Training & Education
SNMG 1 ready for Exercise Dynamic Guard
Two Royal Navy Type 23 frigates HMS Iron Duke and Monmouth on February 12 arrived in the Norwegian city of Bergen ahead of NATO war games around the fjords. Iron Duke is assigned to NATO’s Standing Group 1 – the first RN ship in more than a decade to attach to the formation, which patrols the [&hell
NATO joins the fight against people-smugglers
NATO ships will be patrolling the Aegean Sea on the look out for people smugglers in the region. The patrols will monitor migrant and smuggler movement in waters between Greece and Turkey. This decision with immediate effect came from a joint German, Greek and Turkish initiative at a NATO meeting in
Pakistani Navy Chief visits UK
Pakistani Navy Chief, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, paid a visit to EU NAVFOR’s operational headquarters in London, UK, February 11. He was welcomed by the Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Jonas Wikstrӧm. During the visit both Admirals welcomed the good cooperation that exists at sea between Operation A
MST picks James Troop for rigid inflatable boat engines
Ship engine maker James Troop & Co has won an order to supply Volvo Penta diesel engines for three European naval vessels being built on Merseyside, UK. James Troop, one of the UK’s major Volvo Penta Centres, will supply the engines for three vessels being constructed by MST (Marine Specialised Tech
UK doubles support for NATO’s maritime missions in 2016
Speaking at the NATO Defence Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, UK’s Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced that UK would almost double its deployments to NATO at sea in 2016. For the first time since 2010 the UK will contribute to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), an enduring com
ITS Carabiniere, FS Floreal train in waters off Seychelles
Operation Atalanta flagship ITS Carabiniere conducted a joint exercise with the French frigate FS Floreal in the waters off Seychelles’ main harbour on February 5, 2016. The exercise was coordinated by the ships’ commanding officers, Commander François Xavier Waroux and Commander Francesco Saladino.
Spanish, US Navy divers exercise in Cartagena
Spanish and U.S. Navy mine countermeasures units participated in a bilateral exercise which took place in Cartagena, Spain. Participating units included a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal team (EOD) and a Spanish Navy mine countermeasures (MCM) diving unit. The drills consisted of day and night
Mine countermeasure specialists visit Saab’s ROV facility
Saab Seaye, a manufacturer of electric powered Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems, hosted an international group of mine countermeasures specialists at its Fareham, Hampshire, UK facility. The group, that included the Deputy Director of The NATO Underwater Research Centre, saw a range of existi
SNMG1 docks in Amsterdam to recuperate from training
Ships of the Standing NATO Maritime Group ONE (SNMG1) arrived in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for a scheduled port visit February 5, during their deployment to the North and Baltic Seas to enhance maritime security and to contribute to international stability. SNMG1’s visit to Amsterdam precedes the
NATO talks more ships as Russian naval might rises
Russia’s re-emergence as a strategic challenge and how NATO is going to respond to it was the center-discussion at the Surface Warship Summit in Bucharest, Romania, held January 26-28. Speaking at the summit, Vice Admiral Clive Johnstone CB CBE, Commander of Allied Maritime Command, said: “The combi
South African Navy receives Damen’s tug
The South African Navy took delivery of a second South African-built Damen ATD Tug 2909 at the naval base in Simon’s Town, Cape Town, February 4, 2016. Escorted by SA Navy’s existing six tugs, Inyathi, as the tug was named, was welcomed into the naval fleet with a traditional sail past. Inyathi, mea
German Navy: ‘Weilheim’ returns while ‘Dillingen’ deploys
After spending six months at sea, German Navy’s Frankenthal-class mine hunter Weilheim returned to its homeport in Kiel, Germany on February 7. The German Navy 3rd Squadron ship was part of both the German contribution to NATO’s mine countermeasures group, the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Gro
NATO’s SNMG2 takes shape
German Navy’s combat support ship EGV Bonn, together with the Italian frigate ITS Libeccio and the Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton, headed for the eastern Mediterranean. Turkish frigate TCG Barbaros joined them in Aksaz, Turkey. The group conducted a range of drills before and after their port cal
Germany and the Netherlands sign Joint Support Ship LOI
The Letter of Intent, signed February 4 between the Netherlands and Germany, breaks the ground for the development of the Joint Support Ship initiative and the amphibious operation capability. Germany is thereby acquiring new capabilities while the Dutch Navy is enabled to equip its ships more effic