Baltic Sea Exercise Begins in Sweden

[Metallic]

6 June 2009

KARLSKRONA, Sweden (NNS) -- Maritime forces from 12 countries will participate in the largest multinational naval exercise this year in the Baltic Sea June 8-19.

The Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise is an annual event aimed at improving interoperability and cooperation among regional allies.

"During the exercise, Sailors will work side-by-side with other personnel from partner nations while they are in port and underway," said Rear Adm. John N. Christenson, commander, Carrier Strike Group 12, embarked aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) during a press conference on board the ship.

"They will become familiar with the other militaries' operations, procedures and practices."

Christenson, the officer in tactical command for the exercise, was joined Swedish Rear Adm. Anders Grenstad at the press conference. Grenstad is the Royal Swedish Navy chief of staff and commander, Maritime Component Command. He is the Swedish equivalent of the U.S. Navy's chief of naval operations.

"BALTOPS provides the opportunity for personnel of all participating nations to engage in realistic and challenging maritime training to build experience, cooperation and teamwork," said Christenson.

Sweden is hosting the in-port final planning phase and has organized various official and unofficial activities ranging from a harbor celebration to sporting events. The goal is to get Sailors from different nations together to form strong bonds before the exercise begins.

"The interaction of our forces recreationally is essential for interaction professionally, tearing down barriers between cultures," Grenstad said. "The personal relationships developed at these events allow our Sailors to really understand one another. This translates directly to our operational capability when we are underway together."

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States are participating in the exercise. The U.S. participants believe this is an example of how teamwork among different nations helps to increase stability, diminish threats to peace and strengthens relationships between nations.

"The Baltic Sea provides a unique training opportunity due to heavy commercial shipping traffic and the inherently unpredictable nature of the sea itself," Grenstad said.

"It's vital for our Sailors to conduct realistic training in unfamiliar waters, and it provides an important opportunity for them to see the world. This greatly affects their quality of life," Christenson added.

This is the 37th iteration of BALTOPS, intended to improve interoperability with partner nations by conducting peace support operations at sea, including gunnery exercises, replenishments at sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations and scenarios dealing with potential real-world crises and maritime security.

 

[Metallic]

Top Swedish Admiral Hosts BALTOPS 2009 Leadership in Karlskrona
6 June 2009

KARLSKRONA, Sweden (NNS) -- The Swedish navy's top admiral hosted officers from 12 countries during a reception before the initial phase of Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) Exercise 2009 in Karlskrona June 5.

Rear Adm. Anders Grenstad, Royal Swedish Navy chief of staff and commander, Maritime Component Command, held the reception at the Maritime Museum, among the relics and artifacts of Sweden's long nautical history.

"These events are a great way for all involved to come together in a relaxed atmosphere, where we can all get to know each other," Grenstad said, "providing an easier beginning to the coming exercise."

Though the reception was an informal, relaxed affair, it served as a fun prelude before more than 40 ships meet in the Baltic Sea for the 37th year in a row.

"We have a new class of ship we are looking forward to testing, as well as crew members who have never trained in an unfamiliar area," said Finnish Lt. Senior Grade Perrtu Trontti, commanding officer of the FNS Hanko (FNS 82), one of three Finnish units participating this year. "It gives us an opportunity to pass knowledge back and forth between friends."

There is a longstanding respect between the United States and Swedish Navies. That mutual respect and partnership was a conduit for the United States' use of one of the Swedish diesel submarines for 2 years of training in San Diego recently. The lending of the submarine, as well as many other cooperative efforts between the Swedish Navy and the United States, earned Grenstad the United States Legion of Merit.

"The use of the HMS Gotleb was an example of the strong relationship the United States has with Sweden, built on trust," said Rear Adm. John N. Christenson, commander, Carrier Strike Group 12 and officer in tactical command of BALTOPS. "Both the U.S. and Sweden benefited greatly from the experience."

The goodwill among the two navies was evident again during the reception, part of the initial phase of the coming exercise.

Pre-exercise social events such as these are seen as a way for participating Sailors to forge relationships that will translate into better communications and interoperability when the ships get underway.

BALTOPS is comprised of forces from 12 countries and is the largest multinational naval exercise this year in the Baltic Sea. The exercise aims to improve maritime security in the Baltic Sea through increased interoperability and cooperation among regional allies.