On May 1 mine counter measures ship of the Lithuanian Naval Force M52 ,,Sūduvis" and her crew were assigned for duty in the Baltic Naval Squadron BALTRON. The ship will participate in the training events and exercises on the agenda of BALTRON in 2010.
A crew of 43 will represent Lithuanian Naval Force in BALTRON, seven of them hold the rank of officer, the rest are sergeants and seamen. The crew will be led by the captain of M52 „Sūduvis" Lt. (N) Karolis Lileikis.
The Baltic Squadron was established on 28 August 1998. BALTRON is a joint quick reaction unit of the Baltic naval forces that oriented at detection and neutralisation of unexploded mines and ammunition remaining on the Baltic seafloor from WWI and WWII along with other tasks. The unit also serves as training platform before deployment with NATO forces.
BALTRON comprises ships and multinational staff committed by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Commander and multinational staff personnel of BALTRON are assigned into the squadron on a rotational basis for a year's duty while ships are commissioned for six months. BALTRON Staff conducts tasks under the mandate of the Committee of the Baltic Naval Commander-in-Chiefs. At the moment BALTRON is commanded by Cdr. Indrek Hanson (Estonian Armed Forces).
BALTRON is not just a military Baltic unit. The trilateral military project also incorporates Communications Specialist Training Centre (Estonia), Diving Training Centre and Mine Warfare System and Equipment Maintenance Centre (Latvia), and Deck Equipment and Weaponry Maintenance Centre (Lithuania). The BALTRON project is also important for training skills of staff officers and shipcrews in line with NATO tactics and procedures, and integrating the Baltic States into the unanimous family of the allied naval forces.
More information at: acting LNF PR Officer CWO Gediminas Zabitis, phone 00370 46 391206, cell phone 00370 698 18391.
Picture of MoND archive.
