Seize the abandoned airport, prepare them for the HIMARS launcher and then cover its operation, while indicating the targets that should be destroyed – specified tasks were given to the 6th Airborne Brigade soldiers who have just joined the "Baltops '25" exercise.
Old airport in Zegrzu Pomerania, 5:00 a.m. 2 CASA transport aircraft appear above our heads. They make a turn, fly along the lane, then vanish behind the tree line. Moments later, pilots take another attempt. And this time, no luck. – They will not jump, besides strong wind – I hear from the soldiers gathered on the disc. The entry of the main forces which 6th Airborne Brigade has separated for the exercise "Baltops '25," will be moved. But just for a moment.
The weather around Koszalin has been changing for respective hours like in a kaleidoscope. And that means that plans should be verified virtually from hr to hour. According to the first scenario, they were to land first pathfinders, or soldiers from the alleged combined avant-garde group. They are versatilely trained scouts who can execute jumps from over 4 1000 meters, utilizing oxygen cameras. However, due to mediocre conditions, at the last minute they had to be withdrawn. Yesterday, soldiers from the reconnaissance wards jumped, and present the main forces were to follow. And it was their landing that we waited unsuccessfully for in the Pomeranian Zegrę. This is the specificity of the air-desanant troops. In order for the jumps to take place, the wind strength on the ground should not exceed 7 metres per second – admits Colonel Simon Noworyta, commander of the 6th Air Desert Battalion, which is part of the 6th BPD. Stronger gusts could handle parachutists from over a designated landing pad and throw them, for example, into a close forest. The hazard of injury in this case is besides high. The conditions of the landing are so strictly defined, of course, only during the exercise, erstwhile the safety of the soldiers comes first. During the war, they take a much greater risk.
Meanwhile, the plan "B" will should be implemented today. The planes were diverted to Mirosłowiec. That's where they landed, and the soldiers were thrown into Zewarza by road. Our main task has not changed. We are to control the airport and prepare them for the organization of the next military throw – he explains Brig-Gen Michał StrzeleckiCommander of the 6th Airborne Brigade. On Wednesday, a transport aircraft should land in Zegrą Pomerania from HIMARS launcher On board. It belongs to the American Marines. For the following hours, it will harm targets on the Baltic Sea coast. “They will be provided by soldiers of our battalion who are already conducting reconnaissance in the area,” explains Colonel Noworyta. In turn, the sub-units that have planted the airport will supply the HIMARS crew with a shield, repelling the attacks of diversional and reconnaissance groups.
A akin script of the 6th Air Force performed a fewer weeks ago during the Swift consequence exercise. Paratroopers from Krakow were then transferred to Finland, where took the airport close Helsinki. From there, HIMARS belonging to the Polish 1st Rocket Brigade besides launched simulated attacks on an opponent from the east. – In “Baltops” we have engaged a small little forces. In total, about 100 of our soldiers participate in the exercises. However, this does not change the fact that this is crucial to us. The unique abilities our brigade has are worth utilizing at different levels and configurations – summarizes Brig. Gen. Strzelecki.
"Baltops" is 1 of the most crucial NATO exercises in Europe. They play mostly on the Baltic. This year, nearly 50 different types of ships, dozens of aircraft and helicopters, as well as nearly 9,000 soldiers, participate. At sea they operate, among others, an American command ship USS “Mount Whitney”, USS destroyer ‘Paul Ignatius’ or frigate from Germany — FGS ‘Bayern’. Poland represents 4 ships – ORP rocket frigate "Gen. T. Kościuszko", orP submarine combat corvette "Kashub" and 2 ORP "Nakło" and ORP "Mami". And there's a SH-2G helicopter. Part of the episodes of “Baltops” take place on land – among others, on the camp in Ustka. The maneuvers are organised by the 6th United States Fleet and STRIKFORNATO, or Command of the Maritime Strike Force and NATO Support.
