On June 11 after the allied amphibious landing operation which took place on the Baltic coast ships of the mine clearance maritime component of the multinational Exercise BALTOPS 2012 in the territorial waters of Lithuania destroyed two explosives detected on June 9, a naval mine and a depth charge, remaining on the Baltic seafloor from war period.
Ships of the Baltic mine clearance squadron BALTRON detected two real explosives remaining on the Baltic seafloor in the territorial waters of Lithuania from war period - a M26 naval mine and a depth charge - approximately 8 nautical miles (15 km) off-shore at 30-35 metre depth apart from training mines and reflectors used for the Exercise purposes while completing the reconnaissance of Lithuania's coastal sea area foreseen by the Exercise scenario.
According to the expertise provided by the Seafloor Data Centre, Maritime Operations Centre and Underwater Action Team of the Lithuanian Navy, in line with the procedures set for the multinational Exercise BALTOPS 2012 and by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the explosives were destroyed on June 11 following the completion of the amphibious landing operation conducted by the allied forces on the Baltic seacoast. The explosives were found on the margins of the foreseen operation area and did not cause any threat for the ships and military personnel conducting the landing operation.
During the period of World War I and II around 175 thousands of all types of mines were planted on the Baltic seafloor. Although mine field clearing was conducted during interwar, it is estimated that approximately 10-30% of naval mines are still there under the Baltic Sea surface, the majority of them are located near the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Apart from the mines there are unexploded aviation bombs, torpedoes, missiles and other explosives remaining on the seabed.
Multinational mine countermeasures exercises have been held since 1996 annually in the Baltic States - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - alternately to decrease the threat of naval mines and other explosives remaining in the Baltic Sea since WW I and WW II for safe navigation, fishery and other economic activities.
Since 1997 twelve mine clearance operations have been hosted in the territorial waters and exclusive economic of Lithuania which resulted in neutralisation of over 150 explosives of various types (naval mines, torpedoes, shells, rockets, and other explosives) as well as discovery of 7 shipwrecks and 2 aircraft wrecks.
For the Media:
Media representatives are invited to attend BALTOPS 2012 Closing Ceremony on June 13 at the Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Motorised Infantry Battalion in Klaipėda (Liepojos str. 5). The ceremony starts at 10.30 hrs.
Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius, representatives of municipalities of Klaipėda District, commanders of military units of the allies, commanders of the branches of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and other honourable guests are expected to attend the ceremony.
More information about BALTOPS 2012 at: Capt Artūras Milkintis, cell phone 00370 682 53358, email: arturas.milkintis@mil.lt .
PHOTOS by Lina Ambroževičiūtė and courtesy of LITHNAVY
Information about BALTOPS 2012:
http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/baltops_2012.html
BALTOPS 2012 news
http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/baltops_2012/baltops_2012_naujienos.html
BALTOPS 2012 photo gallery:
http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/baltops_2012/fotogalerija_3578.html
BALTOPS 2012 video gallery:
http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/baltops_2012/vaizdo_medziaga/baltops_2012.html
