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John Currin

15 years in Royal New Zealand Navy

HMAS Pioneer (formerly HMS Pioneer) was a Pelorus-class light cruiser built for the Royal Navy at the end of the 19th century.

She was transferred to the fledgling Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1912. During World War I, the cruiser captured two German merchant ships, and was involved in the East African Campaign, including the blockade of the cruiser SMS Königsberg and a bombardment of Dar-es-Salaam. She returned to Australia in late 1916 and was decommissioned. Pioneer was used as an accommodation ship for the following six years, then was stripped down and sold off by 1926. The cruiser was scuttled outside Sydney Heads in 1931

86 years ago, the Australian Navy and the Melbourne cup – (Coincidentally, I was on HMNZS Otago 1962 and happened to visit Melbourne for the Melbourne cup. A few of us did go to Flemington but did not have a win. Still remember the name of the winner that year – Lord Fury)

Oct. 30, 1937: The Horse Race That Stops A Navy

814. Oh my oh my, it’s Melbourne Cup horse race time again, and yet again the hard-worked ships of the Royal Australian Navy find themselves faced with urgent chores to be done in Melbourne. In Australia, the two-mile thoroughbred classic, The Melbourne Cup, is run on the first Tuesday in November and is known as ‘the horse race that stops a nation.’ Stops a Navy, that’s for sure. About 2.40pm on Melbourne Cup Day would be the time to attack Australia. The entire nation could be done over by the time the winning horse is back in the saddling enclosure. Everyone listens in, and traditionally the main units of the RAN have always berthed at Port Melbourne during Cup Week. 1937 was no exception. Seen here at Station Pier are [from rear] the heavy cruisers HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] and CANBERRA [I], destroyers HMAS WATERHEN and VENDETTA [I], Grimsby Class sloop HMAS SWAN [II] in the foreground, with the funnel of the flotilla leader HMAS STUART visible opposite her.

Coincidentally, I was on HMNZS Otago 1962 and happened to visit Melbourne for the Melbourne cup. A few of us did go to Flemington but did not have a win. Still remember the name of the winner that year – Lord Fury

Ford, Ike carrier strike groups exercise in Eastern Mediterranean

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

 Nov 4, 08:29 AM

As the world waits to see whether the Israel-Hamas war will balloon into a larger regional conflict, two U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups conducted exercises together in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea this week.

Sailors from the Gerald R. Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as two Italian frigates — Virginio Fasan and Carlo Margottini — and the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship Mount Whitney, engaged in “high-value unit defense, ballistic missile defense, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations and maritime security operations,” the Navy said Friday.

More than 11,000 U.S. personnel participated in the three-day exercise.

HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth with F-35s on flight deck after short stop

3rd November 2023 at 4:40pm

Watch: HMS Queen Elizabeth departs Portsmouth for North Sea.

HMS Queen Elizabeth has left Portsmouth Naval Base the same way she arrived – with her F-35 fighter jets lined up on the flight deck.

The Royal Navy’s flagship had returned to her home port last Sunday, having spent time deployed in northern European waters with her Nato and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies.

Unusually, the £3bn vessel returned with her embarked F-35Bs on her flight deck – and the state-of-the-art jets remained there as she set sail from Portsmouth on Friday afternoon.

Friends, families and members of the public gathered on the city’s walls to wave off the ship and her crew.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s official account said the ship was returning to the North Sea.

“Farewell, Portsmouth! After a brief logistics stop we’re back to sea to resume our NATO tasking with our allies and partners in the North Sea. We’ve achieved a lot so far, but there’s much more to come!” the post said.

A Royal Navy spokesperson earlier said the ship had returned to Portsmouth for a logistics stop and a short period of maintenance.

The carrier and its aircraft recently took part in a range of exercises and training off the Norwegian coast.

The Royal Navy said the activity came as the UK Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, ramped up its work alongside its JEF allies.

HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed in Norway’s fjords and also visited the Swedish city of Gothenburg where events were hosted on board to “forge deeper bonds between the nations’ armed forces”.

JEF is a high-readiness task group committed to regional security that can respond to crises either alongside or independent of Nato.

Royal Marines snipers shoot out engines to bring drug-runners’ boat to a halt

Alex Walters

3rd November 2023 at 2:32pm

Royal Navy destroyer scores £60m drugs bust in the Caribbean Sea 03112023 CREDIT Royal Navy MOD
HMS Dauntless launched her Wildcat helicopter and a Royal Marines sniper team to close in on the suspect craft (Picture: Royal Navy)

A Royal Marines sniper team has brought a Caribbean drug-runners’ power boat to a “juddering halt” after shooting out its engines.

US Coast Guard personnel, working alongside the sailors and marines on board Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless, were then able to seize £60m worth of cocaine, which the smugglers had been attempting to throw overboard.

The Portsmouth-based destroyer has now taken her tally to more than £200m worth of illegal narcotics intercepted after hunting down the 35ft vessel.

The Royal Navy said: “During a routine counter-narcotics patrol of the Caribbean Sea, Dauntless launched her Wildcat helicopter and Royal Marines sniper team to close in on the suspect craft.

“When smugglers began to jettison their illegal cargo, their engines were taken out with precision by the commando snipers, bringing the boat to a juddering halt.

“That allowed a US Coast Guard team to be dispatched from Dauntless and 11 large bales of cocaine weighing 330kg to be seized.”

Royal Navy warship Dauntless seized £60m worth of drugs and forced traffickers to scuttle their speedboat 03112023 CREDIT Royal Navy MOD
HMS Dauntless took her tally to more than £200m worth of illegal narcotics intercepted after hunting down the 35ft power boat (Picture: Royal Navy).

‘Proved their resilience’

HMS Dauntless’ Commanding Officer, Commander Ben Dorrington, said: “With another bust under the ship’s belt I cannot ask for more from my team.

“Their work ethos and attention to detail remains second to none, which shines through on such interdiction operations such as the last few months.

“The ship’s company have once again proved their resilience whilst in theatre, being able to adapt extremely efficiently to the ever-changing environment we work in.”

Earlier in the same patrol, but in a separate operation, suspected smugglers scuttled their speedboat as Dauntless closed in.

After being guided into position by US maritime patrol aircraft, Dauntless deployed her US Coast Guard detachment to board and search the craft – only for it to turn into a rescue operation when the small speedboat was sabotaged by its crew.

With their alleged smuggling mission foiled, cargo lost and boat sunk, two people were saved and brought aboard HMS Dauntless where they received medical treatment, food and water before being transferred to a US Navy ship the following day.

HMS Dauntless seized £60m worth of drugs and forced traffickers to scuttle their speedboat 03112023 CREDIT Royal Navy MOD
Dauntless deployed to the Caribbean in May, and have joined the international fight against drugs smuggling (Picture: Royal Navy).

One of Dauntless’ officers said: “It is imperative that the safety of all personnel involved is paramount, including that of the people suspected of transporting illicit contraband.

“To that end, it was vital that with their fast-sinking vessel, we suspended the boarding operation in order to rescue the two souls on the small craft to ensure their safety and lives were not put at risk.”

Dauntless deployed to the Caribbean in May to work with British Overseas Territories during the region’s hurricane season, but also to join the international fight against drug smuggling.

In this role, Dauntless works closely with US authorities – embarking a US Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team which has the authority to board and search suspect vessels.

HMS Dauntless has a Wildcat helicopter and Royal Marines sniper team from 42 Commando 03112023 CREDIT Royal Navy MOD
HMS Dauntless has a Wildcat helicopter and Royal Marines sniper team from 42 Commando who provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and aerial support (Picture: Royal Navy).

Along with the ship’s powerful array of sensors and radars, Dauntless has a Wildcat helicopter and Royal Marines sniper team from 42 Commando who provide reconnaissance, surveillance and aerial support during complex and often dangerous boarding operations.

This combined Dauntless team landed a £140m drugs bust during the summer, seizing 1,230kg from a drug-running boat.

Adding to their tally and proving their ability to operate seamlessly with US authorities, the ship later tracked a suspicious aircraft flying from Venezuela, alerting ground forces who seized a further 550kg of cocaine.

Partners hone skills at sea. Guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane prepares to come alongside HMNZS Aotearoa for a replenishment at sea during Exercise Bersama Lima. Story by Lieutenant Commander Andrew Herring. Photo by Petty Officer Troy Haydon.Partners hone skills at sea.

The annual exercise drew together maritime, air and land forces from Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) countries; Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Following a weeklong harbour phase, the 10-day sea phase in the seas off Malaysia and Singapore had Brisbane and partner nations engaging in combined training across several maritime warfare disciplines.

Crews practised maritime interdiction skills, which are vital for intercepting military or civilian shipping to enforce embargoes, protect seagoing trade, counter piracy or – during conflict – disrupt supply lines and blockade ports.

Boarding parties deployed via the ship’s rigid hull inflatable boats, supported by Brisbane’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, provided overwatch while they boarded simulated merchant ships, played by Royal New Zealand Navy logistics ship HMNZS Aotearoa and Royal Malaysian Navy Keris-class littoral mission ship KD Keris.

Bridge teams practised ship handling and communications skills by conducting close, coordinated manoeuvring with partner nations’ ships – called officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres – and during replenishments at sea as Brisbane refuelled from Aotearoa.

Interoperability – the ability of partner militaries to operate together – was enhanced by many activities, including operating the Super Seasprite helicopter from New Zealand’s Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana from Brisbane’s flight deck.

Brisbane also strengthened international relations by hosting visits from Singaporean, Malaysian and New Zealand Navy personnel.

CAPTIONHMAS Brisbane and HMNZS Te Mana prepares to conduct a replenishment at sea with HMNZS Aotearoa. Photo by Leading Seaman Belinda Cole.

Commanding Officer Brisbane Commander Grant Coleman praised his ship’s company for their efforts during Bersama Lima.

“Opportunities to engage and exercise with our FPDA partners on this scale are valuable, and it was fantastic to see the smooth integration of personnel from all five nations working seamlessly together,” Commander Coleman said.

“Brisbane’s crew performed exceptionally, rising to the challenge of training in a complex and congested air and maritime environment while supporting our partners, demonstrating again the resilience of the FPDA partner nations.”

Bersama Lima focused on combined joint operations in a multi-threat environment across land, air and maritime domains, with training designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen professional relationships.

About 800 ADF personnel deployed to Malaysia for the exercise, with assets including F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft, the destroyer Brisbane and its embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.

The FPDA, established in 1971, is the only multilateral security arrangement of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Brisbane participated in the exercise as part of a regional presence deployment throughout south-east and north-east Asia. Along with HMA Ships Stalwart and ToowoombaBrisbane has been conducting training, exercises, port visits and other engagements with regional partners.

New Zealand warship makes 3-day visit to Philippines

Ian Laqui – Philstar.com

November 3, 2023 | 5:30pm

vuukle comment
New Zealand warship makes 3-day visit to Philippines

This photo shows the HMNZS Aotearoa in the port of Manila.

New Zealand Embassy to the Philippines / Released

MANILA, Philippines —  New Zealand navy ship made a “goodwill visit” to the Philippines after visiting Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. 

According to the New Zealand Embassy, the three-day goodwill visit presents New Zealand’s “dedication to maritime security, regional stability, and fostering diplomatic relations in the Indo-Pacific.”

“The visit demonstrates our increasing engagement in Southeast Asia and of course, the Philippines is an important part or country in the region. New Zealand would like to engage with like-minded countries, countries which share our values and we support each other in maintaining rules-based order,” Commander Robert Welford, Commanding Officer of HMNZS Aotearoa, said.

HMNZS Aotearoa participated in Operation Crucible, the New Zealand Defence Force’s largest naval deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.

“The HMNZS Aotearoa’s visit to the Philippines underscores New Zealand’s dedication to maritime security, regional stability, and fostering diplomatic relations in the Indo-Pacific. Ito ay nagsisilbing patunay sa matibay na samahan ng New Zealand at Pilipinas,” New Zealand Ambassador Peter Kell said. (It serves as a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between New Zealand and the Philippines.)

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The HMNZS Aotearoa is an auxiliary ship of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) which was manufactured by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the same manufacturer of the Philippine Navy’s flagship BRP Jose Rizal and some off-shore patrol vessels. 

The said vessel is the biggest and newest ship of the RNZN. It has been in Manila’s dock from October 30 to November 1.

Ford, Ike carrier strike groups exercise in Eastern Mediterranean

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

 Nov 4, 08:29 AM

Ships from the Gerald R. Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike groups, U.S. 6th Fleet command ship Mount Whitney and Italian Navy frigates Carlo Margottini and Virginio Fasan sail in formation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Janae Chambers/Navy)

As the world waits to see whether the Israel-Hamas war will balloon into a larger regional conflict, two U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups conducted exercises together in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea this week.

Sailors from the Gerald R. Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as two Italian frigates — Virginio Fasan and Carlo Margottini — and the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship Mount Whitney, engaged in “high-value unit defense, ballistic missile defense, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations and maritime security operations,” the Navy said Friday.

More than 11,000 U.S. personnel participated in the three-day exercise.

FS Victor Hugo was in the early 1900s made ​​the French fleet, Léon Gambetta class armored cruiser .

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Léon Gambetta class
The vessel was ordered in Lorient laivastontelakalta. Its keel was laid in March 1903 and the ship was launched on 30 March 1903 [1] . The vessel was recruited in 1907. [2]
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The ship served in 1914-1915 in the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. It could torpedoidun battleship Jean Bart in Malta in 1916, The ship was assisted by Jules Micheletti with the Serbian Army in the evacuation of Corfu and Bizertaan. The Far East after returning the ship was transferred to the reserve in 1923 in Toulon, and it was sold on 20 january 1928 to 2.75 million francs valmistumiskustannusten has been in SEKm 29. The ship was scrapped on 26 November 1930.