HMS Cattistock completes NATO deployment
Royal Navy minehunter HMS Cattistock has completed a four month deployment in the Baltic Sea with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1.
The vessel took part in a series of multinational exercises and operations during its deployment, with the focus on clearing historic mines from the seabed.
Cattistock spent time in Norwegian waters, locating and identifying ordnance dropped during the Second World War to disrupt German shipping in Oslo.
This was followed by navigational training off Denmark, joint force protection exercises off Holland and then two weeks in Zeebrugge testing seamanship skills in a variety of challenging conditions, including rafting, towing and damage control exercises.
The deployment ended with mine clearance operations off the north coast of France, with the vessel’s crew successfully identifying and safely disposing of a historic 1000lb US air dropped bomb.
More from Naval Warfare
-
France and Sweden sign defence roadmap as Naval Group positions FDI frigate for Swedish surface ship programme
A pact signed at the Paris Air Show has seen Sweden turn to the French FDI frigate to lead its next-gen surface combatant fleet amid shifting security dynamics in the Baltic Sea.
-
US Navy moves quickly with uncrewed vessels and industry follows
The US Navy (USN) is evolving into a hybrid fleet with uncrewed systems supporting crewed vessels and companies working to provide new solutions. In the case of Ocean Aero, its Triton uncrewed surface vessel can also be used underwater.
-
US to review AUKUS submarine partnership
The Australia, UK and US (AUKUS) trilateral agreement consists of two pillars. The first pillar involves Australia’s procurement of nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) and the second pillar involves bring defence industry and research bases closer together through high-technology development programmes. It is the former which is under re-evaluation.
-
South Korea pushes forward on unmanned surface vessel development for future fleet
South Korean industry continues to evolve unmanned surface vessels as the ROK Navy targets future force needs and addresses manpower challenges.
-
How the US Government plans to put the US Navy’s shipbuilding programmes back on track
In an attempt to reduce delays in shipbuilding efforts, the US government, lawmakers and the Navy are betting big on further investments in the national defence industry and public shipyards. Reviewing and reformulating ongoing initiatives and business practices will also be form part of the effort.