Warships of MW RP: ORP Czernicki at the head of NATO mission

In 2023, the warship commanded by the ORP mine defence forces Rear Admiral X. Czernicki served as the flagship unit of the NATO Permanent Defence Force Team Group 1 (SNMCMG1). This year the team also included two trawlers – ORP Team and ORP Chassis.

In the article

History of Polish ships and sailors in international missions

Poland Polish Navy has a long and honorable history of participating in international peacekeeping missions and military operations. Polish sailors were active both under the auspices of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Alliance.

Even before Poland joined NATO, ORP ships Aquarius and ORP Sand were directed to the Gulf at the end of 1990, to support operations Desert Storm conducted on the basis of a UN mandate. Twelve years later, in 2002, in the same area, ORP operated Rear Admiral Xavery Czernicki, which together with the units of the international counter-terrorism coalition became part of the V Fleet US Navy. ORP crew Czernicki supported, secure and protect the entities participating in the operation Enduring Freedom.

Polish Navy Poland under NATO auspices

After Poland joined NATO, the ships of the Polish Navy were repeatedly directed to elite permanent teams of the alliance. Group 1 (SNMG1) was part of the NATO Permanent Ship Team three times, in 2006, 2008 and 2019, of the ORP rocket frigate General K. Pulaski. In SNMG1 and SNMG2 a twin frigate ORP served General T. Kościuszko.

Group 1 (SNMCMG1) was part of NATO's Permanent Mine Defense Force Team. Teapot, ORP Seagull and ORP Flaming, and recently also the ORP trawlers Team and ORP Hańcza. OrP mine defence command ship Rear Admiral X. Czernicki In 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2023, he served as a flagship operating in the Baltic, North and Atlantic Ocean SNMCMG1, and in 2017 he operated in the Mediterranean and Black SNMCMG2.

In a five-year operation of the North Atlantic Alliance in the Mediterranean under the code name Active Endeavour, launched after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, attended the ORP submarines White (three times) and ORP Condor, frigate ORP General K. Pulaski (twice) and command ship with ORP mine defence forces Rear Admiral X. Czernicki.

Polish sailors have taken and continue to participate in many peace, stabilisation and training missions and operations conducted by the Armed Forces of Poland, such as UNDOF (Syria), ISAF (Afganistan), UNIFIL (Lebanon), MNF (Iraq), EUFOR (Bosnia and Herzegovina), KFOR (Kosovo) or EUNAVFOR MED SOPHIA, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI (Italy) and TAMT (Turkey).

This year Poland joined the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) – the world's largest maritime partnership aimed at ensuring safety, freedom of navigation and compliance with international law in the area of the Persian Gulf, the Arab Sea and the Red Sea. In response to the invitation and as a result of the arrangements made, the Polish party decided to send officers of the Centre for Maritime Operations – the Marine Component Command to perform duties at CMF Command in Bahrain.

Source: COM-DKM/MD