First SIGMA Frigate for Morocco Begins Sea Trials

The 105 meter-long SIGMA class frigate, built by Damen Schelde Naval ShipBuilding for the Royal Moroccan Navy, left Vlissingen on the 6th of May for her sea acceptance trials in the North Sea, right on schedule as agreed in the contract.

During the SAT, an extensive program will be carried out in which the platform as well as the sensor weapons and communications suite will be tested.

The second frigate of 98 meters is scheduled for sea trials at the end of 2011 as the third frigate, also 98 meters long, is still under construction at the Damen yard in Vlissingen, to be launched in September this year.

NZ Navy frigate test fires Phalanx during exercise Bersama Shield

SYDNEY (BNS): New Zealand Navy’s Anzac class frigate HMNZS Te Mana has successfully test-fired the Phalanx close-in weapons System (CIWS) during the ongoing Bersama Shield 2011 military exercise in the South China Sea.

The Phalanx system, a 6 barreled radar controlled 20mm machine gun that can fire up to 75 rounds of hardened steel bullets a second (4500 per minute), was test fired “to calibrate the CIWS radar tracking system to ensure accuracy.” 

“Four firings were undertaken, with a total of 550 rounds fired,” the Royal New Zealand Navy said.

First SIGMA-class frigate for Moroccan Navy begins sea trials

VLISSINGEN (BNS): The first SIGMA-class frigate build for Royal Moroccan Navy has begun its sea acceptance trials (SAT) in the North Sea on schedule, announced its manufacturer company, Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.

The 105 mtrs long frigate has left Vlissingen on the 6th of May for the trials.

During the SAT, an extensive programme will be carried out in which the platform as well as the sensor weapons and communications suite will be tested.

The second frigate of 98 mtrs is scheduled for sea trials at the end of 2011.

DSNS is also constructing the third frigate (98 mtrs) at the Damen yard in Vlissingen. The ship will be launched in September this year.

Indian Navy operationalises JOCs at three naval commands

NEW DELHI (PTI): To improve coordination among agencies involved in maritime security, Indian Navy has operationalised Joint Operation Centres at its three Naval Commands and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

It has also put in place Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to conduct joint maritime drills. 

"JOCs have been established at Western, Eastern and Southern Naval Commands and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Navy has also issued a set of SOPs to coordinate with Indian Coast Guards (ICG) and other stake holders in maritime security," Defence Ministry officials said here. 

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Liverpool's gun silences Gaddafi rocket battery

HMS Liverpool pummelled an enemy rocket battery after it opened fire on the destroyer off the besieged Libyan city of Misrata this morning.

The words ‘Four-five, engage’ were issued after a salvo of rockets was launched at Liverpool as she and Allied warships tried to stop Colonel Gaddafi’s forces mining the waters off the port.

The destroyer’s main 4.5in gun responded with a series of withering blows which silenced the pro-government battery.

It’s the first time the main guns of the Royal Navy have been fired in anger since they plastered Saddam Hussein’s defences in the opening moments of the 2003 Iraq campaign.

SAS Isandlwana headed home

The South African Navy frigate, SAS Isandlwana, is headed home after picking up 11 seriously injured Taiwanese sailors from the weather station on Tristan da Cunha Island on Saturday. The frigate sailed into a stormy South Atlantic Ocean last week Tuesday. The Valour-class warship is expected back in Simon's Town tomorrow morning. 

The Taiwanese sailors were landed on the island last Monday after an explosion caused by an ammonia gas leak aboard the fishing vessel Lai Ching. The South African Maritime Safety Authority's (SAMSA) Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre asked the South African National Defence Force to conduct the rescue operation after the explosion on the ship in late April. The Isandlwana was on Monday, May 2, tasked to set sail for the island, a rocky British possession some 2816 kilometres west-south-west from Cape Town, about halfway to South America. 

Memorial service for Falklands leader Sir Henry

A MEMORIAL service will be held next month to honour Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach, one of the Navy's greatest leaders in the modern era.

Sir Henry, who helped sink the Scharnhorst in World War 2 and went on to lead the Royal Navy as First Sea Lord during the Falklands conflict – famously telling premier Mrs Thatcher that his Fleet could (and should) liberate the islands – died last month at the age of 87.

His decisiveness in 1982 helped to enshrine his position as one of the most revered – and best-loved – Naval leaders of the post-war age.

A service of thanksgiving for his life and achievements will be held in Winchester Cathedral on Friday June 17 at 2pm.

Those wishing to attend are invited to apply for tickets no later than May 27 either by email tosue.dickinson428@mod.uk or by letter to Mrs S Dickinson, Navy Command Headquarters, MP G-2, West Battery, Whale Island, Portsmouth, PO2 8DX.

Tickets will be despatched from June 1 and will be issued on an individual basis; applications should therefore include the full names of all those who wish to attend. Admission to the service will be by ticket only.

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Royal Navy commissions HMS Diamond

LONDON (BNS): The Royal Navy has formally commissioned the new Type 45 air defence destroyers into its fleet, according to the Minstry of Defence. 

HMS Diamond was commissioned on Friday in a traditional ceremony in her homeport of Portsmouth. The ship is one of the six multi-role vessels being built to provide air defence using the Sea Viper missile system.

Indian Army, Air Force joint exercise to start tomorrow

JAIPUR (PTI): A six-day long joint exercise of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force will begin Monday in the deserts of Bikaner and Suratgarh near Pakistan border.

'Vijayee Bhava', the May 9-14 inter-services exercise, will involve tank to tank wars, helicopter operations and others, Army officials said.

Personnel from both the services are practising for 15 days to successfully carry out the drill.

Royal Marines wounded celebrate first social event

ORDINARILY we don’t publish group shots.

But aside from being a rather nice photograph – taken by LA(Phot) Jenny Lodge – this is no ordinary group shot.

In fact, it’s no ordinary group.

This is the first ‘all ranks’ regimental dinner for Hasler Company Royal Marines, hosted by the Sergeants’ Mess 42 Commando.

Hasler Company was formed 18 months ago as a dedicated unit to help seriously wounded/injured commandos on the ‘journey back to business’ – recovery, rehabilitation and re-integration.

Final civic honour for the Fighting G

THERE is the chance for the good folk of Gloucester to see the men and women who uphold the city’s name on the high seas for the last time tomorrow.

Sailors from HMS Gloucester will parade through the streets before a service celebrating the destroyer’s achievements over the past 25 years.

They will be joined in the civic ceremonies by local leaders, plus the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (the latter is the destroyer’s proud sponsor and has followed the warship’s progress avidly since she launched her at the now-defunct Vosper Thornycroft yard in Southampton in 1982).

Navy Conducts Maintenance and Modernization Performance Review

Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center (CNRMC) and the Executive Director of Surface Warfare for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA-SEA 21B) participated in the Navy's inaugural maintenance and modernization performance review (MMPR) in San Diego, April 26-27.

Capt. David Gale, commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center; and Bilyana Anderson, executive director, NAVSEA-SEA 21B; spoke to more than one hundred military, civilian and contract personnel who are involved in all facets of surface ship maintenance and modernization.

Navy to Christen Guided Missile Destroyer Michael Murphy

The Navy will christen the newest guided-missile destroyer, Michael Murphy, Saturday, May 7, 2011, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at General Dynamics  Bath Iron works, Bath, Maine. The new destroyer honors Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) Lt. Michael P. Murphy who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan June 28, 2005.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Maureen Murphy will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her late son. In accordance with Navy tradition, she will break a bottle of champagne across the ship’s bow to formally christen the ship.

US Army tranfers High Speed Vessels to Navy

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US Navy has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Army for transferring all five of the Army’s Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) to the Navy.

The intent of this MOA is to clarify relationships, identify the roles and responsibilities, and provide an implementation plan, a US DOD statement said.

Indian Navy concludes exercise 'Sagar Kavach'

NEW DELHI (PTI): Seeking to enhance coordination between agencies involved in the country’s coastal and maritime security, the Indian Navy has completed a two-day exercise – Sagar Kavach – off the coast of Goa and Maharashtra.

“The exercise was a drill for all the stake holders in maritime security. It was a periodic exercise aimed at improving coordination between Navy, Coast Guard, customs, port authorities and marine police,” an Indian Navy official said here.