The fast spread on board the transport-mining vessel, the deployment on Gotland, simulated impacts on the opposing ships moving across the Baltic – these are the tasks set before the Marine Rocket Unit during the Polish-Swedish exercises "Gotland Sentry". It's the first specified venture ever.
Marine Rocket Unit on its way to the Polish-Swedish exercises “Gotland Sentry”.
Warport in Świnoujście, early morning. On board transport-min vessel ORP ‘Torun’ 3 bells sound – a sign that the commander has declared a combat alarm. The sailors are busy at moors, cannon operators are mirroring the waterfront and port canal, engines are entering higher speeds. By the time the day gets up, the ship bounces off the waterfront, as well as the towboat turns its bow to the exit, then heads towards the port's head. From a distance, you can see that he's heavy pregnant. During the night, NSM rocket launchers, command cars, vehicles forming a combat module arrived on board. Marine Rocket Unit. The ORP “Torun” takes the course to Gotland. Polish-Swedish exercises “Gotland Sentry” are already underway there. The first specified venture in history.
From a strategical point of view, the importance of Gotland is barely overestimated. The control over the island helps to control the key routes for sailing in the Baltic. They lead from the Danish Straits to the Baltic States, Finland, the Gulf of Finland and Russia. The military utilized to say that a Swedish island is like a natural aircraft carrier. In fresh years Polish soldiers have practiced there respective times, but never before in specified a formula.
"Gotland Sentry" is simply a joint initiative of the Operations Command of the Types of Armed Forces and the Swedish Joint Command. Exercises are included in the Snex (Short announcement Exercise) projects. And that means the troops active were notified of the tasks at the last moment. The maneuvers are intended to test the ability of allied troops to rapidly spread naval, land and air forces in the specified area. MJR plays a unique function in this arrangement.
Marine Rocket Unit on its way to the Polish-Swedish exercises “Gotland Sentry”.
Why? For the Polish army it is simply a unique unit. Firstly, due to its mobility. MJR vehicles can easy travel on both asphalt roads and ground roads. Within a short time, they are able to take position, bring out a blow, and decision distant at a safe distance, so that the enemy cannot counterattack. It is besides comparatively easy to burden them on a plane or on a ship and transport them abroad in a short time. “In fresh years we have carried out tasks in Norway, Estonia, Sweden, Romania, Lithuania, Iceland... – mentions the commander of the battery combat module, which we are talking to in the Świnouian port. shortly the MJR will show its possibilities again. In Sweden, we will carry out fire management training in cooperation with allies. We will carry out simulated rocket attacks on water targets – the officer explains. And here the unit truly has something to scare. The NSM anti-ship missiles at its disposal are nearly 200 km wide. And they'll usually be flawlessly targeted. Just finished combat shooting in Norway.
Except MJR doesn't work in vacuum. To show all its qualities, it usually works with different types of troops. On the occasion of the Gotland Sentry, the unit entered into close cooperation with the forces of the 8th Coast Defence Fleet. Launchers, command vehicles and logistics vehicles were first decontaminated, or disinfected. The aim is to minimise the hazard of ASF virus being transmitted from Poland (causes African swine fever). “This is simply a standard request for our Swedish allies”, admits Captain Piotr Matuszewski of the chemical company of the 8th Bomb Squadron Battalion in Dziwnów and adds that the process itself is divided into 4 stages. First the vehicles are flushed with water, then sprayed with disinfectant, then the chemists disinfect their interiors to yet check the effects of their work together with the Swedes. The decontamination besides includes the ship's cargo bay.
Marine Rocket Unit on its way to the Polish-Swedish exercises “Gotland Sentry”.
After decontamination of the equipment you can start loading. The 1 in Świnoujście started late at night. On the ship and this time, a combat alert was issued. Operators took seats in cannon cabins, almost all external lights went out on board. But they lit up glowing green lights inside the hold. shortly he began boarding first of the vehicles. He was moving backwards. The driver was credited with mirrors and signs transmitted by illuminated indicators by the deputy commander of the ship. “It is the officer in this position who is straight liable for loading vehicles. The driver must comply with his instructions and instructions. The deputy commander of the ship shall set the vehicle in the appropriate position and then the ship's master and the peculiar group shall have the cargo in an appropriate manner to “stamp” the ship, explains Captain Mar. Rafał Sławiński, commander of the ORP “Torun. Vehicles are pressed with hydraulic beams and chained so that during worse weather they do not decision in the hold and do not endanger the stableness of the ship. Of course, the full process must be pre-planned by the commander. He besides supervises loading – adds Captain Mar Sławinski.
Marine Rocket Unit on its way to the Polish-Swedish exercises “Gotland Sentry”.
Meanwhile, a fewer twelve minutes later, the last truck enters the ORP “Torun”. Soon, the ship's crew closes the bow ramp, and MJR soldiers extend the cloaking net over the vehicles. The evening is slow passing into the night. Now all that remains is to wait for the signal to leave the port. A fewer twelve hours later, the ORP “Torun” enters the port of Visby. The ramp will be lowered again, and the trucks will leave in no time and then head for the ground.
For seafarers 8 Coast Defence Fleets It's nothing new. In Świnoujście 5 transport and mine units (OTRM) of the Lublin kind are stationed and each of them already have dozens of akin tasks. – Ships were designed to transport technology. The loading and unloading can be carried out both in ports and on unprepared shores, and, speaking straight on the beach, explains Captain Mar. Sławinski. OTRMs can besides set mines.
Marine Rocket Unit on its way to the Polish-Swedish exercises “Gotland Sentry”.
In fresh years, ships have been active in training landing operations. Next to the MJR, they collaborated with even the 12th Szczecin Mechanized Division, 6th Airborne Brigade, 17 of the Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade, but besides allies. They carried equipment and soldiers from Norway, Germany, Romania. “We have transported, among others, Rosomaki, various types of trucks, MJR vehicles and late besides the HIMARS rocket launcher,” says Captain Mar. Sławinski. “We were going to ports in Finland, Estonia, Norway, Lithuania and many others,” concludes Captain Mar. Sławinski.
"Gotland Sentry" will end in the coming days. Exercises are related to maneuvers "Iron Defender '25" – the largest test of readiness of the Polish Armed Forces in years. By the end of September, more than 30,000 Polish soldiers, along with allies, exercise on respective fields in the east part of the country, at sea, in airspace and virtual space. Poles besides carry out tasks abroad – not only in Sweden but besides in the Baltic States.
