Manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea - NATO with a large presence

Major maritime manoeuvre BALTOPS starts for the first time in Rostock

Baltic Operations, or BALTOPS for short, has been around for decades. It is NATO's most important US-led naval manoeuvre in the Baltic Sea. The multinational exercise usually lasts two weeks and ends in Kiel at the start of Kiel Week.

Having gone unnoticed for years, BALTOPS has gained new attention in view of the security policy tensions in the Baltic Sea region. Not only because new NATO partners, Finland and Sweden, have joined the organisation, but also because the Americans have so far remained a reliable partner despite all the political statements made within NATO. They say that there are no problems at working level.

Frigate "Bayern", class F123. Photo: Michael Nitz

Manoeuvre with 9,000 soldiers

The major maritime manoeuvre BALTOPS starts for the first time in the Hanseatic city of Rostock. The 54th edition will take place from 5 to 20 June with around 50 ships and boats, more than 25 aircraft and around 9,000 soldiers from 17 countries. The official start will take place on Tuesday at the Warnemünde naval base. Rear Admiral Wilhelm Tobias Abry (Chief of Staff of the Naval Command) together with Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson (Commander of the 6th Fleet of the US Navy) and Lieutenant General John Mead (Deputy Commander of Joint Force Command Brunssum) will jointly open the event.

Corvette "Magdeburg", class 130 Photo: Michael Nitz

NATO's annual naval manoeuvre is intended to strengthen cooperation and interoperability within the alliance while demonstrating a robust deterrent. The exercises include amphibious operations, air defence, anti-submarine warfare, the use of unmanned systems, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations. There will also be numerous firing exercises.

Minehunting boat "Datteln", class 332 Photo: Michael Nitz

Co-operation with the German Navy is ensured by the Commander Task Force Baltic stationed in Rostock, led by Rear Admiral Stephan Haisch. The corvettes "Braunschweig" and "Magdeburg", the frigate "Bayern", the task force provider "Frankfurt am Main", the minehunting boat "Datteln", the tender "Mosel", the survey boat "Stollergrund" and a P-3C "Orion" maritime reconnaissance aircraft are taking part from the German Navy.

Measuring and test boat "Stollergrund". Photo: Michael Nitz

In addition to the USA and host Germany, the participating nations are: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and the UK.