Western European Navies (week 34)

Denmark
HDMS Esbern Snare, the current flagship of SNMG1, averted a pirate attack off the coast of Somalia last Saturday. SNMG1 is currently involved in NATO operation Ocean Shield.

The exercise DANEX 2010 has ended.

HDMS Søløven, the newest ship of the Flyvefisken class patrol vessels, will be converted to a training vessel for divers. She will replace the much smaller HDMS Læsø. The ship is expected to rejoing the fleet mid-2011.

Finland
One of the new minehunters of the MITO class has been christened.

France
A Lynx from the Royal Navy was stationed aboard a french frigate, during exercise DANEX 2010.

Germany
The political discussion about the future of the German defence forces has officially started.

The Netherlands
HNLMS Amsterdam has left for Somalia to join Operation Atalanta.

HNLMS De Zeven Provincien has left operation Ocean Shield in Somalia and to join Operation Active Endeavour in the mediterenean.

If the current coalition talks will actually result in a new government, the military will be happy. The parties involved in the talks have agreed upon a €300 million cut for defence. This is only a fraction of what people feared.

UK
The 7,400t HMS Astute, the UK's newest nuclear submarine, has been commissioned.

Four MCMV's from the UK, together with four from the US, will do a 10 day exercise in the Gulf. RFA Lyme Bay has joined as an afloat headquarters.

Other
Open Spirit 2010, the mine clearance exercise in the Baltic Sea has started and will last until September 8. A 2008 survey estimated there are still 80,000 mines in the Baltic Sea.