Vessels
US Navy destroyer Porter enters Black Sea
US Navy’s Spain-based Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) is entering the Black Sea for exercises and engagements with regional allies. The US Navy said the Aegis destroyer started its north-bound transit to the Black Sea on August 8. Porter’s arrival in the Black Sea wi
New Royal Navy OPV monitors Russian counterpart in English Channel
The lead ship of a new class of Royal Navy patrol ships is escorting one of the Russian Navy’s recently-commissioned Project 22160 patrol ships as it transits the English Channel. The second-batch River-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Forth had just returned to UK waters from her first foreig
Egyptian, French Navies train in the Med
French and Egyptian Navy ships rendezvoused in the Mediterranean Sea for a series of exercises aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two sides. French Cassard-class anti-air frigate Jean Bart and Egyptian frigate Damietta conducted drills in Egyptian Navy’s Northern Mediterranean Fleet area
Royal Navy joining Persian Gulf maritime mission with US Navy
The UK has confirmed its navy ships would join US assets on a new international maritime security mission in the Persian Gulf. The mission will see the Royal Navy working alongside the US Navy to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The push to organize an international m
Royal Navy frigate escorts Chinese Type 052C destroyer through English Channel
Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster escorted a Chinese Type 052C destroyer through the English Channel as it was returning from Russia’s annual Navy Days event in St Petersburg. Fresh from a five-month patrol with NATO in the waters of northern Europe, Portsmouth-based HMS Westminster was activated t
Citing synergies, Germany chooses NH90 as Sea Lynx successor
After choosing the NHIndustries-developed NH90 to replace its old Sea King search and rescue helicopters, the German Navy now announced that it has picked the NH90 as replacement for the Sea Lynx Mk 88A helicopters. The navy said the decision to have a single aircraft type adjusted for performing bo
US command ship returns to Italian homeport after Baltic deployment
USS Mount Whitney supported a major milestone by the re-established US 2nd Fleet.
Final Tide-class tanker joins Royal Navy fleet
Almost a year after arriving in the UK for military customization and armament, Tide-class tanker RFA Tideforce entered service. Tideforce is the final of four ships in the class acquired to support Royal Navy, NATO and ally ship operations by providing fuel and fresh water. After receiving military
Jet suit man dashes between Royal Navy boats at sea
A Royal Marine Reservist who developed his own jet-powered body suit headed into the Solent with fast patrol boat HMS Dasher and a couple of boats to test his invention over the water for the first time. Richard Browning has demonstrated the potential of his jet-powered suit to the Royal Marines, jo
Standing NATO groups welcome new flagships in Spain
NATO’s two standing maritime groups welcomed new flagships in a ceremony at naval station Rota, Spain, on July 26. SNMG1, the group that mainly operates in the North and Baltic Sea, has a US Navy ship at its helm again as USS Gravely (DDG 107) was relieved by sister destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101).
HMS Duncan arrives in the Gulf to bolster merchant shipping protection
Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has arrived in the Persian Gulf where it is set to ensure the safe passage of British-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s seizing of tanker Stena Impero on July 19. Last week the government confirmed that the Royal Navy has been tasked to accom
Special Operations Forces drill Trojan Footprint expanding from the Baltic
Personnel from ten nations rehearsed the rapid deployment of special operations and armed forces in a drill that is no longer confined to the Baltic region. Taking place this June in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania, exercise Trojan Footprint 19 was led by Special Operations Command Europe and included
German minehunter Weilheim joining NATO mine warfare group SNMCMG1
German Navy Frankenthal-class minehunter FGS Weilheim is set to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) for over four months of joint operations. The vessel will depart its Kiel homeport on July 29 for a two-week at-sea phase before heading to the German Navy’s fire and damage
Italian aircraft carrier Cavour docks for F-35B upgrades
The 2008-built carrier will be fitted with capability to operate the Joint Strike Fighter.