The Axis powers were aware of that and patrolled the Atlantic with submarines in order to sink as many as possible of those merchants transporting goods to the UK. Consequently the Admiralty constructed a convoying system in which naval ships escorted a number of merchants, thus reducing the loss. The scenario is conventional; both sides new exactly who the enemy was and how to defend themselves.
Escorting a convoy is exactly the task for the Northlandian ship PETER TORDENSKIOLD during the scenario phase of DANEX 05. It is not merchants who require escort but a mine counter measure vessels.
It is just after 9 PM Sunday 18th September. The briefing about the operation in the Combat information Centre is just over.
The MCM vessels are to be escorted from Kerteminde Bight through the Great Belt and Eastward through Fehmarn Belt to the central Baltic around Islandia (Bornholm).
During the cold war the threat direction was east but today the threat direction is omni directional. In other words it is asymmetric. That is the case for during our task. The intelligence indicates that the threat through level the route we will be passing has to be considered high and attacks from small crafts are expected. The intelligence additionally indicates that small T-17 aircraft has been stolen on Islandia by possible terrorists. This indicating, that the threat level rises as we close in on the Island. Intelligence also indicates six submarines in the Baltic.
The task seems simple but never the less we do not have a clear picture of the enemy. The finals words are: be alert and do your best.
The last preparations are done and just after 10 PM we weigh anchor and rendezvous with the rest of the force. Shortly after departure a small craft is closing in suspiciously. The craft is called on civilian VHF and requested to keep clear of the force and warned off and, if not adhering to the orders, shot at. The craft does not adhere to the warnings and the situation explodes with the allied forces destroying the small craft.
The voyage continues south and entering the Baltic intelligence turns to reality. A T-17 circles around the force behaving suspiciously also terminated by an allied ship, THETIS, firing and destroying the aircraft.
The objective for the escorts is to arrive in the coastal area around Islandia with the MCM vessels giving them their chance doing the job they are built for – clearing the laid mines.
The conflict during this war game refers to economics. Recently oilfields have been discovered northwest of Islandia, thus Dania (Jutland, Funen and Zealand) and Islandia claim the right to the area. As Islandia is one of the Northlandic friends it is in our interest to support Islandia in their legal right. For the same reason, it has been politically decided to give military support Islandia.
Dania’s reason to claim the legal rights is the large minority of Monians (Moen) living on Islandia and vice versa. This enclave of Monians living on Islandia has been exposed to ethnic cleansing from militia in Islandia, without the support from the Islandic government though.
The conflict has lead to NATO stationing a naval force in the waters around Islandia to secure the sea lines of communication.
It is still a question weather the conflict concludes peacefully or in a naval battle only god knows. Again PETER TORDENSKIOLD will solve the task with professionalism and cleverness. We are ready to do our utmost – bravely in a battle.