BALTOPS 2023 Shapes Maritime Forces Rapid Response

On 4 June 2023,NATO's most significant maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea Region,Baltic Sea Operations 2023 (BALTOPS) began in Tallin,Estonia.It will run through 16 June.Partcipating will be 50 warships,over 45 aircraft,and 6,000 personnel from 20 countries.The drills are intended to demonstrate NATO's commitment to preserve regional peace and security by exercising a team of international forces that can rapidly respond to a crisis.Nations taking part include Belgium,Canada,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Italy,Latvia,Lithuania,the Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Spain,Sweden,Turkiye,the UK and the US.This will be Finland's first partcipation as a NATO Ally. It is the 52nd iteration of BALTOPS.BALTOPS remains an Alliance proving ground vital for honing the edge of combined interoperability in mine countermeasures;unmanned surface vehicle operations;and integrated air and maritime operations.This version will include the first ever robust drills in peronnel recovery by unmanned surface vehicles.Another enhancement will be a military chaplain exercise that enables Sailors and Marines to accomplish the mission with honour.All drills will build on last year's scenario story lines,including the undersea and space domains,such as the integration of the NATO Space Centre for space domain scenarios.* BALTOPS 2023 is led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet,but will be command-and-controlled by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) out of Oeiros,Portugal.During BALTOPS 2023,NATO will exercise a myriad of capabilities demonstrating the inherent flexibility of maritime forces,to include amphibious;gunnery;anti-submarine;and air defence operations;as well as mine-clearance operations;explosive ordnance disposal;unmanned underwater vehicle capabilities;and at-sea medical responses.Command ship for the drills is USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20).A submarine from the Royal Swedish Navy,HSwMS Uppland,will play a key role in the exercise.* Overseeing BALTOPS 2023 is Vice Admiral Thomas E. Ishlee,USN,Commander,U.S. 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO;Deputy Commander,U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa;and Joint Force Maritime Commander Europe.A graduate of Officer Candidate School,Rhode Island,VADM Ishlee is highly experienced in submarine operations,having served as an officer at several levels of submarine command,including command of Submarine Squadron 11,ensuring the readiness of six fast attack submarines,amomg other tasks.He also served as Director,Global Operations at U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).VADM Ishlee's decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal;the Legion of Merit;the Meritiorious Service Medal;Navy Commendation Medal;and Navy Achievement Medal; as well as various unit and service awards that are most meaningful to him.* Deputy Commander of BALTOPS 2023 is Rear Admiral James Morely,Royal Navy.A Warfare Officer,his commands have included Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea.He is a graduate of the Advanced and Higher Command Staff Course and the United States Capstone.

Major NATO Maritime Drills Commence:BALTOPS 22

On 5 June 2022,NATO exercise BALTOPS 22 begins in the Baltic Sea Region.The drills will run through 17 June.According to U.S. Naval Forces Europe,BALTOPS 22 will strengthen the combined response capability that is crtitical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the region.Those participating include:Belgium,Bulgaria,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,the Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Sweden,Turkey,the UK and the US.A myriad of capabilities will demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritme forces,to include:amphibious operations;gunnery;anti-submarine and air defence drills;mine clearance operations;explosive ordnance disposal;unmanned underwater vehicles;and medical response.Sweden is the host nation.* The scenario builds on BALTOPS 21 story lines and continues the incorporation of the space domain in coordination with the NATO Space Centre.The team of international forces will be tasked with responding rapidly in a time of crisis.Over 45 ships;75 aircraft;and some 7,000 service members will execute the manoeuvres.US Navy warships taking part include:the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3),dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44),guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) and command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20).* Strategically,Finland and Sweden's penchant for employing small missile-armed surface combatants and shore-based aircraft with Sweden's stealthy submarines in the context of Nordic geography creates significant Anti-Access/Area Denial capabilties.This could be used to block Russian transit of the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean.The exercise will take place in the Central and Southern Baltic Sea and include drills in the Stockholm archipelago near Uto;on land and sea outside Visby and Faro;on Ravlunda Exercise Field;on Osterlen and in Hano Bay.Sweden will contribute a submarine;two Visby corvettes;two minesweepers;four fighter aircraft;two helicopters and more than 500 troops.There will also be drills on riparian land ranges in Germany,Poland,Sweden and the Baltic States.Warfighting simulation will include maritime interdiction and personnel recovery,strengthening the cohesion and skillsets of NATO Allies and Partners.Personnel recovery is the recovery and reintegration of isolated military personnel,those who must survive,evade,resist or escape because they became separated from their units during combat operations.The Warrior's Ethos states:I will never leave a fallen comrade.An adversary may influence military strategy and national will by exploiting the intelligence and propaganda value of isolated personnel,according to the United States Army Combined Arms Centers.*

BALTOPS 2019 Participants

Those participating in the upcoming Exercise BALTOPS 2019 are:
Belgium,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Latvia,Lithuania,the Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Spain,Sweden,Turkey,the UK and the US.*
The 47th iteration of BALTOPS will be led by Commander,2nd Fleet (C2F) from the USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20),a Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship.It was docked at Naval Base Kiel-Tirpitzhafen,Germany on 5 June 2019 as crew members prepared for directing and supporting the warfighting drills in the Baltic Sea Region.*
BALTOPS 2019 runs from 9-21 June.It aims to enhance the defence of the Baltic Sea Region by NATO Allies and partners.

BALTOPS 2016:NATO Maritime Wargames Underway

Seventeen NATO member countries and partner nations are participating in BALTOPS 2016,the 44th iteration of the maritime wargames in the Baltic Sea region.Flagship of the exercise is the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20),which is also flagship of Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) and the US Navy's 6th Fleet.Upgraded during a 2015 maintenance period,the Mount Whitney is a command and control platform with specialised capability.*
BALTOPS 16 will demonstrate the use of sea-based platforms to rapidly reinforce a crisis area by delivering material,equipment and forces whenever and wherever they are needed.Forces called upon will include more than 60 aircraft delivering nearly 90 sorties a day,among them US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers;joint/shared aircraft;more than approximately 800 amphibious troops;and 45 ships and submarines.
The drills will result in a higher state of readiness;improved interoperability with NATO and partner nations and confidence in their ability to operate together in a time of crisis.It is an excellent opportunity for personnel to engage in realistic maritime training;to build experience,teamwork and strengthen our interoperability in order to promote security of the Baltic region,said US Naval Forces Europe-Africa/US 6th Fleet.BALTOPS demonstrates the Alliance and its partners are ready for and capable of dealing with any contingency through its combat enhancement training and force integrated training amphibious landings,as well as mine clearing training.