Operation Atalanta anti-pirates. European means (Maj 3)
(BRUSSELS2) As the Belgian frigate Louise-Marie has now arrived in Djibouti, the last part of the four-monthly rotation, and as Operation Atalanta enters a new phase, before the one-year review, it is time to update the main means engaged in the European anti-piracy operation, "Eunavfor Atalanta". Because it has changed somewhat since the last update.
In the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, there are currently 13 ships (mainly frigates), 4 aircraft (3 maritime patrol boats, P3 Orion based in Djibouti and Atlantique II currently based in Mombasa + Awacs). That is more than 2000 men mobilized. (NB: The two Luxembourg "Merlin III" aircraft have not yet arrived). Nine countries are taking part in the operation on site (see list of ships and planes below), one of which is not a member of the EU. And a dozen others (Bulgaria, Croatia*, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Switzerland*) sent personnel to the General Staff of operation (OHQ), force (FHQ) or logistics (FHQ logistics). In addition, a US liaison officer is present at Northwood headquarters. And liaison officers from neighboring countries (Yemen, Djibouti, etc.) are on board some of the force's boats.
*Non-EU countries
List of ships and aircraft present in the area:
Netherlands : the frigate “Evertsen” (F-805) took over, on August 3, from the Spanish Numancia, as flagship. Recently released from the shipyards (2001 with entry into service in 2005), it can accommodate a command device and carries a Lynx helicopter (NH-90).
Germany. The "Brandenburg" frigate (F-215) and the anti-submarine frigate "Bremen" (F-207), with a crew of around 200 people and two Sea Lynx Mk 88 A type helicopters (vessel equivalent to that of the Rheinland-Pfalz sent at the start of the operation).
Belgium. The “Louise-Marie” frigate (F-931) and its 169 men and women have just arrived in the area.
Spain. A "Canarias" frigate (F-82, with a crew of 193 people (44 of whom are women) as well as a team of Marine commandos (16) and two Sikorsky SH60 helicopters with their team of pilots and mechanics of 19 people + a P3-Orion surveillance plane (100 men).
France. The “Lafayette” (F-210) and “Germinal” (F-732) frigates. (NB: If necessary, ships based in Reunion or Djibouti can come as reinforcements).
Greece. The "Adrias" frigate (F-459), with a crew of 200 people and its Lynx helicopter.
Italy. The frigate "Maestrale" (F-570), which was at the end of August on an official visit to the Seychelles.
Norway. The frigate "Fridtjof Nansen" (F-310) which marks the first participation of a state that is not part of the EU. With 150 people on board: a crew of 115 officers and sailors, as well as 35 specialists, including a naval special forces unit, interpreters, military police and a lawyer. The ship is equipped to hold up to 8 pirates on board.
Sweden. The support ship HMS Trossö (A-264) and two corvettes HMS Malmo (K-12) and HMS Stockholm (K-11).
MSDS
Operation Commander: Rear Admiral Peter Hudson (British). Bio, read: "Surprise change at the head of Atalanta: Jones resigns".
Deputy Operation Commander: Rear Admiral Thorsten Kähler (German)
Operation Headquarters (OHQ): Northwood (UK)
Force Commander (rotating every 4 months): Commodore Pieter Bindt (Dutch) until December 2009. Read »a commander and a "made in Nederland" frigate for Atalanta".
Force Headquarters (FHQ): frigate "Evertsen" (Netherlands).
Logistics base (LHQ): Djibouti - on the French military airbase
Duration: December 12, 2008 to December 12, 2010 (the operation has been renewed, read: Ministers confirm) divided by periods of 4 months
Financing: 8,3 million euros for 2009, distributed according to a distribution key (GDP) between the 26 Member States participating in the ESDP (Athena mechanism) - financing essentially the General Staff -, the various resources sent are the burden of the national budgets of the countries that send them.
