Vessels
HMAS Dechaineux submariners visit Hobart
Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class HMAS Dechaineux made a port visit in Hobart, Australia for a few days recently. Breaking up their long transit to New Zealand, Dechaineux sailed north to Jervis Bay to spend a day at anchor conducting maintenance. It also enabled some of the ship’s company a cha
Royal Navy leads US task force 50 during counter-ISIS ops for first time ever
Royal Navy Commodore Andrew Burns, commander of Amphibious Task Group embarked on the U.K.’s HMS Ocean (L 12), took command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force (CTF) 50 in the Arabian Gulf, November 25. This marks the first time a Royal Navy officer has led a U.S. task force in the Mid
Russian destroyer helps Ukrainian fisherman adrift in Mediterranean
The crew of the Russian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov rendered assistance to an Ukrainian fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea on November 24. According to the Russian ministry of defense, the Northern Fleet warship towed the distressed Ukrainian fishing boat to an an
Royal Navy destroyer towed back to port after engine breakdown
Royal Navy’s Type 4 destroyer HMS Duncan had to be towed back to Devonport after experiencing a breakdown off Plymouth. According to a report by the Plymouth Herald, a Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed this saying the ship had experienced “technical issues”. The ship was towed back to port on
DCNS gets through-life support contract for French ballistic submarines
The French Navy has awarded DCNS a through-life support contract for the four Triomphant-class ballistic nuclear submarines based in Brest. This new contract is awarded for a total duration of almost nine years. It represents a direct follow-on to the previous SSBN routine maintenance contracts. Acc
Albanian Navy starts first ever deployment with NATO
The Albanian Navy joined it’s first-ever NATO maritime mission by deploying its patrol boat ALS Oriku to Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 on Monday. The vessel will support NATO activities in the Aegean Sea as part of the international efforts to stop illegal trafficking and migration. ALS Oriku is an
US destroyer joins French aircraft carrier on mission against ISIS
U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) is providing multi-warfare defense to the French Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group (CDG CSG) from the Eastern Mediterranean in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The strike group centered around the French aircraft carrier supports the
GRSE launches seventh LCU for Indian Navy
Indian shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers launched the Indian Navy’s seventh MK IV landing craft utility in Kolkata, on November 24. LCU-L57, as the vessel was named during the ceremony, is the seventh vessel in the series of eight landing craft utility ships being designed and buil
Royal Navy patrol boat ‘Example’ completes year-long refit
After a year in refit HMS Example has made her return to the the Royal Navy fleet, and taken her place as one of 14 patrol boats that make up the Royal Navy’s 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (1PBS). The Archer-class patrol boat has a new Ship’s Company, headed by Lieutenant Thomas Stapley-Bunten RN. HMS Ex
Norway contracts Kongsberg for Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate upgrades
The Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) has contracted Kongsberg Defence Systems to upgrade the combat management systems of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates. Under the agreement, the defense company will also update the ships’ active sonar systems. Kongsberg said the c
Italy launches first Aster 30 missile from FREMM frigate Carlo Bergamini
The lead ship of the Italian Navy’s FREMM frigates recently accomplished a first for the Italian Navy by launching the Aster 30 missile at the Italian Quirra firing range on November 22. By firing the missile, Fincantieri-built frigate Carlo Bergamini tested the SAAM ESD (surface anti air missile –
Future littoral combat ship ‘Gabrielle Giffords’ completes acceptance trials
U.S. Navy’s future Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) completed its acceptance trials November 18, the U.S. Navy announced. The trials, which are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship to the Navy, consisted of a series of in-port and underway
Australian Navy submarines to get sonar upgrades
Australian Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne announced that Thales Australia has been awarded a $100 million contract to design a major sonar system upgrade for Collins class submarines. The minister added that Thales Australia will engage other Australian-based companies including Sona
Fast attack submarine USS Scranton sails into new homeport
U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 757) arrived at Naval Base Point Loma (NBPL) in her new homeport of San Diego, November 21. Scranton arrived after completing extensive maintenance at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) in Kittery, Maine, and three months of operatio