Story
by Master Chief Petty Officer Giovanni Malafronte
HNLMS De Ruyter recently tested her capabilities in a training scenario
which offered similarities with the threats warships have to be prepared
to deal with in the current security climate - a mix of low and high
spectrum violence.
In the early morning of March 7, HNLMS De Ruyter arrived in a patrol
box north of Crete, Greece. As part of the scenario the ship had been
provided with complex intelligence indicating that an illegal consignment
of weapons would be protected by two fighters equipped with air to surface
missiles. HNLMS de Ruyter took all precautions to prevent this misuse
of the free and open sea and crew and systems were placed on high alert.
“This multi-threat scenario is an excellent training opportunity
to maintain our readiness. All conditions are set to test and verify
new tactics, procedures and techniques.” explained Commodore Ben
Bekkering during the exercise. He and his international NATO staff are
currently embarked on HNLMS de Ruyter from where he commands the NATO
Response Force Standing NATO Maritime Group 1.
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“The
scenario escalated in such a way as to allow us to use our main gun
and small arms,” said Lt. Cmdr. Marianne van der Kruijs, SNMG1
public affairs officer. “Not much later the radars detected an
incoming fighter. After missile release HNLMS de Ruyter engaged the
fighter with her medium range Surface to Air Standard Missile 2 and
distracted the incoming missile with her decoy launching system. All
threats were averted. A last attempt to attack with a low slow flyer
was taken out by the goalkeeper close in weapon system”.
“All threats were encountered successfully,” commanding
officer of HNLMS de Ruyter, Cmdr. Sebo Hofkamp concluded: “Today
we have proven our capability and strengthened our confidence in procedures,
equipment and each other.” |
