Training & Education
RFA Gold Rover departs Simon’s Town
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Gold Rover left Simon’s town Naval Base for the final time on November 8. Gold Rover first visited Simon’s Town, South Africa in late 2006 and ever since has been a regular visitor. Simon’s Town has proven to be an ideal location within the area of operations to conduct m
NATO kicks off new operation Sea Guardian
Three NATO ships and two submarines began a new NATO maritime security operation in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday. Italian frigate ITS Aviere, Bulgarian frigate BGS Verni, Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik, Greek submarine HS Papanikolis and the Spanish submarine ESPS Mistral – will conduct the first
Belgian Navy, US Coast Guard complete law enforcement drill in Cabo Verde
Members of the Belgian Navy and U.S. Coast Guard recently completed a week-long maritime law enforcement exercise with partners from the Cabo Verde Coast Guard (CVCG), Maritime Police (CVMP), and Judicial Police (CVJP). The major participating units in the exercise were the Belgian command and suppo
UK finally starting work on Type 26 frigates
UK’s Defence Secretary announced on Friday that first steel for the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates would be cut in summer 2017. Michael Fallon made the announcement during a visit to Govan in Scotland and added that the deal was subject to final contract negotiations. Fallon also announced a £100
EU naval force increases patrols off Somalia after pirate attack
The EU naval force in charge of safeguarding shipping off the Horn of Africa has increased its patrols after Somali pirates attacked chemical tanker CPO Korea off the east coast of Somalia on October 22. During the attack a number of shots were exchanged between the six armed pirates, who were in a
Canadian Navy chief visits NATO’s London headquarters
Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy met with the commander of the Allied Maritime Command at the headquarters of NATO’s maritime forces in the United Kingdom’s Northwood facility near London. Vice Admiral Ron Lloyd (Royal Canadian Navy) and Vice Admiral Clive Johnstone (Royal Navy) talked about the
Watch Su-33 and MiG-29K jets take off from Admiral Kuznetsov off the coast of Syria
The Russian Navy’s aircraft carrier group centered around the carrier-cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov has reached the coasts of Syria where they have started carrier-based flight drills. In a Russian Ministry of Defense video shared by Russian TVZvezda, the ships are seen sailing in formation while aircra
US Navy amphibious assault ship Wasp departs Greece following mid-deployment repair
U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) departed Greek Souda Bay port on November 1 following an eight-day port visit to complete her mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR). While the port call’s primary focus was a MDVR to ensure the ship is in fully operational condition for the remainde
Finnish Navy receives third Katanpää-class mine counter-measure vessel
The Finnish Navy received its third Katanpää class mine counter-measure vessel at the Intermarine Shipyard in La Spezia, Italy, on Wednesday. The navy said the vessel would be transferred to its home port, Turku, by land. The undertaking is scheduled to be completed by December. Katanpää class vesse
Royal Navy tanker refuels French helicopter carrier on counter piracy mission
Royal Navy tanker RFA Gold Rover recently refueled French helicopter carrier FS Dixmude and joined it for a piracy patrol off the Ivory Coast. Joined by Ivory Coast patrol boat Sekongo, the ships patrolled 200 miles of coastline and waters off shore, stretching from the Ivory Coast’s principal port
US destroyer departs French aircraft carrier group fighting ISIS
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) wrapped up its mission of supporting the French Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group. Ross was part of a destroyer squadron in charge of protecting the aircraft carrier from attacks thereby enabling it to launch fighter jets to carry out airst
Croatian Navy fast attack craft fires RBS15 missile
The Croatian Navy fired an RBS15 missile in the waters of Dugi Otok and Žirje on October 19. The RBS15 was fired from the fast attack craft RTOP-42 Dubrovnik while another two fast attack craft performed gun firing at land and air targets during Harpun 16, a live fire exercise held between October 1
Northrop Grumman hails AQS-24B demonstration at Unmanned Warrior a success
U.S. based defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation demonstrated its AQS-24B mine hunting system at the Royal Navy-sponsored Unmanned Warrior exercise in Scotland marking the first time the AQS-24B towed mine hunting sensor has been deployed from an unmanned surface vessel in British waters.
Spain criticized for letting Russian fleet refuel in Ceuta
Spain has come under pressure from other EU countries and NATO officials after it allowed the Russian carrier strike group centered around carrier-cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov to refuel in Ceuta, Spain. The fleet was expected to enter the Spanish port on the north coast of Africa in the morning of Octo