HNLMS Tromp left the port of Den Helder for the Baltic Sea today. The air defense and command frigate will join one of the NATO fleet alliances over the next 3 months. On board is a crew of more than 180 people. The ship has an NH90 maritime attack helicopter.
The frigate is part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) until early December. This is one of the alliance’s rapidly deployable fleets. The ships can be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for operations if necessary.
The fleet operates on the Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. HNLMS Tromp will patrol there in the coming period together with ships from countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Denmark.
The SNMG1 is under German command this year. That country is also in charge of the various exercises that are planned. The first is set in the Baltic Sea, for example. This involves operations in the highest spectrum of violence. Ships are preparing to face threats from the air, from and underwater. These and other exercises include the NH90.