In a demonstration of reach and capability, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) brought together ships and aircraft from multiple participant nations to ensure the safe passage of a strategic cargo ship laden with vehicles and equipment for a major exercise in Estonia.
The complex escort activity, known as ‘Baltic Express’, was coordinated from the JEF’s operational headquarters in Northwood in the UK. Baltic Express involved warships from Denmark and Sweden, and a pair of RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing.
On Thursday 24 April, the 23,000-tonne UK sealift vessel MV Hartland Point sailed from Marchwood on the UK’s south coast and arrived at the Estonian port of Paldiski on 27 April, after an 820 nautical mile journey without a hitch.
JEF By Design
Captain Dan Thomas RN, the senior officer who oversaw Baltic Express, said:
“Baltic Express was uniquely JEF activity, demonstrating how we bring nations together to act. This successful escorting mission was our contribution towards enabling a major national exercise in Estonia. Baltic Express also showcased how we would reinforce our allies in the eastern Baltic Sea in a NATO Article 3 context, and offer NATO extra options in the event of a crisis.”
Seamless Escorting
MV Hartland Point was met at the entrance to the Baltic Sea by the Danish frigate Absalon and the ocean patrol vessel Freja. These warships escorted MV Hartland Point through the Kattegat and handed her over to the Swedish corvette Sundsvall.
Hartland Point also received air cover from two RAF Typhoons from 140 Air Expeditionary Wing, currently based in Poland as part of a NATO air-policing operation.
As Hartland Point headed east through the Baltic Sea, her progress was radar monitored from operations centers in Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The German Navy / NATO headquarters based in Rostock, Germany, known as Commander Task Force Baltic, also played an essential role in Baltic Express by coordinating all maritime activity across its area of responsibility.
Critical Cargo
MV Harland Point is a 193m long strategic Roll-on Roll-off vessel and was carrying more than 3,500 tonnes of critical equipment for the British Army’s 4th Light Brigade Combat Team. This unit will be training side by side with the Estonian Armed Forces in a largescale national defense exercise throughout May.
Razoredge
The maritime escort operation and defense exercise in Estonia are both part of a series of military activities taking place from April to June under the collective title of ‘Razoredge’.
Razoredge draws together JEF nations and NATO allies in a series of military and civilian, multi-domain activities and engagements across the Baltic Sea Region. The aims of Razoredge are to strengthen alliances, show unity, and showcase collective solidarity in the face of new security challenges.