Important exercise for safety in the Baltic Sea

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Important exercise for safety in the Baltic Sea​

The recent Baltops exercise is an important element in NATO's efforts to maintain security in the Baltic Sea Region. The exercise was held this year for the 50th time.
June 24, 2021 - Kl. 13.53

Absalon's deployment as a flagship of NATO's standing naval force SNMG1 ended with participation in the 50th exercise Baltop. Photo: Steffen Fog

By the Defense Command

In the last few weeks, 40 ships, 60 aircraft and 4,000 soldiers from a total of 18 countries - 16 NATO countries and the two partner nations Sweden and Finland - have participated in one of Northern Europe's largest NATO exercises. It is held every year; this year is the 50th time it is being held.

“Baltops is an important exercise for Denmark and for the Armed Forces, as it provides an opportunity to show that Denmark supports NATO's work for security in the Baltic Sea region, and that NATO and partner countries have the ability and willingness to act to ensure security and stability. in the Baltic Sea area, ”says Chief of Defense General Flemming Lentfer.

“At the same time, the exercise is an opportunity to train and conduct cooperation exercises with units from other NATO countries. On board the Absalon, where I have been visiting, I have personally seen the professionalism and dedication with which the crew works to ensure that Denmark can make the best contribution to the exercise and support NATO. The crew receives a very versatile training, as the exercise includes a number of naval disciplines such as combat against both planes, ships and submarines as well as demining to name just a few. I am proud and grateful for the effort the crew makes, and I would like to acknowledge that, ”says Flemming Lentfer.

The head of Absalon, Paw Møller, tells about the exercise to Chief of Defense Flemming Lentfer. Photo: Line Fjordside.

About 350 Danish soldiers have participated in the exercise, and in addition to the frigate Absalon, the supply ship Sleipner, the diving ship Søløven and the Danish demining force Mine Countermeasures Denmark have participated.

Versatile exercise
The Baltops exercise is primarily a naval exercise, but it involves forces from all defenses to train as realistically as possible. Thus, the Air Force participates with F-16 fighter jets, a Challenger and helicopters.

Many aspects of naval warfare are practiced, including combat against aircraft, cooperation between aircraft and ships, combat against surface vessels, combat against submarines, demining, and combat against paramilitary units (asymmetric war).
On board the frigate Absalon, which has participated in the exercise as part of its deployment in SNMG1 (Standing NATO Maritime Group number 1), the crew is happy and proud to have participated in the exercise.

"When you are part of NATO's standing naval force, it is important that you maintain your naval skills so that you can be deployed at short notice for tasks where required. Under Baltops, we have been involved in demonstrating NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea, and we have had the opportunity to maintain and, in certain areas, strengthen our military capabilities to wage war at sea. Furthermore
, the exercise is proof that a naval force such as SNMG1 can be supplied with several warships from other countries and with very short training be ready to carry out operations together, "says Commander Paw Møller, commander of the frigate Absalon.

“It is natural that Denmark participates in Baltops with the frigate Absalon, as the frigate already during the exercise participates in one of NATO's two standing naval forces, SNMG1, and thus already sails as an integrated unit in a NATO naval force. Absalon and crew already have a training in close cooperation with other NATO countries' ships, and that training will be further expanded under Baltops, "says Chief of Defense General Flemming Lentfer.

Cooperation
A concrete example of the tasks and training that Absalon has participated in has been the ability to defeat targets ashore.

"We can do that with missiles, but also with Absalon's long-range cannon. As part of the Baltops exercise, Absalon defeated targets ashore following requests for fire support from NATO troops
ashore. Allied NATO soldiers in the Baltics from Enhanced Forward Presence and Absalon's helicopter directed the fire from Absalon's 127mm cannon at distances over 20 km, ”says Commander Paw Møller.

Another task that the frigate has trained under Baltops has been escorting amphibious ships with land troops through the Danish straits.

In the scenario, the Danish waters were enemy waters with minefields and a threat from planes and small enemy vessels. Such an escort operation requires thorough planning and, in a threat scenario, aggressive execution to ensure that the mission-important amphibious ships reach their targets safely. You can see an escort task as a "bodyguard function", where the frigates are bodyguards against any given threat in relation to the units that are protected, "says Paw Møller.

Unity and family feeling
For the crew on board, Baltops has also been a great experience.

"It is a very special feeling when a lot of ships sail as a combined force, there are planes in the air, and you feel a unity with the other ships, even though we have never met the crew from the other nations," says Amalie, naval constable , match information guest in the O-room.
She says that the approximately three-month-long voyage, which the frigate has been on all in all, has shaken the crew well together.

"We have an insanely good togetherness. It's like an extra family when you are on board Absalon for a long time. I was amazed at how easily one gets into the routines and the community. It feels like we have always known each other. ”
Watch video report from the exercise here:

About the exercise Baltops
Baltops 2021 is the largest maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea and one of the largest exercises in Northern Europe, involving both NATO and partner nations. The exercise is American-led and took place in the period 4.-18. June 2021.

The exercise aims to demonstrate the nations' military strength in relation to a wide range of possible threats as well as their willingness to defend themselves. In addition, the exercise is also a clear demonstration of NATO and the partner countries' ability and willingness to act to ensure security and stability in the Baltic Sea region.

This year it is 49 years since the exercise was first arranged. Thus, this year it is Baltop's number 50, which is held with the same purpose as the first time in 1972: To strengthen the participating countries' capabilities within the naval disciplines as well as their ability to work together to achieve a common security policy goal. Baltops is an important element in continuously adapting the maritime capabilities of participating countries to new security challenges in the Baltic Sea region.

This year is the 50th time we are holding the big exercise Baltops, where NATO countries train and practice together in the Baltic Sea. It shows that NATO has a long and important tradition of cooperation. It is an important training that keeps NATO and Denmark sharp, and which is constantly developing our ability to operate together at sea. It also shows that the alliance is constantly cooperating and adapting to the threat picture that we see here in the region, ”says Chief of Defense General Flemming Lentfer.

Vigtig øvelse for sikkerheden i Østersøen

Den netop overståede øvelse Baltops er et vigtigt element i NATOs bestræbelser på at opretholde sikkerheden i Østersøregionen. Øvelsen blev i år afholdt for 50. gang.

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