Hydrograph, or power of knowledge

Hydrographic vessels – let's say openly – are not the most awesome deterrent tool. They do not carry missiles or torpedoes, they do not have modern barrel artillery, and their regular service does not have the slightest connection with the tension of muscles. Rather, it resembles a painstaking and inefficient orca at death. Units of this kind do not embark on global missions, do not play the first violin during exercises, the word: they stay in the shade.

Their names seldom only appear in the service of military press offices or in the media. And if this happens – they are usually treated in terms of historical curiosity. This was, for example, erstwhile the “Arctowski” crew tracked down the wreckage of the German “Steuben”, which at the end of the war went down with 4,000 passengers, or well-preserved remains of the Junkers aircraft. Meanwhile, the hydrographic ships quietly carry out work that affects not only the operation of the Navy, but besides civil.

Their main task is to probe the bottom of the Baltic. The data collected in this way are utilized to make sea maps and navigational warnings. But these units can besides be utilized in another ways – for example to monitor underwater critical infrastructure or collect various types of reconnaissance data in the alleged lower half-sphere. In a day of expanding hybrid warfare, this is of immense importance.

In fresh years a series has taken place in the Balticdamage to pipelines and cables connecting western countries. The service has suspicions bordering on certain to be the consequence of sabotage. And although in specified cases it is usually hard to get clear evidence, there is 1 thing – the hazard of specified events increases with the unfavourable improvement of events on the Ukrainian front. To minimize it, NATO began the operation ‘Baltic Sentry’. The thought came from Poland, which besides carries out its autonomous activities – Bay operation. In addition, it develops competences which, speaking military language, let to build a widely understood situational awareness. And in this context, a contract for fresh hydrographic ships is simply a decision that fits into the full series of events.

Poland has already ordered 2 fresh exploratory vessels Delfin projectto aid collect information from radio and imaging recognition. Their equipment will besides let to monitor the situation underwater. crucial cognition of the lower half-sphere can be provided Kormoran II kind mine destroyers with his submarines. The Navy already owns 3 specified ships, the construction of 3 more is ongoing. A platform for collecting data from the surface will yet become submarines with ‘Orca’ programmeIt’s okay. ” And hydrographic units will complete this puzzle if necessary.

Knowledge has always been a powerful weapon, and the ability to collect it quickly, especially in areas as hard to scope as the sea depths, is crucial – not only from the point of view of military activities but besides from the economical condition of the state. Indeed, any disruption of navigation or interruption of the pipeline generates losses, which are frequently even hard to estimate. Therefore, it is in the strategical interest of the State to keep the routes clear and safe, and the offshore pipelines and cables intact. To accomplish this, you request to know – in colloquially speaking – what you can hear underwater...