Mine Defence International 

Once the speciality of the former German navy, mine defence in the Baltic Sea is being significantly revived. This is currently happening with the manoeuvre MCM-BALTIC 26 with a large number of units, including those of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1), which is currently led by Commander Kacper Sterne (Poland) from the flagship ORP 511 „Kontradmiral X. Czernicki“ from the flagship. For the next two weeks, underwater threats will be „fought“ in exercises with the Allies. On Monday, German and international mine countermeasure units departed from Kiel for the two-week manoeuvre. MCM-BALTIC 26 set off. After practising in the Bay of Kiel until the middle of the week, they then operated in the Bay of Mecklenburg before moving eastwards through the Kadet Channel on Friday.

According to our research, the units involved are the German units Tender A 514 „Werra“, M 1098 Siegburg, M 1068 Datteln, M 1065 Dillingen, M 1058 Fulda and at least four minesweeper drones type „Seehund“. From Estonia come ENS M 6733 „Ugandi“ (ex British Sundown) and ENS N 6741 „Wambola“ (ex Danish Lindormen), from Denmark come the HDMS „Hirsholm“ and the minesweeper „MSF2“. The Dutch have sent the HNLMS M 860 „Schiedam“, from Lithuania the LNS M 53 „Skalvis“ and from Sweden the HMS M 77 „Ulvön“, from Latvia the LVNS A 53 Virsaitis.

Text: Schlüter / Photos Michael Nitz

LVNS A 53 Virsaitis Photo: Michael Nitz