French Navy vessel hunting historical ordnances in Estonian waters

TALLINN – Throughout this week, the minehunter FS Croix du Sud of the French Navy is involved in hunting historical ordnances in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland as part of the exercise Pikne.

The first ordnance was countermined on Dec. 4, Estonian military spokespeople said.

"Our main task is to conduct historical ordnance disposal operations, but through this, we are able to enhance the interoperability with the Estonian Navy," Lt. Cdr. Julien Malherbe, commanding officer of FS Croix du Sud, said. "The environment Pikne offers -- the cold, dark and stormy sea -- also enhances the capabilities of both our ship and crew. However for the crew, the most important aspects are the experiences and connections they gain during this international exercise in a region crucial for NATO."

A historical ordnance disposal operation is a time consuming activity, where explosive ordnance, mostly from the World War I and II, are mapped, searched, identified and countermined in Estonian waters. The entire operation is led and coordinated by the maritime operations center of the Estonian Navy. 

In addition to the French minehunter, the patrol vessel ENS Kindral Kurvits of the Estonian Navy and the patrol vessel FS Commandant Blaison of the French Navy are participating in the exercise. Both ships are practicing communication, maritime patrol, and defense against threats from the sea and air, including drones. 

Estonian Navy, in close cooperation with French ships, has conducted several historical ordnance disposal operations this year alone. The most recent operation was ESTHOD in November, during which 11 historical ordnances were countermined in Pärnu Bay and the southern part of Väinameri Sea. The minehunter FS Croix du Sud also participated in this operation as part of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1. 

The international military exercise Pikne is focusing on allied rapid deployability and interoperability in the Baltic Sea region. During the exercise, supplementary allied units are rapidly deployed to Estonia via sea and air to support and train together with the NATO multinational battlegroup, the Estonian defense forces and the Kaitseliit (Defense League) volunteer corps in a simulated war situation. The exercise is led by the Estonian Division, and hosts nearly 2,000 participants from Estonia, Latvia, the United States, France and the United Kingdom.