A Franco-Belgo-German relief en route to Atalanta
Several ships are currently sailing towards the Indian Ocean to take over from the European anti-piracy operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta.
On the French side, two new ships are arriving in the theater of operations. I'Aviso Commander Bouan (F-797) is, in fact, already in the area, where it has just completed a "tarpon" exercise (recovery of paratroopers at sea) with the marine commandos based in Djibouti. It will be mainly affected in the Gulf of Aden.
The frigate Aconit (F-713), of the La Fayette class, will soon join him, assigned to the Indian Ocean. Equipped with a Panther helicopter, 125 meters long, it can reach a speed of 25 knots, served by a crew of 150 sailors.
As to Charles de Gaulle, our masterful aircraft carrier, when its electrical breakdown is repaired (it had to turn back for an "electrical fault"), it will in turn head for the warm seas to participate mainly in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan, offshore of Pakistan in various exercises with Saudi Arabia, India and the United Arab Emirates. But it should also lend its support, during transit, to Operation Atalanta. With the carrier battle group including the anti-submarine frigate Tourville, based in Brest, the air defense frigate Forbin (D-620), the oil tanker Meuse (A-607) and the nuclear attack submarine Amethyst, not to mention the Rafale F3, the Super Étendard and the Hawkeye, there will be a lot of good people in the international corridor of the Gulf of Aden. Pirates had better be up to it!
German side, the frigate Hamburg (F-220) will leave its home port of Wilhelmshaven on October 19 and will be on site in mid-November. Placed under the command of frigate captain Frank Schwarzhuber, she will replace the frigate Köln. It is the first frigate of the F124 class (the most recent program, and the most expensive, of the German navy) to take part in the operation in the Horn of Africa, specifies the Bundeswehr. Incidentally, it will participate in two exercises "Rapid Arrow 2010" and "JADOC" (Joint Air Defense Operations Center) in the Mediterranean. The Hamburg includes a crew of 250, two "Sea Lynx" helicopters from the 3rd Marine Air Wing "Graf Zeppelin" and has a team of marine protection forces (MSK) in charge of ensuring the protection of fragile boats (VPD detachment on-board protection).
Finally, on the Belgian side, the Louise-Marie (F-931), which left Zeebrugge on October 4, under the command of frigate captain Carl Gillis, should be at work on October 20. She made a visit to Crete where the sailors were able to train at the NATO training center (NMIOTC) at the Souda naval base.
