Raf News

U.S. fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired from Houthi militant areas of Yemen toward a U.S. destroyer operating in the Southern Red Sea, the U.S. military said on Sunday.The midair interception is the latest incident in the Red Sea where the Houthis have been attacking international shipping in what they say is a campaign to support Palestinians under seige from Israeli forces in Gaza.It follows a series of American and British airstrikes on Houthi targets…

A Royal Navy task force of seven ships will deploy with allies early next month to jointly patrol areas with vulnerable undersea critical infrastructure, following an unprecedented agreement by ministers of the 10 Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations.The UK contribution to the deployment will include two Royal Navy frigates, two offshore patrol vessels and mine countermeasures vessels, as well as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship – supported by a Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon…

The biggest World War Two bomb ever found in Poland exploded under water on Tuesday as navy divers tried to defuse it.More than 750 people had been evacuated from the area near the Piast Canal outside the town of Swinoujscie where the Tallboy bomb used by Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) was found. It weighed nearly 5,400 kg, including 2,400 kg of explosive.“The deflagration process turned into detonation. The object can be considered as neutralized, it will not pose any more threat…

A US Air Force F-15 fighter jet pilot died in an accident Monday after crashing into the North Sea, off Flamborough Head, UK.Immediately after the crash, a search and rescue operation was launched for the pilot of a United States military aircraft from RAF Lakenheath base.However, on Monday evening local time, the U.S. Airforce 48th Fighter Wing division said the pilot had been found and confirmed deceased, and the UK coast guard said the SAR had been called off. The coast guard…

Norwegian offshore vessel operator Østensjø has said it is assisting in the ongoing search and rescue (SAR) after a fighter jet crashed off the UK coast on Monday."Østensjø's offshore wind vessel “Edda Mistral” and her autonomous workboat “Mistral Worker” were in the vicinity of the fighter jet crash off the UK coast. Both vessels are engaged in the ongoing search and rescue SAR operation," the company said Monday.The vessels are reporting to UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency who is coordinating the SAR-operation.

Liverpool City Region (UK) shipyard Cammell Laird has announced it will be honoring its illustrious naval and military heritage next month by being headline sponsor of the UK’s Armed Forces Day (AFD). The AFD celebrations will take place in Liverpool this year on June 24, with more than 1,000 serving personnel, veterans, cadets and marching bands taking part in a parade followed by a full program of events near the city’s iconic waterfront. Cammell Laird CEO John Syvret, CBE,…

British and Russian World War Two veterans gathered on Wednesday in Arkhangelsk, 75 years to the day since Britain's first Arctic convoy of military supplies steamed into the northern port. Britain's Princess Anne has been among those attending events honouring those who sailed, and the thousands who died, protecting supply convoys dispatched to aid the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany. On Aug. 31, 1941, two months after Hitler's surprise attack on his erstwhile ally prompted Josef Stalin to seek support from a beleaguered Britain, the first convoy, codenamed "Dervish", sailed into Arkhangelsk, or Archangel, after a 10-day crossing.

1819 - Commodore Oliver H. Perry, the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie, dies on board the schooner, USS Nonsuch, in Trinidad of a fever contracted during his successful efforts to suppress piracy while maintaining the friendship of Latin American governments. It was his 34th birthday. 1862 - A boat crew from USS Essex, commanded by Capt. William D. Porter, is fired on by Confederate guerillas at Bayou Sara, La. In return, USS Essex shells the town. 1864 - During the Civil War, Rear Adm. David G. Farraguts squadron capture Fort Morgan at Mobile Bay, Ala., winning control of Mobile Bay. The fort withstands naval bombardment for more than two weeks. 1890 - USS Baltimore (Cruiser #3) departs New York Harbor to return the remains of inventor John Ericsson to his native Sweden.

1942 - USS Tautog (SS 199) sinks Japanese submarine I-28; USS Triton (SS 201) sinks the Japanese submarine (I 64), and USS Skipjack (SS 184) sinks a Japanese army transport ship. 1943 - Destroyers USS Moffett (DD 362) and USS Jouett (DD 396) sink German submarine U 128, which was credited with sinking 12 Allied merchant vessels, including 4 American ships. 1944 - USS Gleaves (DD 423), USS Hilary P. Jones (DD 427), USS Hambleton (DD 455), USS Rodman (DD 456), USS Emmons (DD 457)…

1860 - While off the Isle of Pines (now named Isla de la Juventud) near the south coast of Cuba, the screw gunboat Wyandotte captures the slaver William, which carries 570 Africans. 1926 - Lt. Cmdr. Richard E. Byrd and Chief Aviation Pilot Floyd Bennett report reaching the North Pole in their heavier-than-air-flight aircraft. Both receive the Medal of Honor for this event. 1942 - USS Wasp (CV 7) launches 47 RAF Spitfires, British carrier Eagle accompanies Wasp and launches 17 additional Spitfires.

The British, French and Canadians are searching the seas off Scotland for a Russian submarine detected off the northern coast 10 days ago, reports the Australian. French patrol planes are scouring the seas off Scotland for a Russian submarine after Britain was forced to call on allies for help because it has scrapped its own sub-hunting aircraft. BBC says that an RAF plane is "conducting activity" off the Scottish coast, the Ministry of Defence says, amid reports of a Russian submarine being spotted in the area. A Royal Navy Frigate and submarine are also thought to be involved in the search, along with Canadian and French maritime patrol aircraft. The Telegraph reports the French plane has searched for the submarine for at least 10 days.

A car carrier vessel has suffered a fire on one of its decks, approximately 40 miles off Harwich, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reported. The U.S. flagged ship, Courage, reported the fire to the U.K. Coastguard at Dover Maritime Rescue Coordination Center just before 10 p.m., June 2. Using an inbuilt CO2 system to, crew members flooded a large area to put the fire out and continued their journey. The situation is currently contained. A Dover Coastguard RAF Wattisham helicopter was on standby, but was not needed. The vessel is now coming to Southampton where it is being monitored by the National Maritime Operations Center, MCA said.

Holyhead Coastguard Operations Centre coordinated the rescue of three fishermen last night after their vessel started taking on water at the start of its fishing trip. At 22.22 yesterday the fishing vessel Cesca reported that it was on route from Milford to Conwy and was taking on water. The crew were using pumps to try and keep the level on water down but they weren’t able to keep up with the flow. As the situation was getting worse they called the Coastguard for assistance. The RAF search and rescue helicopter based at RAF Valley was sent to the scene. Whilst trying to drop more pumps on the fishing vessel the ‘Cesca’s’ engines stopped and the Captain made the decision to abandon ship. The crew were winched by the helicopter and taken to safety.

Humber Coastguard is coordinating the search for the missing skipper and four crew of the trawler, Ocean Way. The trawler was last heard from about 100 miles east of the Farne Islands. The emergency beacon from the vessel began transmitting yesterday and the coastguard has since been trying to contact the skipper and have also been broadcasting mayday relay messages which have been requesting all shipping to look out for the missing crew. A RAF rescue helicopter on scene found two people alive in the water and winched them to safety. The Norwegian helicopter Rescue 1 will arrive on scene to relieve the RAF rescue helicopter. Mike Puplett, Humber Coastguard Watch Manager said yesterday, “We will continue searching for as long as necessary.

A man has been rescued after his yacht ran into difficulty 28 nautical miles north of Cromer. Humber Coastguard received a distress alert from the 22-foot yacht just after 8 a.m. this morning. The person on board reported that he was taking on water, his sails were in tatters and the engine had failed. The wind at the time was gusting up to 46mph, with a 3.5-meter swell. The search and rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham was sent to the scene, along with the RNLI’s Cromer and Humber all-weather lifeboats. A vessel in the area at the time also went to help and stood by the yacht until rescue units arrived. The man was then winched on board the helicopter and taken to hospital to be checked over as he is showing signs of suffering from hypothermia.

Humber Coastguard received a call just after 10am this morning reporting two people in the water after their powered canoe had capsized just west of the Humber Bridge. The Hull Coastguard Rescue Team, Humber Rescue Inshore Lifeboat and the police all attended and found one of the boat’s occupants clinging to his companion, who was the only one wearing a lifejacket. The RAF search and rescue helicopter from Leconfield lifted the very cold canoeists aboard; they were put ashore and taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, where they were confirmed as well. Humber Coastguard Watch Manager, Graham Dawson, said, "Anyone taking to the water should always wear their own properly maintained life jacket or buoyancy aid.

A yachtsman from Yorkshire, reported missing has been found on his yacht in the North Sea, following an extensive search coordinated by Humber Coastguard. His 17ft yacht, Equinox, was approximately 80 miles east of Spurn Point (at the mouth of the Humber) and rescuers found him relatively quickly today, thanks to an emergency positioning beacon aboard his yacht which was activated. The 69-year-old’s family contacted the Coastguard on Thursday as they had become concerned for his safety. They had not heard from him since 4 July when he telephoned his son to tell him he was planning his passage home. His boat was last seen in the Kiel Canal, at Brunsbuttel, Germany.

Thames Coastguard is coordinating a search after a yacht was in collision with a dredger approximately 1 mile off Felixstowe on the east coast of England. One person on board the yacht was pulled to safety, however another person is unaccounted for at this time, informs the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency. The Felixstowe Coastguard Rescue Team, three lifeboats - two from Harwich, one from Walton - two pilot boats, a dive boat, the search and rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham along with a number of other vessels in the area are currently involved in the search. In a later update the MCA added that the the man who was rescued from the water has now been taken to hospital to be checked over. The other person on board the yacht - a woman - is still unaccounted for.

In the Philippines a large scale rescue of ferry passengers, on the other side of the world, a British fishing boat crew is airlifted to safety, and a man is plucked from rough seas off Aberdeen breakwater. A rescue team from Philippine Coast Guard search and rescue vessel, BRP EDSA II (SARV-002) evacuated 132 passengers from the MV Our Lady Of All Nation after the inter-island ferry ran aground at Danajon Bank, Bohol. The crew of the sinking 18-m fishing vessel RACHEL JAYNE lll  sent out a Mayday as they took to a liferaft 26 miles ENE of Tynemouth Piers.

A crewman has been airlifted to James Paget University Hospital this morning after a fire on board a 17-meter wind farm support vessel, Norfolk Tern, four nautical miles off Great Yarmouth, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported. Humber Coastguard said it received a call from the Norfolk Tern just after 8 a.m. reporting they had a fire in their starboard engine, which they managed to bring it under control, but one crewman was believed to be suffering the effects of breathing in too much smoke.

Ten people have been rescued after the bus they were travelling in was hit by a large wave on the seafront road at Newgale in Wales, and 6 from a disabled French commercial fishing vessel off the southwest of England coast in a 60 mph wind. Milford Haven Coastguard say they were contacted with reports that the bus was stuck on the seafront, having been hit by a large wave and was surrounded by water. The wind at the time was gusting over 50mph. Broadhaven and St. Davids Coastguard Rescue Teams…

Forms for the At-Berth Regulation Advisory have been posted to the Shore Power website. As specified in the December 2013 Regulatory Advisory, fleets need to notify ARB of their intention to qualify for temporary relief under each scenario they intend to use. Fleets also need to provide evidence that they have made a good faith effort to comply with the At-Berth Regulation. To do this, fleets must complete the "December 2013 Regulatory Advisory Notification" form and return it by March 21, 2014. In addition, fleets are required to provide verification of their claims. An information webinar will take place on March 6, 2014 to discuss the forms.

The Royal Navy’s 'fleet ready' escort HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, pinpointed and monitored the movement of the Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov as it transited past the UK coast. Dragon deployed from Portsmouth last week to pre-position well north of Scotland in good time to respond to the Udaloy-Class destroyer’s deployment. She made contact with the Kulakov and is keeping an eye on the Russian ship’s transit south. The Royal Air Force was also involved recently with its Russian counterparts when RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft were launched from RAF Leuchars to determine the identity of unknown aircraft that were approaching the Nato air policing area north of Scotland.