Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) joined the Swedish naval exercise SWENEX, between 11 – 21 May, 2020 in the waters of Skagerak and the Baltic Sea, NATO Maritime Command announced on 21st May.
SNMG1 with the flagship HNoMS Otto Sverdrup and FGS Rhon played the role of a simulated adversary to the Swedish naval forces who defended Swedish territory from the intruders.
Swedish Navy brought 15 warships, 80 small boats and 2,000 sailors together with helicopters and small airplanes to the exercise.
After a spring session that has seen several major exercises reduced or even cancelled due to COVID-19, SWENEX gave valuable opportunities for training and exercising air defence as well as surface and subsurface scenarios.
SNMG1 will finish of their participation in the exercise with a short stop in the Swedish capital Stockholm this weekend.
In a few weeks, another major exercise is due in the Baltic Sea when the annual BALTOPS starts on 7 June. Two NATO groups, SNMG1 and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One, will take part and play a vital role in the exercise that is led by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO).
SWENEX-2020 :
The Swedish Navy’s national naval exercise SWENEX-2020 has concluded in the waters of Skagerak and the Baltic Sea after gathering some 15 warships and 2,000 personnel.
SWENEX-2020 focused on two of the marine types of operation:
- Maritime security on the west coast to secure imports and important ports
- Coastal defense operation in the Baltic Sea to defend Sweden against an attacke
While the Swedish Armed Forces support society with the now ongoing pandemic, the Armed Forces’ ability to maintain preparedness and security is important for the security of the country and the stability in the immediate area.
The Swedish Armed Forces provided extensive support to the community during the Pandemic while Swenex was being implemented. A number of measures have been taken to be able to carry out the exercise safely. The exercise has been adapted to the prevalent spread of infection.
- Minimum staff exchanges took place between the vessels and also between personnel from different regions of the country. Therefore, the unions practised separately in different parts of the country, mainly without contact with civilians.
- No physical contact took place between Swedish and foreign participants on different vessels or ashore.
- Analyzes of exercise planning had been done to minimize the risk of burdening civilian healthcare in the country.
