Training & Education
HMS Victory: Preserving the world’s oldest commissioned warship
As part of what contractor BAE Systems described as the most extensive restoration project the 252-year-old HMS Victory underwent following her repair after the Battle of Trafalgar, the world’s oldest commissioned warship will receive a new structural support system for the ship. Specialist engineer
Latvia hosting annual international ordnance disposal drill Open Spirit
The Latvian Navy is hosting this year’s edition of the international annual mine clearance and ordnance disposal drill Open Spirit which is taking place between August 18 and 31. The exercise aims to reduce the threat of unexploded ordnance throughout the Baltic Sea region, including seabed communic
Watch the Russian submarine Severodvinsk test fire cruise missile in Barents Sea
The Russian Navy has released a video of the lead Yasen-class nuclear-powered attack submarine Severodvinsk test firing a Kalibr cruise missile in the Barents Sea. According to the navy, Severodvinsk launched the cruise missile from a submerged position in one of the training grounds of the Northern
NATO ships search for mines in Estonian waters
Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) completed four days of historical ordnance disposal (HOD) operations along with Estonian minehunter ENS Admiral Cowan in Estonian territorial waters on August 17. The ships searched Estonian coastal areas that had not been previousl
Finland to host NATO Maritime Command head, SNMG1
The Finnish Navy chief will be hosting the commander of Allied Maritime Command and ships from NATO Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) in Helsinki next week. On August 24, Finnish Navy Vice Admiral Veijo Taipalus will welcome MARCOM commander Vice Admiral Clive Johnstone for an official visit to Finl
German F122 frigate ‘Lübeck’ joining NATO’s SNMG2
The German Navy’s F122, Bremen-class frigate FGS ‘Lübeck’ is joining NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 in the Aegean Sea. Setting sail on August 21, Lübeck will be replacing another German ship, F123 frigate FGS Brandenburg, which spent six months as the flagship of the international task group. Comm
Libyan Coast Guard detains Spanish NGO vessel in the Med
The Libyan Coast Guard detained a Spanish migrant-rescue NGO vessel near Libyan waters, holding the vessel and crew captive for nearly two hours. Proactiva Open Arms said on Tuesday that their vessel Golf Azzurro, a former fishing trawler, was “kidnapped” by a Libyan Coast Guard ship in internationa
Spanish Aegis frigate returns from three-month Australia stint
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Cristóbal Colón (F-105) returned home to Naval Base Ferrol, Spain, on August 10 after spending three month in Australia where the ship’s crew helped prepare Australian sailors to operate the Aegis combat system. Just the like the future HMAS Hobart, the first of three new a
Russian Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar joins Black Sea Fleet in Crimea
Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet now has an additional Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine at disposal with the arrival of submarine ‘Krasnodar’ to the Sevastopol base on Crimea. Krasnodar arrived at her new homeport on August 9 after a tour in the Mediterranean Sea where she took part in operations
US-UK exercise Saxon Warrior concludes
The joint US-UK exercise Saxon Warrior, held in waters off Scotland, concluded on August 10 after ten days of drills. Surface combatants from the UK, US and Norway joined the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as the Royal Navy is preparing to revive its carrier strike capability. At one
US, British aircraft carriers meet off Scotland
Two aircraft carriers, one operational since 2009 and the other preparing for its commissioning ceremony, met off the coast of Scotland during the UK-hosted exercise Saxon Warrior. HMS Queen Elizabeth met up with the USS George HW Bush and her carrier strike group during a series of war games which
HMCS Charlottetown sets sail for Europe and NATO SNMG1 integration
Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown left her homeport in Halifax and headed for Europe where she will join navy ships from several countries for a six-month deployment to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1. On her second deployment under the Canadian Navy’s operation Reassurance, HMCS Charl
Portuguese Navy frigate joining NATO’s SNMG1
Portuguese Navy frigate NRP Francisco de Almeida (F334) departed its homeport of Lisbon Naval Base on August 6 to join NATO’s standing maritime group 1 (SNMG1). The former Karel Doorman-class frigate will join units from Canada, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and Norway for operations in the North and
Royal Navy Merlins complete five-month stint aboard FS Mistral
A group of Royal Navy sailors and marines together with two Royal Navy Merlin Mk3 helicopters spent the past five months deployed aboard the French helicopter carrier FS Mistral during its Jeanne D’Arc mission. FS Mistral, together with frigate FS Courbet, embarked Royal Navy personnel in March for