Training & Education
UK: Merlin Helicopter Flies from HMS St Albans to Search Seas below for Enemy Boats
The Cold War may be over but Royal Navy fliers have been keeping their submarine-hunting skills fresh. A Merlin helicopter flew from the frigate HMS St Albans to search the seas below for enemy boats. The aircraft from 829 Naval Air Squadron was designed to give the Navy the best chance of finding s
Romanian Navy Pilots Conduct Training aboard USS Whidbey Island
Sailors aboard USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) conducted deck landing qualification (DLQ) training with Romanian navy pilots July 31-Aug. 1 as part of the bilateral exercise Summer Storm 2011. The eight Romanian pilots, the only aviators in that country’s navy, are members of “Black Sea Knights” and fly
FS COURBET Completes Participation in Operation ATALANTA
On July 28th, after sixty days proudly serving under the European Flag, the French Frigate FS COURBET completed her participation as an EU NAVFOR warship in Operation ATALANTA. During the period, FS Courbet has conducted a multiplicity of tasks in the force, primarily conducting the EU NAVFOR’s main
France: Gowind OPV L’Adroit Starts First Sea Trials
The Gowind offshore patrol boat L’Adroit began its first sea trials on Wednesday 27 July for DCNS to validate the seakeeping and other nautical qualities of the vessel. These initial sea trials mark the beginning of the next phase of the ambitious Gowind OPV programme, which spearheads DCNS’s effort
HMS Albion Visits Valetta, Malta
HMS Albion, Flagship of the Royal Navy, visited Valetta, Malta, between 25 and 27 July 2011 for a short operational stand down following a period East of Suez. The 18,500 tonne assault ship has had a busy few months undertaking amphibious exercises in the Mediterranean in May, supporting NATO mariti
Italian Navy Hands Over Responsibility of Deputy Operation Commander of NAVFOR
On 22 July 2011, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, Italian Navy, handed over the responsibility of the Deputy Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Op ATALANTA, to Rear Admiral Christian Canova, French Navy. The handover was conducted in the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Northwo
Type 23 Frigate Conducts NATO Embargo Operations Off Libya
The Type 23 has been called away from the Response Force Task Group to become the primary surface combatant in support of the NATO Operation Unified Protector. Sutherland has already carried out her first boarding operation, under the auspices of UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973, and se
UK: Royal Navy Sends HMS Sutherland to Libya
Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland has been sent at full pelt to support NATO on Operation Unified Protector, protecting the people of Libya. Temporarily split off from the Cougar deployment and the Response Force Task Group (RFTG), HMS Sutherland has dashed her way through the Mediterranean to support
EU NAVFOR French Frigate Courbet Escorts WFP Vessel to Somalia
On the 19th of July, EU NAVFOR French Frigate Courbet completed another safe and successful escort of a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel from Kenya to Somalia, enabling much needed food-aid to reach the country where a famine has been declared. Since December 2008, the European Union’s first navy o
Libya: RAF, Royal Navy Continue to Strike at Gaddafi Regime
The RAF and Royal Navy have been involved in a number of precision attacks to protect Libyan civilians over the last few days as part of NATO’s Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR. In the early hours of Monday morning, RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft returned for a second night of precision strikes against
Survey Ship HMS Echo Heads Britain’s Flagship Albion on Gulf Exercise
Survey ship HMS Echo stepped up to the mark when she was charged with leading the nation’s flagship in for a beach assault at the climax of the Royal Navy’s week-long exercises with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Devonport-based hydrographic vessel HMS Echo is six months into a two-year deployment
UK: Master Chief Petty Officer of Navy Visits Sailors Operating in Europe
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) kicked off fleet engagements with Sailors stationed across Europe July 12, starting in the United Kingdom at Northwood, Royal Air Force (RAF) Base Digby and Menwith Hill. Soon after landing in the United Kingdom, MCPON(SS/SW) Rick D. West served as gues
Malta Forbids Entrance for Spanish Warship Carrying Migrants
A Spanish warship under Nato command that rescued 111 migrants has been refused entry to Malta after it headed towards the island despite th… (timesofmalta) [mappress] Source: timesofmalta, July 15, 2011;
UK: HMS Echo Leads HMS Albion on Gulf Exercise
Survey ship HMS Echo stepped up to the mark when she was charged with leading the nation’s flagship in for a beach assault as week-long exercises with the United Arab Emirates reached their climax. The Devonport-bases hydrographic vessel – six months into a two-year deployment east of Suez, where sh