The search, classification and recognition of seamines is the main of a full scope of tasks that were carried out by the crew of the ORP destroyer "Albatros" from the Finnish coast for nearly 2 weeks. The ship took part in the Natov exercises "Freezing Winds 2025" and operated alongside allies from 11 states. This was the first specified venture in his history.
Exercise "Freezing Winds 2025", photograph Sebastian/13 DTr
ORP ‘Albatros’ is simply a destroyer of mines of the Kormoran II kind – 1 of three, which is now available to the Polish navy. He began his service in late November 2022. Until now, however, with the exception of specialist training at the centre in German Neustadt, his crew only practiced in the country. Now the ship yet had the chance to make its debut in maneuvers involving NATO. And not just any.
In fresh years ‘Freezing Winds’ It grew to the rank of the most crucial exercises in the North Baltic. The task is organised by the Finnish Navy, but individual episodes besides take place on land, air and cyberspace. This year's edition was attended by nearly 5,000 soldiers and sailors from 11 North Atlantic Alliance countries.
Almost 20 ships operated close the Finnish coast – among them the HDMS frigate "Niels Juel" from Denmark, as well as units serving in the permanent Natov antimine squad SNMCMG1. In this group there has been another Polish ship since July – trawler ORP ‘Necko’.
Exercise "Freezing Winds 2025", photograph Sebastian/13 DTr
For “Freezing Winds” the band besides included the ORP “Albatros”. – The practice was intended to test NATO forces' ability to interact in hard winter conditions. However, the reality turned out to be different, as Mr. Michał Bober, commander of "Albatros", recalls. As he says, the temperature oscillated around 10°C, so it was higher than at the same time in Poland. But the wind was strong and the sea remained restless. As a result, ships barely went out into the open waters of the Gulf of Finland and Botnicka, focusing on activities within the alleged Archipelago Sea, says the officer. Under this name lies a fragment of the Baltic that has nearly 40,000 smaller and larger islands.
“Operation in specified conditions was a challenge,” admits Lieutenant Commander Bober. As he describes, they have sometimes passed through areas where they had land virtually at their fingertips, and after both sides they were only a fewer twelve meters apart. There was usually quite a few traffic on the water. Through the Archipelago Sea leads the way to Turku, 1 of Finland's most crucial ports," the officer adds.
The main task of “Albatros” was to search for mines. And this is where the crew faced any difficulties. – In places where we operated, the depths reached 60–70 m. We had quite a few rocks around us, and there were stones at the bottom – described by Lieutenant Commander Bober. Underwater obstacles hampered the spread of sonar waves. Mines were not easy to track.
Exercise "Freezing Winds 2025", photograph Sebastian/13 DTr
The issue was further complicated by low underwater visibility. A fewer meters below the surface was already dark. Of course, it did not affect the work of sonars. Worse erstwhile we wanted to look at the speech with a camera," explains the commander of “Albatros”. During each mission the crew of the ship utilized primarily the hydroacoustic station and Underwater vehicle Foolish in the inspection version. After tracing the alleged mino-like objects, seafarers conducted their classification and identification. In another words, they verified whether they were dealing with a face or, for example, a part of metal.
“This is where our work ended, due to the fact that this time we did not destruct the finds,” Mr Bober points out. In the area of maneuvers, organizers have deployed many exercise mines. At the same time, crews received information that there may be genuine ammunition under water from the times of fresh wars. However, as the commander of ‘Albatros’ admits, his crew did not encounter specified facilities.
But the list of tasks that Polish sailors faced was not limited to looking for mines. The “Albatros” crew besides resisted air strikes and diversions. There was besides a simulated fight against the fire on the ship and the hull punctures. The screenplay “Freezing Winds” besides assumed, among others, defence against the landing organization or the fight against saboteurs who attempted to harm the marine critical infrastructure.
Exercise "Freezing Winds 2025", photograph Sebastian/13 DTr
“The exercises highlighted the strategical importance of joint training in the northern Baltic Sea region, where hard conditions require advanced capabilities and flexibility,” stresses kmdr Jānis Auce, Latvian officer in command of SNMCMG1. It adds that "Freezing Winds" not only strengthens NATO coordination but besides underlines its willingness to engage in safety throughout the region.
“Albatros” commander, the global debut of the ship is positive. "Every test of this kind brings with it large value, and it does not substance that our crew members, serving on another ships before, have been able to gain considerable experience," said Lieutenant Commander Bober. As he explains, the Polish crew had the chance to practice in the region with completely different characteristics than the 1 in which he operates all day. The differences concern not only the formation of the coast, but even the salinity of water.
“It is possible to compare procedures with allies. We looked at them, and they looked at us," the officer explains. He adds that the Polish ship has attracted considerable interest. And that is surely a reason for satisfaction. For years we could boast about well-trained crews, but in terms of equipment, we were a small off from many allies. Today, our antimine forces are besides an absolute leader here – concludes Lieutenant Commander Bober. For the ORP crew “Albatros” exercises are besides a phase of preparation for service in Natovian mine teams.
