Manoeuvring in formation, conducting communications, cooperating with the helicopter, as well as monitoring... delicate waters – “Polish Armed Forces” reporters had an chance to look closely, due to the fact that from the deck of the ORP “Albatros”, Polish mine destroyers with ships of the Natovian SNMCMG1 team. Going out to sea was besides part of Operation Bay.
We board the ORP “Albatros” on Monday before 7:00 a.m. There's a feverish mess on the ship. A fewer minutes later, the moors are thrown. The unit immediately bounces off the wharf and turns its beak toward the port exit. The fast manoeuvre is possible thanks to the cyclone propulsors that the constructors installed in the hull alternatively of conventional screws. Each propulsor consists of a rotor and moving wings, and their work provides the ship with superior maneuverability. A fewer minutes later, we're already in port heads and we're going out on a somewhat rocked Baltic. We have a long and busy day ahead of us.
Helicopter above deck
OrP “Albatros” is simply a Kormoran II kind mine destroyer (Project 258) – 1 of 3 presently serving in the Navy. They all belong to the 13th Tray Squadron, stationed in Gdynia, and in their class they claim to be the most modern in the world. Their assets could be exchanged long. 1 is the mentioned maneuverability, others: quiet drive and hull built of a magnetic steel, which allows the ship to decision safely in mined waters (modern mines primarily respond to the sound and physical fields of the vessels), a modern combat management system, yet a number of different types of submarines, both autonomous and remotely controlled. – Thanks to them, you can carry out any actions connected to the mine defence chain – emphasised kmdr pr. Michał Bober, commander of ‘Albatros’. Gavia and Hugin For example, they are utilized to scan seabeds for alleged mine-like objects, and Double Eagle Sarov or V8M500 – for their final recognition and planting of explosives.
Today, of course, we will not see the full spectrum of capabilities of the ship, but a tiny example – absolutely. The chance is double, exercises with SNMCMG1, which is the first permanent squad of NATO mine defence forces and participation in Operation Bay. But first things first.
For now, we're heading to the Bay of Pucka, where a gathering with allied ships is scheduled. The tasks of SNMCMG1 are to monitor key shipping routes in northern Europe, to participate in demining operations and continuous exercises to stay ready for crisis or war. Last Friday, the squad entered Gdańsk to replenish supplies and give the sailors a minute of rest. But the halt is over.
Meanwhile, more minutes pass. "Albatros" moves northeast at 4 knots. shortly on our right side there is simply a massive grey figure. It is the LNV “Jotvingis” – a Lithuanian command ship that has been the flagship unit since July. It is followed by 2 mine destroyers: FGS “Homburg” from Germany and FNS “Purunpaa” from Finland. He's inactive in the band. ORP ‘Mew’ – Polish destroyer of duplicate mines against ‘Albatros’, which nevertheless performs another tasks today. Anyway – at sea we will have 2 ships of task 258. In the wake of us from Gdynia, the ORP “Kormoran” besides came out, who will besides join the exercises.
The sailors on watch on the bridge “Albatros” establish communication with the team’s ships. The maneuvering begins soon. The units are approaching each another and they're setting up in track order. For any time, they go 1 by one, they make phrases, and yet they start to decision in front order, or side to side. erstwhile maneuvering continues at the best, the area appears helicopter W-3WARM Anakonda from the Navy Air Brigade. “Today we besides want to practice procedures related to rescue, or more specifically the evacuation scenarios of an injured crew member,” said Lieutenant Commander Bober.
A minute later on the open deck of the “Albatros” there is already a boatmaster dressed in a peculiar suit, goggles and helmet. “My occupation is to guide the helicopter,” he explains. erstwhile we talk, the device appears behind the stern of the ship. Her figure is increasing fast. Finally, Anaconda hangs almost above the deck itself and slow moves forward with the ship, which remains in motion at all times. The chopper leaves the line and the lifeguard pulls down. According to the assumptions, it is intended to assist an injured sailor who will then be taken on board the machine. The operation takes a full of respective minutes and – as the sailors admit – requires extraordinary precision and cool head. Even a tiny mistake from 1 crew could end in disaster. At a delicate moment, the chopper is only a fewer meters distant from the ship.
Exercises last until late afternoon. – Such activities are known as passex. These are basic procedures for ship cooperation. The Navy tries to carry them out whenever abroad ships call to our ports – admits Lieutenant Commander Bober. Passengers, unlike complex and multi-threaded global exercises, do not require long-term preparation. They can be carried out decently from the march. And the benefits of them are many. First of all, they service to gain strength from different countries. specified actions build interoperability, which is the foundation of NATO. “For us, this is besides an component of preparation for the mission under the Alliance flag,” says the officer. Next year, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish, “Albatros” should join the SNMCMG2 mine squad and head for the Mediterranean.
But Monday's exit is an component of the operation which has fundamental importance for the safety of Poland.
“The Bay”, that is, the power of monitoring
In September 2022 a Nord Stream gas pipeline was blown up, which combined Russia and Germany. The circumstances have not yet been full explained. However, they gave a clear signal that after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic became an area peculiarly threatened by sabotage and diversion. In response, the Polish Navy launched Bay operation. “Since then, our ships regularly monitor the movement of units on our key shipping routes, check the approach to ports, appear in areas where Poland has critical infrastructure,” says kmdr Marek Obrębski of the Marine Operations Centre – Marine Component Command, to which we are talking on board “Albatros”. There is simply quite a few this in the Baltic – just mention the Świnoujski Gazoport or the Baltic tube pipeline moving on the seabed, which Poland imports from Norway almost half of its gas a year. “Any harm to specified installations would be a serious blow to the economy,” the officer admits.
And since the hazard is high, the incidents of the next fewer years have confirmed. At 1 point, civilian units suspected of being active with Russia were seriously damaging cables and gas pipelines belonging to the Scandinavian and Baltic states. NATO reacted very rapidly – launched Operation Baltic Sentry, which in rule includes akin activities to those implemented under the Bay. Poland besides participates in this project. “We stay in contact with allies, exchange data, coordinate our activity,” points out kmdr Obrębski.
NATO states must not restrict shipping to anyone. Thousands of different types of vessels pass through global waters, where there are even pipelines. What do sailors pay peculiar attention to? "The crews are watching whether these ships are performing different maneuvers in delicate areas for us, whether they are breaking the law, moving with the AIS strategy disabled, which allows them to be identified. Our sailors effort to verify the affiliation and the assumed way of the unit, especially if it is suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet," explains kmdr Obrębski. The officer admits that since the launch of the Gulf operation, serious incidents in Polish territorial waters and in the alleged exclusive economical region have not occurred. However, this does not mean that there is no risk.
During the exercise, the crew of “Albatros” monitored the approaches to the largest Polish ports in Gdynia and Gdańsk. But that is not the end. “The ship is able to monitor underwater infrastructure thanks to its modern sensors, even if the already mentioned submarines,” adds Mr. Bober. specified actions were planned for the following days.
