From September 11 to 24 LNS Žemaitis (P11) and LNS Sūduvis (M52) of the Lithuanian Navy take part in Northern Coasts 2015, annual large-scale maritime exercise.
The exercise taking place in the central and western parts of the Baltic Sea, straits of Denmark, and Skagerak and Kategat (territorial waters of Denmark, Germany and Sweden) involves over 40 vessels of various types, 10 aircraft, and military personnel forming ground and special forces units, from 16 countries.
Military maritime Exercise Northern Coasts 2015 is a n annual large-scale international exercise involving maritime, air, land and special forces elements from NATO and EU countries. This year the exercise is organised by the German Navy.
Key Exercise Northern Coasts 2015 objective is to enhance interoperability in an international force. The exercise is aimed at enhancing ability of the participating military units and their staffs to act together as one international unit while ensuring peace and security during a regional crisis. The exercise uses a scenario specific to crisis management operations.
The annual Exercise Northern Coasts held in the Baltic Sea is arranged to be as realistic as possible. Exercise scenario is developed with particular attention: it is steadily supplemented with intelligence or media information inserts designated specifically for the exercise, and also by inserting surprise air force, surface, submarine or asymmetric attack situations which require a coordinated development and application of corresponding rules of engagement.
The exercise also encompasses ship maneuver, convoy, at-sea detention, artillery, defence against various types of military targets and means of asymmetric warfare, seafloor mine clearance, search and rescue at sea, and other combat assignments.
LNS Sūduvis (M52) is assigned to BALTRON (Baltic Naval Squadron) for August-December of this year and trains in the exercise as part of BALTRON.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia established trilateral rapid reaction Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON) in 1998 as part of their defence cooperation. Key BALTRON mission is to contribute to the maritime security in the region, to decrease mine threats in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zones of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to expand mutual understanding and increase collaboration abilities, and to cooperate with units of NATO allies. Lithuania and Latvia carry on with BALTRON activities and Estonia has withdrawn from the unit since 2015 as a result of resource revision. Ships of the Baltic navies are training together as part of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1).
Lithuania assigned mine countermeasures vessel of the Lithuanian Navy Kuršis (M54) in the first semester of 2015, and mine countermeasures vessel Sūduvis (M52) in the second semester. Lithuania also posted one officer to the BALTRON staff as Chief of the Joint Staff.
Lieutenant (Navy) Antanas Brencius, CIMIC Officer, Lithuanian Navy, office phone no. 00370 46 391 207, mobile phone no. 00370 698 18 196
