Joint Warrior 2017 Starts Today

1 Oct 2017 2 Comments

Type-23 class frigate HMS Argyll, seen here in early August during an overhaul in Plymouth is going to take part in Exercise Joint Warrior 2017/2.

Brilliant Mariner is not the only exercise NATO is conduction currently. Today, on 1st October 2017 Joint Warrior 2017 will kick off in Scotland which is larger than the exercise in France.

According to Royal Navy Joint Warrior is one of the largest military exercises of its kind in Europe, will run from October 1-12, providing NATO allies and partners with an opportunity to improve the tactics and procedures vital in today’s complex battlefield.

Fourteen nations will participate, bringing ships, aircraft and troops to military ranges across the country and to maritime exercise areas of the west and north coast of Scotland.

Activity will feature:

  • Thirty-five naval units from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK and the US, supported by 11 rotary wing aircraft.
  • RAF Lossiemouth and HMS Gannet in Prestwick hosting international aircraft from Canada, France, Norway, the UK and US.
  • Cape Wrath Weapons Range in the North of Scotland being used for joint fires activity.

Exercise Joint Warrior will also incorporate elements of another major exercise known as Formidable Shield, running from September 21 to October 18.

Below is the list of the ships taking part in the exercise:

Number Name Type Nation Fleet
M-924 BNS Primula Mine hunter Belgium SNMCMG1
M-314 ENS Sakala Mine hunter Estonia SNMCMG1
M-1062 FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg Mine hunter Germany SNMCMG1
A-53 LVNS Virsaitis Mine layer Latvia SNMCMG1
M-857 HNLMS Makkum Mine hunter Netherlands SNMCMG1
M-352 HNoMS Rauma Mine sweeper Norway SNMCMG1
F-931 BNS Loise Marie Frigate Belgium
336 HMCS Montreal Frigate Canada
F-362 HDMS Peter Willemoes Frigate Denmark
F-359 HDMS Vaedderen Frigate Denmark
M-644 FS Pegase Mine hunter France
M-650 FS Sagittaire Mine hunter France
D-652 FS Provence Frigate France
F-219 FGS Sachsen Frigate Germany
F-595 ITS Luigi Rizzo Frigate Italy
F-803 HNLMS Tromp Frigate Netherlands
F-804 HNLMS De Ruyter Frigate Netherlands
F-101 ESPS Alvara De Bazan Frigate Spain
F-83 HMS St. Albans Frigate UK
F-231 HMS Argyll Frigate UK
M-110 HMS Ramsey Mine hunter UK
M-106 HMS Penzance Mine hunter UK
M-39 HMS Hurworth Mine hunter UK
M-33 HMS Brocklesby Mine hunter UK
A-135 RFA Argus Support ship UK
75 USS Donald Cook Destroyer USA
81 USS Winston S Churchill Destroyer USA
57 USS Mitscher Destroyer USA
13 USNS Medger Evers Supply ship USA

Any additions and corrections are most welcome.

Filed under Exercise, NATO Tagged with , ,

Brilliant Mariner 2017 Has Kicked Off In France

30 Sep 2017 3 Comments

A part of the NATO fleet gathering in Toulon for Brilliant Mariner 2017. Refer the numbers to the list below for identification. Photo: French Armed Forces.

A large fleet of warships gathered in French town Toulon this week. The ships are part of NATO Maritime Command’s both Standing NATO Maritime Groups (SNMG) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG-2). In addition to the four NATO task forces, France and Spain have sent additional ships for the exercise.

France will take command of the maritime component of the Nato Response Force (NRF) from 1 January 2018, for a period of one year. This exercise will create a suitable training for the French
Rapid Response Force Headquarter as well as the participating units.

According to French Armed Forces Brilliant Mariner 2017, will take place from 29 September to 13 October 2017 in the Mediterranean Sea with the participation of 3500 sailors and thirty of units  and numerous aircraft from 3 nations

Below is the list of the ships taking part in the exercise. For the names of the ships of the photo above please refer to the last column.

Number Name Type Nation Fleet Number In the Photo
H-88 HMS Enterprise Support ship UK SNMCMG2 17
M-261 TCG Edremit Mine hunter Turkey SNMCMG2 18
M-5558 ITS Crotone Mine hunter Italy SNMCMG2 8
339 HMCS Charlottetown Frigate Canada SNMG1 1
A-1443 FGS Rhoen Support ship Germany SNMG1
F-312 HNoMS Otto Sverdrup Frigate Norway SNMG1 7
F-334 NRP Francisco De Almedia Frigate Portugal SNMG1 10
F-363 HDMS Niels Juel Frigate Denmark SNMG1 2
F-805 HNLMS Eversten Frigate Netherlands SNMG1 3
F-83 ESPS Numancia Frigate Spain SNMG1 14
L-17 HDMS Esbern Snare Support ship Denmark SNMG1
D-34 HMS Diamond Destroyer UK SNMG2 4
F-103 ESPS Blas de Lezo Frigate Spain SNMG2 5
F-244 TCG Barbaros Frigate Turkey SNMG2 9
F-451 HS Limnos Frigate Greece SNMG2 12
F-710 FS La Fayette Frigate France SNMG2 15
A-608 FS Var Support ship France
D-621 Chevalier De Paul Destroyer France 6
D-643 FS Jean De Vienne Destroyer France
D-653 FS Languedoc Destroyer France
F-714 FS Guépratte Frigate France 16
L-61 ESPS Juan Carlos 1 LHD Spain 11
L-9013 FS Mistral LHD France 13
M-645 FS Orion Mine hunter France
M-648 FS Lyre Mine hunter France

Any additions and corrections are most welcome.

UPDATE: I have removed SNMCMG-1 as it is taking part in another NATO exercise.

Filed under Exercise, Mediterranean, NATO Tagged with , , , , , ,

Dynamic Monarch 2017 Paticipant List

15 Sep 2017 2 Comments

Submarine rescue exercise Dynamic Monarch is continuing in Eastern Mediterranean, near Turkish Naval Base Aksaz.

The exercise is hosted by Turkey and sponsored by NATO. The participants are demonstrating multinational submarine rescue cooperation and interoperability. The exercise enables worldwide partners to share submarine escape and rescue related knowledge.

The above photo posted by NATO Submarine Command shows the participants to the exercise.

The names of the ships and submarines are below:

Number Pennant Number Name Type Country
1 P-1202 TCG  Köyceğiz Patrol Boat Turkey
2 A-5309 ITS Anteo Submarine Rescue Ship Italy
3 S-359 TCG Burakreis Submarine Turkey
4 M-270 TCG Akçay Mine Hunter Turkey
5 F-492 TCG Gemlik Frigate Turkey
6 SD Northern River Submarine Rescue Ship UK
7 S-74 ESPS Tramontana Submarine Spain
8 A-582 TCG Alemdar Submarine Rescue Ship Turkey
9 M-265 TCG Alanya Mine Hunter Turkey
10 S-353 TCG Preveze Submarine Turkey
11 A-590 TCG İnebolu Tug Turkey
12 P-1208 TCG Kaş Patrol Boat Turkey

Filed under Mediterranean Tagged with , , , , ,

Submarine Search, Escape And Rescue Exercise Dynamic Monarch 2017 Starts Tomorrow

7 Sep 2017 1 Comment

Commissioned in January this year, submarine rescue mother ship TCG Alemdar will take part in Dynamic Monarch exercise.

 

Turkey will host the submarine search, escape and rescue exercise Dynamic Monarch. The exercise is the 10th in a series of NATO sponsored exercise will start on 8th September off the coast of Marmaris, Turkey.

The aim of the exercise is to demonstrate multi-national submarine rescue co-operation and to share related knowledge amongst partners.

Following units will take part in the exercise:

From Turkey: One frigate, two rescue vessels, two submarines, two minesweepers, two patrol boats, one submarine parachute assistance team, one submarine one maritime patrol plane, one helicopter, two patrol vessels from Coast Guard, one ambulance helicopter from Turkish Army and one C-130 Hercules cargo plane from Turkish Air Force.
From Spain: One submarine.
From Italy: One submarine rescue mother ship, one submarine rescue vehicle
From US Navy: One diving bell
From Canada: One diving team, one medical assistance team
From Poland: One diving team
Further more the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS), owned and operated by Norway, France and the United Kingdom will also take part.

The exercise will end on 22nd September.

Filed under Mediterranean Tagged with , , , , , ,

Bulgarian Naval Exercise Breeze 2017 Has Started

15 Jul 2017 2 Comments

Super Vita class fast attack craft, HS Anthypoploiarchos Ritsos passed through Turkish Straits to participate in Breeze 2017 naval exercise.

Naming of military operations and exercises has always been a controversial topic. So it does not help much when Bulgaria names the naval exercise as Breeze when there is Ukrainian – USA joint exercise called Sea Breeze. It is not easy to distinguish between them two. The timing of these exercises makes it even more difficult.

Breeze 2017 is the Bulgarian exercise. The warships participating to this exercise have gathered in Varna.The exercise started on 14 July 2017 and will end on 23 July.

The purpose of the exercise is to develop cooperation and interoperability by performing actual maritime training among the multinational forces in the Black Sea. Besides the host, Turkey, USA, England, Italy, Poland, Romania and Greece are participating After Bulgaria, Turkey has the second largest number of units taking part in the exercise.

Here is the list of the participants as far as I could find:

Number Name Type Nationality
S-343 TCG Preveze Submarine Turkey
P-330 TCG Kılıç Fast attack craft Turkey
P-1214 TCG Karadeniz Ereğli Patrol boat Turkey
F-241 TCG Yıldırım Frigate Turkey
D-37 HMS Duncan Destroyer UK
P-71 HS Anthypoploiarchos Ritsos Fast attack craft Greece

Filed under Black Sea Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group Two In Istanbul

26 Mar 2017

The Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group Two arrived in Istanbul on 24 March 2017. The task group had made her northbound passage through the city 20 days before.

During this 20 days the task force first took part in Poseidon 2017. The mine warfare exercise was held between 5 and 15 March 2017.

After the completion of the exercise the task force sailed to Odessa, Ukraine. There the ship were open to public and received thousands of visitors during their stay there.

One day short of their allowance by the Montreux Convention the Task force sailed southbound through Istanbul Strait and docked in Istanbul port for a well-earned post visit.

Filed under Bosphorus, Sighting Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

The Participants In Dynamic Manta 2017

17 Mar 2017 3 Comments

The participants to Dynamic Manta 2017 ASW exercise. Click to enlarge.  Photo: NATO Allied Maritime Command

NATO Allied Maritime Command posted photos of the participants to Dynamic Manta 2017 anti submarine warfare exercise at Flicker.

It was announced that, 6 submarines and 10 surface ships were going to take part in this war game. The above photo shows all the submarines and most of the surface units.

The absence of Turkish frigate TCG Giresun from the group photos is noteworthy. It is also remarkable, the addition of Italian tanker ITS Etna, since Italian Navy has not announced this earlier.

Is ITS Etna is substituting for another ship, perhaps for the missing Royal Navy ship or was she photobombing the PHOTEX?

Nr of Photo Number Name Type Country
1 78 USS Porter Destroyer USA
2 D-560 ITS Luigi Durand De La Penne Destroyer Italy
3 781 USS California Submarine USA
4 F-459 HS Adrias Frigate Greece
5 D-642 FS Montcalm Destroyer France
6 A-14 ESPS Patiño Tanker Spain
7 S-120 HS Papanikolis Submarine Greece
8 S-360 TCG 1. İnönü Submarine Turkey
9 S-80 ESPS Mistral Submarine Spain
10 A-5326 ITS Etna Tanker Italy
11 340 HMCS St. John’s Frigate Canada
12 F-82 ESPS Victoria Frigate Spain
13 Ruby class Submarine France
14 S-528 ITS Pietro Venuti Submarine Italy
15 F-104 ESPS Méndez Núñez Frigate Spain
F-491 TCG Giresun Frigate Turkey

Filed under Exercise, Mediterranean Tagged with , , ,

Dynamic Manta 2017 Started In Italy

13 Mar 2017 5 Comments

TCG 1. İnönü in Catania port. Photo: NATO MARCOM

NATO’s Submarine Warfare Exercise Dynamic Manta 2017 began today off the Sicilian coast, with ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from 10 Allied nations.

According to NATO press release submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United States, under the control of Commander, Submarines NATO (COMSUBNATO), will join 10 surface ships from Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United States.

Nine Maritime Patrol Aircraft and three shore based helicopters from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States will operate from Sigonella Air Base under the control of Commander, Maritime Air NATO (COMMARAIRNATO).

The aim of this exercise is to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance their interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills, with due regard for safety.

Below is the list of the participant as best as I could find on internet. Additions and corrections are welcomed.

Number Name Type Country
340 HMCS St. John’s Frigate Canada
D-642 FS Montcalm Destroyer France
Submarine France
F-459 HS Adrias Frigate Greece
S-120 HS Papanikolis Submarine Greece
D-560 ITS Luigi Durand De La Penne Destroyer Italy
S-528 ITS Pietro Venuti Submarine Italy
A-14 ESPS Patiño Tanker Spain
F-104 ESPS Méndez Núñez Frigate Spain
F-82 ESPS Victoria Frigate Spain
S-80 ESPS Mistral Submarine Spain
F-491 TCG Giresun Frigate Turkey
S-360 TCG 1. İnönü Submarine Turkey
781 USS California Submarine USA
 78 USS Porter Destroyer USA

Filed under Exercise, Mediterranean Tagged with , , , , ,

Poseidon 2017 Naval Exercise

11 Mar 2017 2 Comments

NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two passing through Istanbul before taking part in Poseidon 2017.

Mine warfare exercise Poseidon, hosted by Romania is continuing in Black Sea

The exercise has started on 5 March 2016 and will end on 15 March 2017. Exercise Poseidon began in 2015 as a bilateral Romanian-Bulgarian naval exercise. The host for the exercise alternates each year between Romania and Bulgaria. NATO Standing Groups regularly participate in exercises in the Black Sea to support interoperability, practice NATO standard procedures, tactics and techniques with Allied nations bordering the Black Sea.

The main aim of the exercise is to promote mutual understanding, confidence, interoperability and defense cooperation among participating nations.

Furthermore, the exercise intents:

  • To enhance operational capabilities and readiness of all participants;
  • To exercise NATO maritime warfare procedures and tactics in a joint interagency, multinational environment;
  • To exercise NATO maritime procedures for command, control and communications;
  • To exercise NATO Rules of Engagement (NATO ROE – MC 362);
  • To enhance the CIMIC and interagency cooperation in multi-threat environment;
  • To practice standard operational procedures, communications, and support to maritime forces taking part in Crisis Response Operation (CRO)
  • To improve the operational and tactical interoperability between participating MW, ASW ships and EOD team.

Over 1500 troops and following ships are taking part in the exercise:

Number Name Type Country
63 BS Priboy Mine sweeper Bulgaria
M-1061 FGS Rottweil Mine hunter Germany
M-62 HS Europa Mine hunter Greece
511 Kontradmirał X. Czernicki Tender Poland
25 ROS Lieutenant Lupu Dunescu Mine sweeper Romania
30 ROS Sub Lieutenant Alexandru Axente Mine sweeper Romania
264 ROS Admiral Eustatiu Sebstian Corvette Romania
M-35 ESPS Duero Mine hunter Spain
M-265 TCG Alanya Mine hunter Turkey
M-269 TCG Anamur Mine hunter Turkey

Filed under Black Sea, Exercise, NATO Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Turkey Deploys Two Warships To SNMG-2

4 Mar 2017

f491

TCG Giresun passing through Istanbul in 2014. Photo: Yörük Işık.

Gabya class frigate F-491 TCG Giresun and Tuzla class patrol boat P-1201 TCG Karaburun has been deployed to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two.

According to NATO Maritime Command, TCG Giresun is attached to SNMG-2 Task Unit 2 consisting of Spanish frigate ESPS Almirante Juan De Borbon and Canadian frigate HMCS St. John’s. TCG Giresun will join the task force in Toronto, Italy.

The patrol boat TCG Karaburun is deployed closer to Turkey. She is will support NATO activities in the Aegean Sea as part of the international efforts to stop illegal trafficking and migration. Tuzla class patrol boats have been very active last year in the Aegean Sea and rescued hundreds may be thousands of refugees from the sea.

Filed under NATO, Turkish Navy Tagged with , , , ,

← Older posts

Newer posts →

%d bloggers like this: