September and October is an highly busy period for submarine specialists from the 8th Coast Defence Fleet. In fresh weeks, miners from the 12th and 13th Tray Squadron have participated in 2 crucial NATO training projects – TRITON 2025 in Bulgaria and POSEIDON 2025 in Romania.
In Bulgarian Varna there was an global TRITON 2025 exercise, organized by the Bulgarian Navy. The task was attended by diving teams and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal – demining and neutralizing explosives) from NATO alliance countries, including representatives of the Polish Navy.
The Polish squad included miners divers, AUV operators (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) and EOD specialists. They carried out tasks related to the recognition, classification and neutralisation of underwater objects. During the exercise, the autonomous submarine AUV Gavia was utilized to map seamines and detect seamines.
The activities were carried out both at sea and in the port area, in cooperation with partners from Bulgaria, Romania, Spain and the United States. Joint episodes included, among others, underwater exploration, reconnaissance of mine objects and neutralisation of threats utilizing explosives.
The TRITON 2025 exercise was an crucial component in improving NATO's procedures to combat underwater threats while contributing to strengthening cooperation and trust between allies.
The next phase of the fall training cycle was participation in POSEIDON 2025 exercise, organized by the Romanian Navy. The task was attended by miners divers from the 12th and 13th trawlers division, AUV Gavia operators and staff officers liable for planning and coordinating mine activities.
Classes were carried out both at sea and on land, in diverse and demanding conditions of the Black Sea. The script of the exercise included episodes utilizing explosives, vehicles AUV and ROV (Remotery Operated Vehicle – a remotely controlled submarine), as well as helicopters. Participants performed a wide scope of dives – from searching for sunk objects, through designation with sonars, to neutralization of drifting mines and improvised explosives placed on ship hulls.
The Romanian Navy besides presented to participants the actual activities of the MCM (Mine Countermeasures – combating seamines), including emergency consequence methods from drifting mines and unmanned submarines (USV, Unmanned Surface Vehicle). The Polish squad carried out tasks from the decks of units made available by the hosts as well as utilizing their own diving equipment.
"We regularly take part in this kind of exercise due to the fact that it is simply a key component in preparing for action in the global environment. Each specified venture is an chance to test ourselves in different conditions and work with modern equipment, which we besides usage during real combat tasks. Working with allies from another NATO countries allows us to better realize their way of doing things and to play along in joint operations. We learn from each other, exchange experience and thus constantly improve the level of training – and this straight translates into the effectiveness of our activities at sea" - concluded 1 of the officers active in both projects.
The participation of Polish sailors in TRITON and POSEIDON exercises confirmed one more time the advanced level of training of submarine specialists from the 8th Defence Fleet The coasts and their readiness to carry out tasks within the framework of alliance cooperation on each of the waters surrounding Europe.
Text: StartCaptain Mar. Łukasz KoziarskiEndFragment
