Halfway through DANEX 06 it is time to look back on the first days and at the same time to look ahead towards the scenario phase, where Danish Task Group (DATG) will fight Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1).

“Unfortunately a relatively large number of ships were withdrawn just before DANEX 06 was about to start. This happened, so that Danish and German ships could prepare for a possible deployment to a life task in the Mediterranean,” says Commodore Palle Cortes, Commander Danish Task Force.

“But up till now, this has not prevented us from achieving the overall goals of the exercise. It has meant changes in the details of the programme but real life operations must always have priority,” states the Commodore.

Ships from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada, Poland and the USA participate in the exercise. The feed back from the participants after the first days are positive. “Everyone says that they have gotten the training, they were looking forward to.”

The exercise has been plagued by technical problems on the ships, but luckily no personnel has been hurt. The Dutch ship HNLMS VAN GALEN ran aground and unfortunately had leave the exercise to return home for repairs.

Palle Cortes enjoys being at sea again after four years ashore. “Its wondeful to be at sea again.”

Text: Michael Christiansen, SPAO DATG