On Thursday, January 17th, the Polish Navy assumed command over Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One. ORP ‘Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki’ became the flagship of the Group and Cdr Piotr Sikora (Polish Navy) was appointed as the Commander of the SNMCMG1. The official Change of Command Ceremony
UK, Australia Forge Defence Ties
The UK and Australia will strengthen their long-standing relationship today with a new defence treaty to provide a framework for the many strands of co-operation between the two countries. The treaty, to be signed in Perth today, Friday 18 January, with the Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith,
Rear Admiral Tarrant Assumes EUNAVFOR Operational Command
On Wednesday 16 January 2013 Rear Admiral Duncan Potts handed over operational command of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) to Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant. Rear Admiral Potts has commanded EU NAVFOR, the European Union’s counter piracy mission off Somalia, since August 2011. This period has wi
UK’s Warships Join Forces in the Gulf
Personnel on board Portsmouth-based HMS Atherstone have put aside their minehunting skills to instead imitate pirates as part of an exercise with HMS Monmouth in the Gulf. The joint operations come as the Devonport-based frigate builds up to operational patrols policing international trade routes in
French Marine Nationale Anti-Air Frigate FS Jean Bart Welcomes USS Laboon Officers
Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) participated in an officer exchange between the U.S. and French navies aboard the French Marine Nationale anti-air frigate FS Jean Bart (D 615) in the Mediterranean Sea Jan. 11. Cmdr. Christopher F. Cigna, Laboon’s commanding officer,
UK: HMS Somerset Leaves Devonport Royal Dockyard for Sea Trials
Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset has left Devonport Royal Dockyard for sea trials with significantly increased sustainability and fighting capability, following a successful nine-month docking period undertaken by Babcock; the first major maintenance period conducted under the full implementation of the
French Frigate Surcouf Rescues Ten Sailors
Early yesterday morning EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) warship FS Surcouf came to the rescue of ten mariners at sea 30 miles off the Somali Coast, after their boat, known as a dhow, started to sink into the deep ocean. The master of the Indian flagged dhow had sent out a distress call after the [&hellip
Somalia: EU NAVFOR Commanders Work Together to Fight Piracy
In the morning of 11th January 2013, the Force Commander of the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), Rear Admiral Pedro García de Paredes held a meeting on board his flagship ESPS Méndez Núnez with the Commander of the Combined Maritime counter-piracy task force, Commodore Muhammad Hisham SI (Pakistan Navy).