Britain’s newest operational boat, HMS Ambush, made a rare appearance on the surface of the Mediterranean for NATO’s biggest submarine exercise of the autumn. Over 10 days, five surface ships and seven maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters pitted their wits against seven submarines, five conventi
HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy’s amphibious helicopter platform, has sailed from Devonport to take part in Exercise Trident Juncture, the largest NATO exercise since 2002. Carrying Royal Marines from 45 Commando and Merlin, Apache and Chinook helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm, Army Air Corps and RAF, th
The last of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Leaf Class support tankers is to leave the Service on Wednesday (30 September). RFA Orangeleaf, built in Birkenhead and launched in 1975 before being commissioned for service with the RFA in 1984, will complete her service in the port where she was built 40 year
The Spanish F-100 frigate Blas de Lezo set sail on Sunday from Ferrol to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1) where it will be deployed until December. The purpose of the deployment is to become part of NATO’s Immediate Reaction Force, thus demonstrating Spain’s commitment with collect
HMS Bulwark, together with helicopters from HMS Ocean, and elements of The Royal Marines, has been practicing amphibious landings in Cornwall. The elements have landed ashore via landing craft and helicopter at Tregantle fort in a demonstration of capability. These elements form part of the Joint Ex
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain, joining three other destroyers as part of the Forward-Deployed Naval Force, Sept. 25. Carney will be forward-deployed in Rota to fulfill the United States’ phased commitment to NATO ballistic m
Egypt Buys French Mistrals French and Egyptian officials have concluded a contract for two Mistral-class ships in Paris, September 23. France Confident About Mistral Sale French Defense Minister Yves Le Drian has affirmed that France would find buyers for their two Mistral-class ships. HMS Glouceste
Two Royal Navy frigates have demonstrated their spectrum of firepower capability with firings at separate ends of the country. Portsmouth-based HMS Iron Duke blasted through five different weapon systems – her General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), the Minigun, 30mm Cannon, 4.5” Medium Range Gun and
Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO concluded participation in NATO’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 15 (DYMA 15) on September 23. Together with other ships, submarines and aircraft, several exercise serials were conducted around the clock. Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 15 started with a
Submariners from one of the Royal Navy’s newest super-subs paraded through the streets of the Wirral on Sunday, September 20, when they were granted the Freedom of the Borough. The parade, which was organised by Wirral Borough Council, was in honour of the 98-strong crew of HMS Astute and to celebra
The guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) departed Naval Station Norfolk Sept. 21 to participate in Exercise Joint Warrior off the coast of Scotland. Besides The Sullivans, other U.S. Navy units participating in the exercise include the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71), the f
During the exercise Northern Coasts 2015, Norwegian HNoMS Hinnøy found a real sea mine from the second world war in the Great Belt area. After moving it away to a safe distance from an underwater telephone cable, Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group 1 ship Hinnøy, destroyed the historic ordnanc
Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) recently began their participation in the German-led Exercise NORTHERN COASTS 2015 (NOCO 15). NOCO 15 is a multinational exercise for NATO, Partnership for Peace and EU countries, which has been condu
In the morning of September 15, Sea and Coastal Surveillance Centre of the Lithuanian Navy detected a warship of the Russian Federation while conducting 24-7 surveillance of the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea. The Russian warship was dir
