Entente Cordiale: British and French navies working together
THE British and French navies have recently displayed their close working relationship by sharing command of each other’s assets on two different oceans.
French Frigate Aconit joins CMF
French Navy Frigate ACONIT will be working for Combined Task Force 152 (CTF 152) whilst carrying out Maritime Security Operations in the Arabian Gulf. CTF 152 is one of three Task Forces that make up Combined Maritime Forces and is charged with ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf.
French Ship Provence Seizes Large Weapons Cache
The French FREMM destroyer FS Provence discovered and seized a large weapons cache following the boarding of a dhow in the Northern Indian Ocean. At the time FS Provence was operating as part of the Combined Maritime Forces Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), which conducts maritime security and counter terrorism operations.
French and Australian units from CTF-150 meet at sea in the Arabian Sea
In mid-July, while patrolling off the coast of Oman, Her Majesty Australian Ship (HMAS) Newcastle and French Ship (FS) Var met at sea to lead several interactions. Both units were operating in the frame of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) missions, to fight against terrorism and related illicit activities inside the Indian Ocean. The ships Commanding Officer’s organised a cross deck and a tour between the two platforms to foster coalition relations. Newcastle’s Commanding Officer, CMDR Dominic MacNamara, along with eight members of ship’s company visited Surcouf while Newcastle hosted Surcouf’s Executive Officer and eight French officers and sailors.
CCTF150 meets with high level authorities during a port visit in Djibouti
Between mid-June and early July, French Ship Var, Combined Task Force 150 flag ship, made two port visits in Djibouti. These stops were the opportunity for the ship to conduct common training activities with the Djiboutian Navy as well as with the French Forces located in the country. It was also the occasion for Captain René-Jean Crignola, Commander CTF150, to meet with high level representatives, as part of CMF regional engagement program.
Naval Forces involved in Maritime Security Operations meet at sea to deepen cooperation
On Thursday 29 June, flag ships from Combined Task Force (CTF)150 and Operation Atalanta, both involved in Maritime Security Operations inside the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, met at sea for on-going interactions.
Commander CTF-150 meets Saudi Naval authorities in Jeddah
In June 2015, French Ship (FS) Var, which is hosting CTF-150 commander Captain Crignola and his staff, stopped in Jeddah for a three days port visit. This was the opportunity for Captain Crignola to meet with several representatives from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Navy, as part of a regional engagement program to improve maritime security in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) operational area.
