BALTOPS 2015 – Exercise on Ground, Water and in the Air

Speaking on the media day of the exercise, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) told the press that “we saw an amazing exercise out on the water today. It has been a pleasure for me to spend the day with the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. I could not be more impressed with the job they have done. Today was a great example of interoperability and the capability that our NATO forces have together", the general said, referring to the day when several waves of amphibious assault craft and U.S. Navy hovercrafts brought US marines and British, US, Finnish and Swedish marines to shore.

Talking about the “Russian incidents" drawing international media attention, Gen. Breedlove pointed out that nothing hindered the work of the nations participating in the exercise. As he said, on the contrary, the unexpected events made the execution more realistic and varied. He emphasized that anyone can exercise on international waters, even in cooperation.

In an earlier interview given aboard USS San Antonio, the flagship of the exercise, Vice Admiral James G. Foggo, Commander of US 6th fleet told us that besides the main objectives of Exercise BALTOPS 2015, they also place great importance on visibility, because, as he said, there are no secrets on the exercise, every data is public. Thus, we can know that altogether 49 warships participated in the exercise under the command of the ship named after the Battle of Alamo, among them a Polish submarine named Kondor.

The latter vessel, just like most of the participating units of the Polish armed forces, was playing the role of OPFOR at sea and on ground. Close to 6,000 US paratroops and marines, British marines, as well as Swedish and Finnish troops made an assault landing on the shore section defended by those units, where the VIPs and journalists were watching their action.

The exercise was spectacular indeed, with a wide range of types deployed on the Polish shore. The US Marine Corps arrived by Assault Amphibious Vehicles, and the US Navy transported the troops with Landing Craft Air Cushions, supported and defended by Swedish CB-90 Combat Boats. A little farther, Polish and British units were landing.

The Swedish JAS-39 Gripens and US F-16s circling in the air helped the work of maritime and ground forces by providing Close Air Support for the assault forces. The British Westland Lynx, CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters were flying in the same airspace together with a real specialty, an MV-22 Osprey aircraft. The latter is special because thanks to its rotors, it can be used as an airplane and as a helicopter.

In assessing the exercise, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove expressed his satisfaction. As he said, they have attained all the objectives and learned a lot of lessons besides the successes. The results will be incorporated into the planning of the 44th BALTOPS exercise scheduled for 2016.

Photos by the author