Training & Education
Northern Coasts 2017: Over 50 vessels underway off Sweden
Over 50 vessels and 20 aircraft were at sea off the coast of Sweden taking part in the international exercise Northern Coasts which started on September 8. NOCO 2017 is an exercise that focuses on increasing the navies’ ability to operate together during war and crisis management situations. The exe
China, Russia set for second round of naval drills
Chinese and Russian Navy ships are scheduled to start the second round of bilateral drills as part of the “Naval Interaction 2017” set of engagements between the two countries. Taking place near Russian Pacific Fleet base in Vladivostok, the exercises are planned to last from September 18 to 26. Acc
Dutch Navy redirects amphibious ship from major Baltic drill to the Caribbean
Instead of sending the largest ship in its fleet to a major international drill in the Baltic Sea, the Royal Dutch Navy has decided to cancel the participation and send HNLMS Karel Doorman to the Caribbean to support hurricane relief efforts. Karel Doorman was supposed to travel to the German naval
EU operation Atalanta welcomes Dutch amphibious ship HNLMS Rotterdam
Royal Dutch Navy’s landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam joined the EU-led counter piracy operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia on September 13. HNLMS Rotterdam set sail from her homeport Den Helder on August 27. In addition to the Dutch crew, a Swedish boarding team and two Swedish fast attac
HMS Ocean departs Gibraltar loaded with supplies for Hurricane Irma relief
Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean departed Gibraltar on Tuesday afternoon heading for the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean where it will deliver emergency supplies for those affected by Hurricane Irma. During her time alongside in Gibraltar HMS Ocean loaded over 200 pallets of aid
SEA to deliver torpedo launchers for new Philippine Navy frigates
The Philippine Navy’s two new frigates, currently under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, are to be fitted with torpedo launcher systems (TLS) delivered by British company SEA. Announcing the contract on September 11, the company said the systems will be similar to those in se
Turkey is hosting NATO submarine rescue exercise Dynamic Monarch
A NATO-sponsored submarine escape and rescue (SMER) exercise kicked off in Turkey on September 8. Dubbed Dynamic Monarch 2017, the exercise is the tenth in a series of live SMER drills and will run through September 21. Dynamic Monarch’s venue is the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, off Aksaz Turkey. Unit
Sweden’s “biggest drill in decades” coincides with Russia’s Zapad 2017
The Swedish Armed Forces on Monday kicked off Aurora 17, an international exercise dubbed as Sweden’s “biggest drill in decades”. While Sweden itself is not a member of NATO, over 20,000 troops from the country and other NATO members, including the US, are set to participate in the three-week exerci
HMS Diamond replaces HMS Ocean as SNMG2 flagship in wake of Hurricane Irma
Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond stepped in for helicopter carrier HMS Ocean as NATO flagship to allow the Royal Navy fleet flagship to bring vital supplies to Caribbean areas affected by Hurricane Irma The fleet flagship HMS Ocean was originally planned to lead NATO’s Standing Maritime Gr
UK MoD announces plans for Royal Navy’s T31e frigates
Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin on September 7th launched plans for the procurement of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31e frigates – a day after the announcement of a new National Shipbuilding Strategy. The competition, unveiled by senior leaders from the Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy and Defence Equ
HMS Ocean to provide humanitarian aid to Carribean islands
Royal Navy fleet flagship HMS Ocean has been diverted from a planned task to provide vital humanitarian aid to Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma and in the path of Hurricane José. The helicopter carrier and amphibious assault ship will join Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay, providing lo
ITS Virginio Fasan welcomes representatives of RNO onboard
On 28th August, Italian warship, ITS Virginio Fasan, welcomed representatives of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) during a port visit to Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. Senior Officers from the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) were received on board by Captain Michel Orini, Commanding Officer, of EU NAVFOR fla
German frigate FGS Brandenburg concludes NATO SNMG2 deployment
German Navy frigate FGS Brandenburg is on her way home after spending six months as the lead ship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 in the Aegean Sea. Brandenburg is set to return to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven on September 8 after an eventful deployment. The frigate’s mission was to lead a NATO
HMS Diamond sails for nine-month operational deployment
Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond has sailed from Portsmouth Naval Base for a nine-month operational deployment. She will be taking over the Navy’s long-standing commitment to the region from HMS Monmouth, a Type 23 frigate based in Plymouth. She is the second Type 45 destroyer to sail on operational d