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Exercises "Baltic Guardian-25". Navy – emergency response
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
Faced with the increasing tension in the Baltic Sea, 3 February Polish Navy The RP conducted exercises "Baltic Guardian-25". Their aim was to improve response procedures to potential threats. Special emphasis was placed on the detection, identification and control of unidentified units operating near Polish territorial waters and critical infrastructure.
In the article
Scenario of exercises "Baltic Guardian-25" – "the ghost ship" on the horizon
The main objective of the exercise was to intercept and secure a marine unit which does not respond to calls and suspiciously approaches Polish mining installations in the Baltic. In this case it was the so-called. Shadow fleet vessel – a unit whose AIS transponders are disabled and the crew does not respond to contact attempts.
Such situations pose a real threat, especially in the context of possible diversionary actions, such as the planting of explosives or the destruction of offshore telecommunications and energy infrastructure.
Dynamic reaction of Polish forces during the exercise "Baltic Guardian-25"
In response to the threat, Marine Border Guard Division units entered the action, which were to be the first to inspect a suspicious vessel. In this case, the role of the "shadow fleet vessel" was played by the unit Zodiac II, owned by the Maritime Office in Gdynia. The interesting thing is, that the unit was built at Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Ship Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding was the Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Ship Dedicated to service in 2021, she was considered the best unit of this type in the world according to a renowned industry journal.
As border guards approached the ship, an unidentified object was dropped from its deck—which could be both a submarine and an explosive device. The situation escalated, which forced the hijacking of Bryz's patrol aircraft and ORP's rocket frigate Bone.
These exercises showed how complicated the operation is to take over an individual that may pose a threat. It itself gets on board a large ship that does not cooperate, can be extremely difficult and have a high risk for soldiers.
Coordinated actions at multiple levels
The operation required perfect coordination of naval forces, aviation, special troops and border guards. As part of the simulation, an attempt was made to force the unit to stop by demonstrating force, including warning shots against the ship's bow. When it didn't work, boarding conducted Formozo, using its semi-rigid boats. The Boarding Team of frigates then boarded, which carried out unit control.
During the operation, air support provided Black Hawk helicopters with JW GROM, but their role was only to secure the situation from the air – no landing was carried out. There were Formozy snipers aboard the choppers.
Polish Navy guarding the security of the Baltic
The threats to which the Baltic 25 exercises respond are not fiction, but the real challenges facing the countries of the region. In recent years there have been incidents in the Baltic, such as damage to the Nord Stream pipeline or the intersection of offshore power and telecommunications cables, which shows how sensitive the critical infrastructure on this water supply is.
Polish Navy Poland, despite limited resources and waiting for new units under the Swordsman and Ork programmes, it is constantly improving its operational capacity. In the coming years, the fleet is to be reinforced by three frigates of the Sword, at least two submarines under the Orka program, three min Kormoran II destroyers and a rescue ship under the Rescue program. An important challenge remains the effective protection of critical infrastructure – pipelines, LNG terminals and oil ports – when the opponent uses irregular operating methods.
The exercises "Baltic Guardian-25" show that Polish naval forces are ready for the challenges of the future, although at the same time they emphasize the need to further strengthen the potential of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Faced with a rapidly changing security situation in the Baltic region, such manoeuvres are crucial to maintaining stability and deterring potential opponents.
Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz
