Vessels
Germany deploys frigate to Mediterranean migrant rescue mission
Germany is sending its F123 frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to the Mediterranean Sea and EU’s migrant-rescue operation Sophia. The Brandenburg-class frigate is set to depart the German Willhelmshaven navy base on August 7 to join the mission for the second time. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern previously cont
Watch the Brazilian Navy sink a former Royal Navy frigate during missile exercises
The Brazilian Navy recently concluded a missile exercise in waters off Rio de Janeiro during which ships and aircraft of the navy sank the decommissioned frigate Bosísio. Navy units took turns firing their armaments at the former Royal Navy Type 22 frigate until it sank. A Brazilian Navy S-70B Seaha
Babcock, BAE bag £170m worth of Royal Navy contracts
The UK defence ministry’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) office signed a seven-year contract with Babcock International Group to keep Royal Navy ships supplied with items essential for day-to-day maintenance and operations. The contract, announced by defence minister Harriett Baldwin in Portsm
Egyptian, Hellenic Navy in aeronautical drills in the Med
Ships, submarines and aircraft from the navies of Greece and Egypt started training activities as part of the bilateral exercise Medusa 1/2017. The aero-nautical exercise runs from July 30 to August 3 and is being held in the Mediterranean Sea in waters north of Cairo, as well as in Alexandria Naval
US Navy searching for missing USS Stethem sailor in South China Sea
A U.S. Navy sailor from the guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem went missing on Augist 1 during routine operations in the South China Sea and the search is still ongoing, the U.S. Navy said. Ships and aircraft from the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are taking part in search and re
Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group begins final deployment workups
U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and ships from its carrier strike group got underway on August to start the final work-up phase prior to deployment scheduled later this year. Composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) evaluates the strike group’s deployment readiness by testing co
BAE Systems gets $33m contract for USS Lassen dry-docking refit
The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Mayport a $33.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for work on the Dry-dock Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) repairs of guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82). According to a U.S. Department of Defense announcement, the work will
Swiftship cleared for $150m Iraqi Navy support contract
U.S. shipbuilder Swiftships is poised to receive a $150 million contract for support services on coastal patrol vessels it built for the Iraqi Navy under a contract from 2010. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on August 1 that the possible foreign military sale to the Republic o
Royal Navy auxiliary ship returns home after two years of operations
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Fort Victoria is back home after over two years of operations. Fort Victoria arrived in Crombie, Fife, after concluding a 26-month deployment. During her 26-month deployment, Fort Victoria carried out a total of 150 underway replenishment operations, issuing 58,634
Republic of Korea Navy receives second LST-II landing ship ‘Cheon Ja Bong’
The Republic of Korea Navy received its new landing ship on August 1, according to an announcement from the country’s arms procurement agency DAPA. The Hyundai Heavy Industries-built ship is named ‘Cheon Ja Bong’ and is the second of overall four LST ships to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Na
US ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island undocks in overhaul milestone
U.S. Navy’s ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island achieved an overhaul milestone at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) undocking ahead of schedule. Entering water on July 17, the Ohio-class submarine set a new record for Engineered Refueling Overhauls (EROs) on the East Coast, beating NNSY’s forme
USS Nimitz starts ISIS strikes from the Persian Gulf
F/A-18 jets from the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz have started flying sorties from the Persian Gulf targeting ISIS positions in Iraq and Syria. This is the first time the carrier and ships from its carrier strike group are supporting operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition fight against ISIS,
Naval Group appoints Australia executive director
French shipbuilder Naval Group (former DCNS) has appointed a new executive director to work with the Commonwealth of Australia on the Australian Future Submarine program. Jean-Michel Billig, the Australia executive director joined Naval Group in May 2017 as special advisor to Hervé Guillou, Presiden
US Army watercraft unit joins Navy drills in Persian Gulf
A U.S. Army watercraft unit based out of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, took part in the U.S. Navy’s quarterly trilateral exercise in the Persian Gulf, from July 24-26, 2017. The trilateral exercise incorporated the U.S. Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, along with the Kuwaiti Navy and Coast Guard, and I