On Thursday 13 March the EU Naval Force flagship, FS Siroco, rendezvoused at sea in the Gulf of Aden with Hellenic warship, HS Psara, to conduct a replenishment from sea. The meeting was also an opportunity for Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean to visit the crewmembers of the Hellenic Navy frigate, which
The Royal Netherlands’ Navy Holland-class offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Zeeland entering Aruba mid March. Built at the Damen Schelde shipyard in Vlissingen, HNLMS Zeeland is a new addition to Dutch Navy’s fleet, commissioned in August 2013. The vessel is deployed to the Caribbean Sea since February
A team of U.S. Navy SEALs has taken over control of the seized commercial tanker Morning Glory, the Pentagon officials announced this morning. The operation, approved by the U.S. President Obama, was conducted last night around 2am GMT on the request of the Libyan and Cypriot governments. “No one
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by phone, on March 15th, with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to discuss the situation in Ukraine, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said. “Secretary Hagel and Minister Le Drian affirmed the solidarity of the NATO alliance and disc
The U.S. Navy’s guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) departed the Bulgarian port of Varna on Sunday, March 16. While in Varna, Truxtun hosted a planning conference with NATO allies to develop a future multilateral naval training event. Truxtun also had the opportunity to host the command
Pilot Lt Dave Neyland and Flight Observer Lt Sammy Haynes brought Wildcat ZZ377 safely on to Portsmouth-based warship as she ploughed through the Irish Sea following a visit to Liverpool. Wildcat is currently undergoing extensive trials with 700W Naval Air Squadron, which has been formed especiall
Six ships, led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, departed the U.S. for Scotland, March 14, to participate in Joint Warrior 14-2, a semiannual, United Kingdom-led training exercise designed to provide NATO and allied forces a unique multi-warfare environment in which to prepare for global
On 13 March 2014, EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Tornado departed Operation Atalanta’s patrol areas off the Somali coast after completing 105 days and is now heading for her home port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. As the ship set a navigation course for Spain, the Rear Admiral Bléjean, who is the F
Russia Deploys 60 Ships near Ukraine Russia has deployed 60 ships on the East border of Ukraine and in Crimea, Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Ihor Tenykh said on Tuesday, March 11. The Minister also stressed that there is no open aggression, since Russia does not officially recognize the tro
A magical day dawns on HNLMS Karel Doorman, the Royal Dutch Navy’s new Joint Support Ship while docked at Damen’s Yard in Ritthem, Zeeland, as it prepares for official christening on March 8th. The ship can be used for multiple purposes, including warship fueling and resupply, transportation of ar
The UK is going to invest over £300 million into building the Royal Navy’s next generation of nuclear submarines. Over the next 8 years BAE Systems’ boatyard in Barrow-in-Furness will undergo a transformation, part funded by the UK’s Ministry of Defence, to improve the infrastructure at the site,
As of Thursday 13 March, the Spanish Offshore Patrol Vessel, ESPS Relámpago joined the EU Naval Force to carry out counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia. ESPS Relámpago has replaced ESPS Tornado as the Spanish contribution to Operation Atalanta. ESPS Tornado is now on her way back home.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) arrived in Bulgaria for a port visit, March 13. Truxtun’s stay in the Black Sea will allow the ship to host an exercise planning conference with NATO allies March 15. The conference will focus on a multilateral naval exercise in the spirit of reassuri
HMS Sutherland is surrounded by a mass of scaffolding and sheeting as she’s part-way through a massive revamp in her home base of Devonport. Her paintwork has been stripped off, bow sonar removed and interior gutted during an 11-month refit in the imposing frigate shed. This gift-wrapped beauty is
