British naval chief calls for strategy for conflict prevention

LONDON,  – The British naval chief on Wednesday called for a strategic use of his country’s naval force to prevent conflicts across the globe. Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope also called for continued commitment to cutting-edge military technology.
The call was made after one of the country’s petroleum companies had started drilling in the waters off the [...]

HMS Dauntless Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyer departs Clyde as Day Breaks

Glasgow, United Kingdom: Dauntless, the second of the Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyers for the Royal Navy, has left the Clyde for the final time today.

HMS Dauntless type 45 anti-air warfare destroyer
BAE Systems employees from the Clyde yards gathered at the quayside in the early morning to wave the ship off on her delivery voyage [...]

UK Afghan troop level satisfactory: navy chief

LONDON  – Britain has as many troops in Afghanistan as its defense chiefs want, the head of Britain’s Royal Navy said on Friday, distancing himself from criticism of the government by the former head of the army.

Afghan soldiers are put through training exercises under the supervision of British troops at Ghar Ordoo military base,October 13, [...]

HMS Defender Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyer makes a splash on the Clyde

Glasgow, United Kingdom, — Defender, the fifth of the Type 45 anti-air warfare destroyers for the Royal Navy, was successfully launched from BVT Surface Fleet’s shipyard at Govan on the Clyde on 21 October 2009.
Defender was launched and named by Lady Massey, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey KCB CBE ADC, in front of [...]

Royal Navy nets record cocaine haul

LONDON — The Royal Navy seized its largest ever cocaine haul in a drugs bust off the coast of South America, the Ministry of Defence announced Monday.
The frigate HMS Iron Duke found a five and a half tonne stash, with a street value of 240 million pounds, smuggled on board an old fishing vessel. The [...]

BAE Systems wins 370 million pounds Royal Navy and Royal Air Force torpedo contract

The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will save millions of pounds over the next decade on the maintenance and development of their Spearfish and Sting Ray torpedoes thanks to a £369.5 million contract signed with BAE Systems.
The Torpedoes Capability Contract (TCC) will cover in-service support for the torpedoes through to 2019 as well as [...]

World’s oldest man, British WWI veteran dies at 113

LONDON, — Henry Allingham, the world’s oldest man and oldest World War I veteran, died Saturday at the age of 113, the nursing home in Britain where he spent his last years said.

Henry Allingham, is surrounded by Sea Cadets during his 113th birthday party at HMS President, in London June 6, 2009 (Reuters)
Allingham, who in [...]

Raytheon Selected to Compete for U.K. Royal Navy Training Contract

RESTON, Va., — Raytheon Company  has been selected by the U.K. Ministry of Defence to compete for a program that will provide support to the Royal Navy across initial entry training, warfighting shore training and youth training.  As part of this downselect, Raytheon, through its U.K. subsidiary Raytheon Systems Limited, will compete with three other [...]

Royal Navy captain banned Brussels sprouts from HMS Bulwark

LONDON — A navy captain has banned Brussels sprouts from his ship and labelled them the “devil’s vegetable”, reports said Wednesday. Commanding Officer Wayne Keble made the order to his 390-strong crew on HMS Bulwark because he “hates” the vegetable, the Daily Telegraph reported.

HMS Bulwark (L15) Persian Gulf, March 1, 2006 (Emily Chambers/U.S. Navy)
But he [...]

India – Britain to hold joint naval exercise

NEW DELHI, June 12– An Indian Navy Task Group and the Royal Navy of Britain will hold a joint exercise, Konkan, in Portsmouth, Britain from June 17, a statement by Indian Defense Ministry said Friday.

Three Indian Navy frigates, INS Godavari (F20), INS Brahmaputra (F31) and INS Beas (F39), during Malabar 2008. Malabar 2008 is a [...]