Training & Education
US destroyer USS Hopper returns from Persian Gulf deployment
The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on February 9 after four months of operations in the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf. Hopper operated in the US 7th and 5th Fleets, Hopper supporting ballistic missile defense and promoting securit
NATO groups in Black Sea make port calls in Bulgaria
NATO ships from two maritime groups currently operating in the Black Sea entered two Bulgarian port cities for weekend port calls. On February 10, three warships from Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, as part of their routine Black Sea patrol. Led by Royal Navy Com
Spanish frigate to lead Mediterranean operation Sea Guardian
Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Navarra will be leading a three-ship NATO group during the Mediterranean Sea operation Sea Guardian, the Spanish defense ministry announced. In addition to the Spanish Santa Maria-class frigate, the group will include Belgian frigate BNS Louise Marie and an Italian Navy shi
HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives in Gibraltar on first overseas visit
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth pulled into Gibraltar on Friday morning for her first ever overseas port visit. The visit will be a logistical one for the 65,000-tonne future flagship which left her home in Portsmouth last week for helicopter trials. These helicopter trials take plac
HMAS Hobart on first visit to namesake city
The lead ship of the Royal Australian Navy’s air warfare destroyers newest ship in the fleet arrived to Hobart for the first ever visit to its namesake city. This port visit is the first time in 18 years a ship carrying the name Hobart has visited the city of Hobart and will see the guided […
Turkish minehunter finds historic mine in Black Sea
A Turkish Navy minehunter deployed to NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) discovered a historic mine during routine training in the Black Sea on February 7. According to NATO Maritime Command, minehunter TCG Akcay discovered the mine using her mine hunting sonar to scan the sea
US Marines test modified mine plow on “The Shredder”
The US Marine Corps recently tested a mine plow prototype on their Assault Breacher Vehicle, nicknamed “The Shredder”, during exercise Steel Knight in December 2017. The ABV conducted its first amphibious landing with a Modified Full Width Mine Plow prototype during the long-range breaching exercise
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose flexes guns on Norwegian range
Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose recently visited the NATO weapon and sensor range at Stavanger, in southern Norway, for a week of weapons and sensors checks. The ship arrived for a weekend alongside in Stavanger and after a day of harbour checks, went to sea on the test range for 3 days, w
Exercise Cutlass Express comes to a close
The seventh iteration of the annual maritime exercise Cutlass Express 2018 concluded in Seychelles on February 7. Maritime forces from East Africa, West Indian Ocean nations, Europe, and the United States, as well as several international organizations worked together to assess and improve combined
US-Japan amphibious drill Iron Fist concludes off California
US Marines and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force concluded exercise Iron Fist 2018 off the coast of Southern California, February 7. US Navy’s Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) Rushmore provided both an amphibious and air platform for US Marine Corps and Japanese Ground
HMS Albion sets sail for NATO deployment
HMS Albion, the Royal Navy’s recently refurbished amphibious assault ship, deployed on Tuesday to become flagsip of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). The ship sailed from Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth and will operate in the Mediterranean for five months. Captain Tim Neild, HMS Albion com
Finland seeks Harpoon, ESSM missiles for new corvettes, missile boat upgrades
Finland is looking to acquire a total of $730 million worth of US-built missiles for its future multi-role corvettes and for the upgrade of its Hamina-class missile boats. The US State Department approved the possible sale on Monday, which, if realized, would be the first time Finland has bought eit
Fincantieri completes STX France deal
Italy’s Fincantieri announced it has signed a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of 50% of the share capital of STX France from the French state. The agreement provides for a purchase price of euro 59.7 million (approx. USD$74M). The signing takes place after the resolution of the share pu
Fincantieri launches eighth Italian FREMM frigate Antonio Marceglia
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri launched the Italian Navy’s eighth FREMM frigate ‘Antonio Marceglia’ (F-597) at its Riva Trigoso shipyard in Genoa on February 3. The eighth of a series of 10 FREMM vessels was launched during a ceremony attended by Italian defense minister Roberta Pinotti and, on beh