The European anti-piracy system in the Indian Ocean (update)
(BRUSSELS2) With the change of commander of the operation for Eunavfor Atalanta, there has also been a changeover of the various ships taking part in the European anti-piracy operation. There are about ten of them today.
Thus since April 12, it is the group - school "Jeanne d'Arc" of the French navy which has been deployed formed around the BPC Thunder (L-9014), the anti-submarine frigate Georges Leygues (D-640), the frigate Nivôse (F-732) - a regular in the Indian Ocean - and its Panther helicopter, and the high seas patrol boat Adroit (P-725). On board the BPC, the training group for naval officers (GEAOM) continues its practical training, as close as possible to operational realities. Le Tonnerre has an Estonian protection team on board, made up of around ten soldiers who have joined the crew in Djibouti and will remain on board for a month. A participation that is not a first. Since 2011, Estonia has taken part in the operation by embarking a protection team on board a French vessel on a mission in the Indian Ocean.
In addition to the French ships, there are:
- a Swedish ship, the HMS Carlskrona (M-04), which had already participated in the operation in 2010, and its AW109LUH helicopter
- the German frigate FGS augsburg (F-213), with its two Sea Lynx MK 88 helicopters,
- the Spanish missile frigate ESPS Numancia (F-83), and its two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters
- the Spanish patrol boat ESPS Thunderbolt (P-42), and an Augusta-Bell 212ASW helicopter
- the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter (F-804), and its brand new NH90 helicopter
- and the flagship, the Portuguese missile frigate Alvares Cabral (F-331), equipped with 2 Lynx Mk 95 helicopters.
NATO side
The operation Ocean Shield of NATO (TF 508) has three buildings under the command of Italian Rear Admiral Antonio Natale: the Italian amphibious assault ship ITS Saint Mark (L-9398) is the flagship, the Turkish frigate TCG Gokova (F-496) and the American ship USS Nicholas (FFG 47).
Read also:A new commander for Eunavfor
