Training & Education
New Royal Navy aircraft handlers prepare for carriers
Royal Navy’s newest sailors from the aircraft handling branch at RNAS Culdrose spent the last six months preparing for their roles on the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers. The motto that they will have to work towards every day of their aircraft handling careers is: Nostris In Manibus Tuti” – “Saf
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Grimsby starts refit
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Grimsby arrived in Rosyth Royal dockyard, berthing for a refit following six months of operations. In Rosyth, Grismby will receive a full refit that will encompass deep level maintenance, fit of new equipment upgrades (a new sonar fit that will make Grimsby the most advance
Multinational boarding exercise Phoenix Express underway in Spain
Naval forces from Europe, North Africa, and the United States are conducting the 13th iteration of the multinational maritime exercise Phoenix Express 2017. The drill began May 10 with an opening ceremony at the Spanish Naval Base Arsenal de Cartagena and will take place throughout the Mediterranean
Italian Navy frigate trains with Djiboutian Navy
Sailors from the Italian Navy’s Maestrale-class frigate ITS Espero carried out maritime training with a team from the Djiboutian Navy during their recent port visit in Djibouti. Currently part of the EUNAVFOR’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta, ITS Espero worked with EUCAP Somalia staff during the
Amphibious drill on hold after French landing craft runs aground off Guam
The French Navy-led amphibious drill taking place off Guam was postponed after a French Navy landing craft ran aground during an evolution, AP reported. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Joint Region Marianas Chief of Staff Capt. Jeff Grimes said he could not say when the drill would resume. Named Je
Finnish Navy readies for fleet exercise in Baltic Sea
The Finnish Navy is set to hold a fleet-wide exercise in the Gulf of Finland from May 22 to June 1. Named MTH-17 Lyydia, the exercise is arranged annually by the Finnish Navy for its naval and coastal units. Hämeenmaa-class minelayers, Rauma- and Hamina-class fast attack missile craft and Katanpää-c
Two NATO groups arrive in Estonia for visit, ordnance disposal operations
A total of six ships from two NATO groups arrived to Tallinn, Estonia, on Friday, for a port visit and subsequent historic ordnance disposal operations. Prior to entering port, Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) and Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) took part in a maneuve
NATO search and rescue drill Dynamic Mercy concludes in Baltic
NATO’s Baltic Sea search and rescue drill Dynamic Mercy concluded on Wednesday, May 10. The two-week exercise was divided into six challenging aeronautical and maritime training scenarios. In total, nine Rescue Coordination Centres (RCC’s) comprising of joint, maritime and air centres from eight NAT
Russian submarine escorted through North Sea
NATO warships escorted a Russian Navy submarine through the North Sea and the English Channel as it transited in the direction of its Novorossiysk base in the Black Sea. The Royal Navy sent its Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset to shadow the Russian Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar as it passed through the
European navies gather in Italy for exercise Mare Aperto 17
Some 40 vessels from 7 countries gathered in the port of Cagliari to take part in the annual, Italian-hosted exercise Mare Aperto 2017. Starting Monday, May 8, navy ships from France, Spain, Canada, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and Italy will spend two weeks honing their skills in mine countermeasures a
Danish Navy frigate concludes deployment with US aircraft carrier
The Royal Danish Navy (RDN) frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes (F 362) on May 5 concluded her stint with the U.S. Navy’s George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) which operated in the Middle East. The Danish ship assisted the aircraft carrier group by providing air defense commander capabilities an
US Marines join French Navy’s Jeanne D’Arc task force for drills
U.S. Marine Corps have teamed up with other multinational forces to take part in the French Navy’s Jeanne D’Arc exercises that are set to take place from April 29 to May 18 on land and in the surrounding waters of Guam and Tinian. Approximately 100 Marines from 3rd Marine Division joined forces from
NATO minehunters arrive in Latvia for ordnance disposal ops
Ships from NATO’s Standing Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) arrived in Liepāja, Latvia, on May 3. Led by Commander Johan-Elias Seljamaa from the Estonian Navy, the group will conduct a port visit and continue with historical ordnance disposal operation (HODOPS) in Latvian waters until May 1
NATO SNMG1 ships visit Germany
Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group one (SNMG1) arrived in Warnemünde, Germany, for a scheduled port visit on April 28. The group is currently on a deployment to the Baltic Sea. SNMG1 has, during the past months, participated in several multinational exercises off the coast of Norway and Great