Vessels
France launches seventh FREMM frigate Alsace
The French Navy’s seventh FREMM frigate was floated out Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard on April 18. In addition to being the seventh unit in the class, FREMM Alsace is also the first of two air-defense variants that will be delivered to the navy under the program. Alsace was launched thirteen months
US destroyer Ross stops in Bulgaria on first Black Sea port visit
US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, April 15 for the first port visit of its Black Sea tour. The ship transited the Bosphorus Strait to enter the Black Sea on April 14. The navy did not say how long the destroyer would stay in the region but the 1936 [&he
Kership delivers final B2M multi-mission ship to French Navy
The French defense procurement agency has accepted delivery of the fourth and final d’Entrecasteaux-class multi-mission ship from the Kership joint venture. Dumont d’Urville, as the unit is called, was delivered to the French Navy in a ceremony on April 5. Like its predecessors, the ship will sail f
Royal Navy seeking proposals for autonomous XLUUV development
The UK defense ministry is seeking proposals for the development of an autonomous version of an existing extra large unmanned undersea vehicle (XLUUV). The development would be part of a Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) multi-year themed competition which will seek to develop a platform to un
US, French aircraft carriers meet up in the Red Sea
Two groups of ships assembled around aircraft carriers from the navies of the US and France gathered in the Red Sea for a three-nation passing exercise (PASSEX) on April 15. France’s Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group, composed of Marine Nationale’s FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91), F70AA-class air d
Italian Navy receives eighth FREMM frigate Antonio Marceglia
The Italian Navy has taken delivery of FREMM frigate Antonio Marceglia from shipbuilder Fincantieri at its Muggiano, La Spezia, shipyard. The eighth frigate in its class overall and the fourth in multipurpose configuration was delivered on April 16. The future ITS Antonio Marceglia was delivered aft
Norwegian logistics and support vessel HNoMS Maud arrives home
HNoMS Maud, the Royal Norwegian Navy’s new logistics and support vessel, arrived to its new homeport of Haakonsvern navy base after a 14,598 nautical mile voyage from South Korea where it was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). Maud arrived in Norway in late March after visitin
USS Abraham Lincoln pulls into Palma de Mallorca for first port call in seven years
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) arrived in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on April 15, for its first port visit in seven years. The ship completed completed a mid-life overhaul in 2017 and has been working up for this deployment ever since. The visit marks the first liberty port cal
Norwegian frigate HNOMS Helge Ingstad returns to water
The Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad was refloated on April 10, less than six weeks after she was transported to the Haakonsvern navy base from the seafloor in Hjeltefjorden. Prior to her raising and transport, the frigate spent several months almost completely submerged after collid
US, French, UK navies kick off mine warfare drill in Persian Gulf
Ships from the navies of the US, the UK and France have kicked off the mine countermeasures exercise Artemis Trident in the Persian Gulf. “Mine laying poses a risk to naval ships as well as merchant shipping vessels,” the US 5th Fleet said in an announcement. “As mines threaten maritime traffic indi
20-ship Black Sea exercise Sea Shield 2019 concludes in Romania
The Romanian-hosted exercise Sea Shield 2019 concluded in the Black Sea on April 13. In addition to Romanian Navy units, the annual drill was joined by five NATO ships which are part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2). In total, over 20 ships and crews from Romania, Bulgaria, Canada, Gr
Royal Navy destroyer returns from 7-month Middle East drug stint
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon returned to Portsmouth on April 12, completing seven months of drug-busting action in the Middle East. During her time at sea, Dragon carried out eight successful raids on drugs smugglers, capturing narcotics worth an estimated £145 million. HMS Dragon deploye
Royal Navy frigate arrives in Bahrain for three years of operations
Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose arrived in Bahrain on April 3 to start a three-year mission in the Persian Gulf state. Montrose sailed into the UK’s new support facility in Bahrain after a six-month journey, which saw her cover 47,000-miles from her home in Plymouth. From Bahrain, she will conduct r
Bomb scare on Royal Navy nuclear submarine yard a hoax
The BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness shipyard was evacuated on April 10 after a bomb was reported to have been found on one of the Royal Navy nuclear submarines under construction at the yard. An estimated 1,700 staff are believed to have been evacuated in the process. “Following an extensive sweep of