August 8-18, supply and command vessel of the Lithuanian Naval Force "Jotvingis" (N42) assigned for duty in the Baltic Squadron (BALTRON) will take part in an exercise of the trilateral unit in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of Latvia.
Latvia's mine countermeasures vessel "Viesturs" (M05) assigned to BALTRON will also participate in the exercise. Lithuanian Navy's vessels "Sūduvis" (M52), "Kuršis" (M53) and "Skalvis" (M54) will join the exercise on August 16.
The event is designated to enhance interoperability of mine countermeasures vessels of the Baltic states assigned to BALTRON for completion of joint tasks, to improve communications of vessels and organisation carried out by the commanding staff, and provide drills for BALTRON staff for planning and commanding the unit's operations.
The ongoing exercise is a run-up for multinational naval operation "Open Spirit 2001", coming up on August 19 to September 3 this year in Latvia's territorial waters.
The Baltic Squadron BALTRON was established in 1998, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia man the unit by assigning naval vessels and personnel to the multinational BALTRON staff. One of the key tasks of BALTRON is detecting and destroying mines and other undetonated ammunition remaining on the Baltic seafloor since World War I and World War II. Experience gained as part of BALTRON is also beneficial for duty in NATO Response Force's Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1).
BALTRON is led by representatives of the three Baltic states' navies annually selected on a rotational basis. At present the unit is under the command of Lt Cdr Andrius Širvys of the Lithuanian Navy.
POC: Representative for Civilian and Military Cooperation, LNF, Lt (N) Antanas Brencius, tel. 00370 46 391 207, cell phone 00370 698 18 196.
Picture from MoND archive
