The frigate Leopold I is (already!) going back to sea. Destination Baltic Sea for an exercise

(B2) The Belgian frigate Léopold I left its naval base in Zeebrugge on Monday (18 May) for a month-long exercise in the Baltic Sea. Departure not entirely innocuous

An exercise with the Dutch

This exercise, called Baltic Breeze 20, is organized by a squadron of Dutch ships. It includes two command and landing ships, two frigates, a patrol boat and a submarine.

Three objectives are announced: 1° to develop the interaction between the frigate and the NFH 90 helicopter (as part of the qualification of a pilot) and its support team; 2° to carry out precision shots using its 76mm OTO Melara cannon and its Goalkeeper; 3° to train realistically to submarine hunting, as well as testing of practice torpedo launching procedures. As usual, the crew will also practice all the ritual exercises (abandon ship, man overboard, damage and fire fighting, etc.).

Confinement before departure and anti-Covid-19 test

Before being able to go on exercise, the crew of the frigate underwent a detection and quarantine program, now almost systematic for departures on a mission or operation. First, the frigate staff had to answer a telephone questionnaire 14 days before the start of the campaign. From that moment, all sailors had to remain confined to their homes while awaiting their departure for Zeebrugge. Second, five days before departure, everyone underwent a Covid-19 screening test, as well as a blood test. Third, on the day of departure, another medical check-up, this time at the naval base infirmary by the personnel of the 14th Medical Battalion. Finally, on board the ship, the general rules and social distancing measures remain in force: wearing a mask, training in small groups, staggered meals, etc.

Comment: an effective tactic?

We remember that the Belgian frigate had interrupted its escort of the French aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, because a case of coronavirus had been detected on board. The first reaction might have been to sneer at what appeared to be a "defection". It is now clear that the Belgian tactic, to be modest, was therefore the right one, as we anticipated (read: Covid-19. Did Belgium make the right choice by interrupting the Foch mission in time?).

In less than two months, almost to the day, the Belgian navy recovered its full operational capacity. This is not the case of the French who persisted, despite everything, in remaining in exercise with the Charles de Gaulle (read: Return to port for the Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier, contaminated by the pandemic). And they seem unlikely to recover. Not before fall, we are told.

In a very strange way, the summary of the command investigation drawn up by the General Staff of the Armed Forces — as published by the official communication from the Minister for the Armed Forces (1) — at no time mentions the announcement by the Belgians from a case of coronavirus. Weird. Very weird even. Would it implicate not only the medical service or the pasha of the ship - whose investigation reveals 'dysfunctions', but the higher level, more political?

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

1. Download the report summary and epidemiological investigation. This last report is much more interesting, both on the course of the epidemic and in general. The infographics, the discount in the general context in particular are to be looked at carefully.