Mine counter-measures vessel of the Lithuanian Navy LNS Skalvis (M53) is taking part in manoeuvres as part of NATO's Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean from October 22.
The Lithuanian warship assigned to the Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group One (SNMCMG1) is taking part in naval mine detection and neutralisation operations in the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain. This is the first-ever deployment of a Lithuanian ship to an exercise in the Mediterranean.
During the part of the exercise for the maritime component SNMCMG1 ships are preparing safe watercourses for infantry landing operations.
The closing part of the maritime component of Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 will take place in the western part of Spain in the Atlantic Ocean, its presentation will be held on November 5 in Lisbon (Portugal).
Exercise Trident Juncture running from October 3 until November 6 in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, and also in different locations in Belgium, Canada, Germany the Netherlands, and Norway is NATO's largest exercise since 2002. The exercise scenario involves over 36 thousand troops from over 30 NATO and partner countries completing land, maritime and air operations.
Roughly 200 soldiers of the Lithuanian Land Force with roughly 50 units of military equipment are training in the land component part of the exercise in Spain as part of the Baltic Battalion. Lithuanian soldiers deployed to take part in Exercise Trident Juncture receive support from Lithuanian military logistic specialists, military policemen and military medics.
Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 will train and certify NATO Response Force for 2016. NATO Response Force is a well-trained and technologically advanced multinational force including land, air, naval and special operations components.
More on Exercise Trident Juncture 2015: http://www.jfcbs.nato.int/trident-juncture.aspx
Credits: Sergeant Specialist Tomas Šeštauskas
