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Op Open Spirit

Halifax Tar

Army.ca Fixture
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News article of the Op we are just wrapping up.

Estonia is awesome, if you get the chance I highly suggest a visit.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-navy-divers-clear-mines-1.4676109
 
Four old mines detonated this year ... 100,000 to go. So we're in business for the next 25,000 years.

Yep!  Our jobs are secure.  ;D
 
Question more from the technical side...

Detonating 2 mines, out of an estimated 100,000 seems...well intentioned.  And absolutely BZ to FDU folks who did so.


It seems to my untrained mind that if there are 100,000 of these things on the sea floor...they'd be fairly easy to find??  Or have they become more or less 'engulfed' by the sea floor, barnacles, growth, etc etc that accessing them is the difficult part?  Environmental concerns?

Just seems - again, asked innocently & fully aware I have zero experience in this - that if there are roughly 100,000 of them...we should be finding more than 1 or 2?
 
CBH99 said:
Question more from the technical side...

Detonating 2 mines, out of an estimated 100,000 seems...well intentioned.  And absolutely BZ to FDU folks who did so.


It seems to my untrained mind that if there are 100,000 of these things on the sea floor...they'd be fairly easy to find??  Or have they become more or less 'engulfed' by the sea floor, barnacles, growth, etc etc that accessing them is the difficult part?  Environmental concerns?

Just seems - again, asked innocently & fully aware I have zero experience in this - that if there are roughly 100,000 of them...we should be finding more than 1 or 2?

I am no diver but I was there on this OP supporting the FDU(A) folks.  Its my understanding that most/many/lots have sunk into what is a soft sea floor.  Also some of those contacts are not mines but mine chairs, other mine accouterments; and other magnetic anomalies found by the mine sweepers. 

Also we found two but there were a slew of other countries dive teams who found some as well, if my memory serves me correct.
 
CBH99 said:
Just seems - again, asked innocently & fully aware I have zero experience in this - that if there are roughly 100,000 of them...we should be finding more than 1 or 2?

For comparison

Baltic Sea - 377,000 km2 (146,000 sq mi)

Nova Scotia - 52,942 km2 (20,441 sq mi)

So, needle meet haystack.


https://navaltoday.com/2018/05/28/baltic-sea-mine-warfare-drill-open-spirit-draws-to-a-close/
Baltic Sea mine warfare drill Open Spirit draws to a close

The Estonian-hosted mine warfare drill Open Spirit concluded in the Baltic Sea on May 25.

The two-week multinational naval mine clearance and ordnance disposal operation took place in two main areas – around Tallin, and around the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumma.

In addition to ships from Baltic states’ navies, the exercise was joined by ships from Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1).

The aim of the operation is to clear the sea lanes, international shipping routes and fishing areas from the threat posed by the explosives laid and lost in the Baltic during the First and the Second World Wars. In addition, it offers allies and partners an opportunity to train alongside each other.

A total of 800 personnel, 20 different mine countermeasure ships, from 15 different countries participated in the exercise. Over the course of the exercise, a total of 39 objects were found, with 25 historic explosives being countermined.

Open Spirit is organized by the navies of the Baltic States and takes place once a year on a rotational basis in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania. Last year’s Open Spirit was hosted by Latvia.

SNMCMG1 currently consists of the flagship HNLMS Mercuur (Netherlands), FGS Bad Bevensen (Germany), HNoMS Otra (Norway), BNS Narcis (Belgium), HNLMS Urk (Netherlands), HMS Ramsey (United Kingdom), MCM Denmark and Portugese Navy divers.

“In 2018 we have conducted search operations in Norway, off the the French coast in Normandy, and now in the Gulf of Finland off Talinn” said Commander of SNMCMG1, Commander Peter Ramboor. “We will now stay in the area as a NATO Group, because we want to show we are ready to defend and ensure the security and stability of this important region.”

After concluding MCM operations off Estonia, SNMCMG1 ships headed for Latvia and a routine visit to Ventspils.

 
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