Vessels
UK’s Trident guardians hone commando skills
Royal Marines 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group took part in an exercise named Revenant Shadow, sharpening their commando skills. The 550-strong Faslane-based unit performs the most important duty of any military personnel in the land – except submariners operating Britain’s nuclear deterrent: name
Third US Coast Guard buoy tender starts mid life refit
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kukui arrived at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, on February 21, to begin its midlife maintenance availability (MMA) as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program. Kukui is the third of 16 seagoing buoy tenders to undergo the mid life refit. Work o
Spain takes helm of counter-piracy mission off Africa
Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas assumed the role of force commander of the European Union’s counter-piracy operation Atalanta off the Horn of Africa. Rojas assumed command on board his flagship, ESPS Galicia, during a ceremony held in Djibouti on Friday. Djibouti is a
South Africa announces preferred bidders for new navy vessels
Armscor, the acquisition agency for the South African Department of Defence, announced the preferred bidders for the construction of South African Navy’s project “Biro” and “Hotel” vessels. In 2014, Armscor solicited offers on a multi-source tender basis from prospective shipyards for the supply of
US Navy destroyer arrives in Plymouth, UK, for FOST certification
U.S. Navy sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) arrived in Plymouth, United Kingdom, for a regular port visit and for the opportunity to complete the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) certification FOST is an advanced warfare certification training event
Royal Navy of Oman hosts U.S., France, U.K. for exercises
Over ten ships from four nations are participating in the annual, Royal Navy of Oman-hosted exercise Khunjar Haad that takes place in the Gulf of Oman. Ships from the Royal Navy of Oman are joined by U.S., French and Royal Navy ships in gunnery and air defense exercises aimed at maintaining the sail
South African, German Navy in Baltic Sea drills
The German Navy and Air Force are once again enhancing their relationship with the South African Navy through a drill called “Good Hope VII”. As the “VII” in the name of the bilateral maneuver suggests, this is the seventh time the two countries are organizing the exercise. This is, however, the fir
US Coast Guard awards heavy polar icebreaker design studies contracts
The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded $20 million worth of contracts for heavy polar icebreaker design studies and analysis, the service announced on Wednesday. The objective of the studies is to identify design and systems approaches that will reduce acquisition cost and production timelines. In additio
Indian Navy frigate INS Betva upright again
Indian Navy P-16A-class frigate INS Betwa which tipped over on her side during undocking in December last year has been made upright again, the Indian Navy informed on Thursday. The operation was a joint effort of workers at Naval Dockyard Mumbai and the salvage firm M/s Resolve Marine, specifically
US Navy cruiser pulls into Tallinn, Estonia
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) parted ways with the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group and arrived in Tallinn, Estonia, for a scheduled port visit on February 22. While in port, Hue City is scheduled to host distinguished military and civilian visitors for an on-board
After sea trials, HMS Westminster switches to war drills
Having completed sea trials in January following a two-year refit, Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster and her crew started combat readiness drills. The frigate has flashed up her main gun for the first time in two years – putting down 23 rounds a minute – and welcomed a submarine-hunting M
Indian Coast Guard commissions fourth Samarth-class OPV
The Indian Coast Guard commissioned the fourth of six offshore patrol vessels in Goa on February 21. Named Shaunak, the 105-meter vessel was commissioned at Goa Shipyards Limited facilities, which is in charge of designing and building these vessels. Shaunak is fitted with a 30 mm CRN 91 naval gun,
Dutch Navy upgrades support vessel HNLMS Pelikaan
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s logistic support vessel HNLMS Pelikaan is undergoing refit works at the naval base Parera in Willemstad, Curaçao, where it is expected to remain until April 2017. HNLMS Pelikaan was launched in 2006 in Galati, Romania, and sailed into Willemstad for the first time on 11
US Navy destroyer concludes independent forward deployment
U.S. Navy’s Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) concluded an independent deployment to the Arabian Gulf, western Pacific, and Indian Ocean and returned to Pearl Harbor on February 21. Hopper spent 180 days forward-deployed to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleets, with more than 3