The port phase preceding the maritime exercises of NATO's largest recurring manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea has begun in the Naval Port of Gdynia. As a result, allied warships that will later operate at sea have berthed there as well as in the Port of Gdynia. Consequently, the area will be crowded with frigates, corvettes and vessels of other classes.

With the planned exercise in mind, a press conference involving the command staff of the Polish Navy has been scheduled at the 3rd Ship Flotilla on 3 June. Importantly, the first warships have already arrived in Gdynia. In total, nearly 20 vessels are expected to take part in the exercise.

The ships that entered the Port of Gdynia include the German Type 123 frigate FGS Hamburg, the Danish HDMS Absalon, and the German Type K130 corvette FGS Braunschweig. Meanwhile, vessels that entered the Naval Port of Gdynia include, among others, the German frigate FGS Sachsen-Anhalt, the Danish patrol vessel HDMS Thetis, and the Lithuanian vessels LNS Skalvis, a Hunt-class minehunter, together with the Buyskes-class hydrographic vessel LNS Varonis.

In total, this year’s BALTOPS exercise involves Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States. NATO structures have also been engaged in the exercise, including the NATO Command Task Force Baltic (CTF Baltic), headquartered in Rostock, and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). The main objective of the exercise is to increase the interoperability of NATO member states’ naval forces. The manoeuvres place particular emphasis on coordination and teamwork among ship crews, thereby enhancing their level of training. BALTOPS is an exercise that confirms the role of naval forces in the international security system and in creating conditions for the safe development of maritime economies.

The exercise will officially begin with the port phase, known as the “Pre-Sail Conference”, in Gdynia, during which briefings and meetings preceding the manoeuvres will take place. During these meetings, the details of the exercise scenarios will be established, while commanders will receive their initial briefings and assignments. The sea phase will begin on Thursday, 4 June. After putting to sea, the vessels will form tactical groups. Together with maritime aviation assets, they will conduct operations including integrated air defence, the search for, tracking and engagement of submarines, mine countermeasure operations, replenishment of warships at sea, amphibious operations and search-and-rescue missions.

Photos courtesy of Polish Navy