Royal Navy Vessels Sail for BALTOPS 2015

Three Royal Navy ships are enroute to Poland to participate in the largest maritime exercise of the year – BALTOPS 15.

In a demonstration of ongoing commitment to NATO operations, Her Majesty’s Ships Iron Duke and Quorn, as well as the Fleet flagship HMS Ocean, are all participating in this year’s exercise.

Seventeen NATO and partner nations are taking part in the 43rd iteration of the exercise from 5 to 20 June in the waters off Poland, Sweden and Germany.

Heading up BALTOPS 15 is Vice Admiral James Foggo III, Commander of the US 6th Fleet and Commander of Striking and Support Forces NATO.

He said:

This exercise represents an important opportunity for our forces, as allies and partners, to enhance our ability to work together and strengthen capabilities required to maintain regional security.

The three warships’ involvement in BALTOPS 15 means that assets from all three services will have been exercising in the Baltic region this year under the NATO umbrella ALLIED SHIELD – a series of four exercises.

Participating nations include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and the United States.

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Image: Royal Navy