NATO Partners Team Up To Clear Mines And Practice ASW

Mine-hunting ships from six NATO nations have teamed up in a continuing bid to clear old explosives from the Baltic Sea.

As per a recent press statement from NATO's Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) based in Northwood, England, the vessels have just spent two weeks working together under the Exercise Estonian HODOPS (Historic Ordnance Disposal Operations).

During that fortnight, the specialist ships of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) found and neutralised 11 mines which had been left behind from the two world wars. The old ordnance can present a hazard to modern-day shipping.

The SNMCMG1 Task Group is currently made up of FGS Werra A514 (Germany), HNLMS Willemstad M864 (the Netherlands), BNS Lobelia M921 (Belgium), ENS Sakala M314 (Estonia), FGS Weilheim M1059 (Germany), LNS Skalvis M53 (Lithuania) and FS Croix du Sud M646 (France).

Its head, Germany Navy Commander Beata Król, commented: “The success of Estonian HODOPS demonstrates the strength and dedication of our multinational team."

She added: “By neutralizing eleven mines and securing vital sea lanes, we made the Baltic Sea region yet again safer. The high level of interoperability and teamwork displayed over these two weeks has not only enhanced our operational effectiveness, but has also strengthened the bonds between our NATO Allies. I am incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished together.”

This month ships from a range of NATO partners have also been active in the Baltic honing their Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities as part of the Merlin 2024 naval exercise.

The activities took in both air and naval assets from the United Kingdom and the U.S. as well as those from Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Portugal.

“With multiple platforms available in all three domains, participating units validated their skillsets in operations at the highest level,” said the Commander SNMG1, Royal Danish Navy Commodore Thomas Stig Rasmussen.

“Anti-submarine warfare is a difficult discipline to master, but thanks to frequent training such as Merlin 24, NATO forces maintain high-end capabilities all year round. These exercises also underscore the capacity and will to act collectively as an Alliance, ready to respond to threats from any direction.”

• You can read more details about both exercises on the MARCOM website