Credible deterrence: Today, the frigates „Sachsen-Anhalt“ and „Hamburg“ and the task force provider „Bonn“ returned to their home port of Wilhelmshaven from the Mjølner 2026 manoeuvre.

Around 2,500 soldiers from Norway, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany took part in the exercise. A total of eight ships and forces from the Norwegian land forces took part in the exercise. On the German side, the corvettes „Braunschweig“ and „Erfurt“ from Warnemünde took part alongside the ships mentioned above. The Norwegian frigate „Fridtjof Nansen“ and the Danish frigates „Iver Huitfeldt“ and „Absalon“ were also part of the group.

Aircraft, missiles and drones from the air as well as speedboats and submarines attacked the participating units in various exercise scenarios. The crews had to react within a very short space of time and defend themselves against the realistic threats. „This exercise is an indispensable part of our operational readiness. It shows that we are capable of acting together and sends a strong signal of unity,“ summarised the leader of the association, Captain Jan Hackstein. The participating nations wanted to use the exercise to prove that it is possible to work together effectively on the basis of common procedures and fast information channels. In two years' time, Mjølner 2028 will take place under Norwegian leadership. It was the first time that Germany led the exercise as a whole and led the preparations. The name "Mjølner" comes from Viking mythology. The Thor's hammer, Mjölnir (Old Norse for "Crusher", "Shatterer" or also "Lightning"), is the central symbol of the Norse god Thor, the protector of Midgard (the human world) and Asgard (the world of the gods). Mjölner always hits the target - what a name!

Text: PIZ Marine/edited
Photos: Bw/Julia Kelm/SF Mantei