As the helicopter took to the sky, a quick glance at the wristwatch revealed the date, Oct. 13, a Friday. Another look on the ticket, also number 13, did not make it easier, and later that same night there would be a full moon.
It was strange looking down on a star-spangled night. Riga's streetlights offered a distorted version of the Milky Way as the pilots put more and more air between the chopper and the ground, pointing it south toward the Lithuanian town of Klaipeda, where the first-ever joint tri-nation military exercise, Amber Sea 2000, would have its final day.
In Klaipeda, Lithuanian Major Kinder, who refused to give his first name, gave details on what we were about to witness.
"Some U.N. forces will engage non-governmental forces who are disobeying U.N. resolutions," Kinder said. "The object is for the U.N. forces to surround the enemy soldiers, making them surrender."
All in all there were about 100 enemy soldiers armed with machine guns, rifles and hand grenades. The drill was performed without live ammunition. Still, in case something would go wrong, there was an ambulance unit on standby.
Lithuanian Navy chief of staff, Oleg Marinich, said the first tri-nation military exercise was hosted by Latvia back in 1995, but it was only an exercise concerning the navy.
"I want to emphasize that what you will see today is something happening for the first time," Marinich said. "All Baltic countries working together with air components, land components and navy components."
Shortly after, a low-flying fighter plane, an L-39, passed over the field where the imminent battle would take place. The plane passed twice and dropped two imaginary bombs. Suddenly the non-governmental forces were charging across the field toward the sea. They were constantly shooting until they reached their positions.
Out in the sea, battleships were lurking with their huge guns. The ships were supposed to give support to the U.N. forces who were to attack from the sea, and drive their enemies toward the small hill where the journalists were situated. Flares were shot from the battleships to symbolize heavy artillery. Then all hell broke loose.
The U.N. forces came rushing in from the sea like an overwhelming tsunami flooding the field. The enemy soldiers fled rapidly since they were under heavy fire.
U.S. Navy Captain and Lithuanian naval attachŽ, Michael G. Watson, said afterwards that the exercise looked well-organized, and he stressed the importance of practicing.
"It's important that the squad leaders do a good job, and it looked as if they did," Watson said. "It's not rare the countries combine their strengths."
When asked if NATO would like to see more cooperation between the Baltic countries, Watson said he thought the Baltic countries are trying to find their own identities.
"We should see the Baltics as three separate countries and not just one," Watson said.
After the troop battle was over the conscripts lined up in front of Kinder, who thanked them for a good performance where everyone seemed to know what they were doing.
The Estonian joint-troop commander, Silver Sepp, said he was very pleased with how the Latvian soldiers had performed during the exercise.
"I think they were the best, but then again, they have the most experience," Sepp said. "They (the Latvian soldiers) only have three weeks until they graduate."
Amber Sea 2000, which opened Oct. 9, included five Lithuanian fighter planes, a total of nine ships, 300 soldiers from Estonia and Latvia and 400 soldiers from Lithuania.
Marinich said he did not know how much the whole exercise cost.
"I just calculated on the action and what we need. Then I gave my calculations to our financial people, and they said we could afford it," he said. "Still, I don't know the total price for the exercise."
Marinich said Lithuania needs to join NATO as soon as possible and that it is important that the Baltic countries continue working together.
After the chaos of war on foot, all journalists were stashed into a small bus for a trip down to Klaipeda's port. Armed soldiers were guarding the entrance gates leading down to two anchored military ships.
Climbing on board the LNS Sudunis, one could not help but think how fragile it looked. The ship was built in Germany in 1957, and its main duty is to hunt mines and destroy them. In the front of the ship is the only visible weapon on board, a 40 millimeter cannon.
Commander Eduard Karlonas, captain of the Sudunis, said they had spent time looking for mines in the Gulf of Riga in September.
"We found three sharp mines, but we could only disable one of them because of a lack of time," Karlonas said.
Marinich described the upcoming naval exercise feature as an aerial photograph exercise.
"All ships will go into formation, and then helicopters and an L-39 will fly over and take a picture to make sure we hold the formation," Marinich said. "It is good if one has a lot of ships and can make them all go together as one, because then one has more firepower in the same direction."
After two and a half hours, the Sudunis rendezvoused with the Estonian ship Kalev. The Kalev crew threw a line to the Sudunis, and passed a small bag across. It turned out the bag contained four bottles of Estonian beer wrapped together as a parcel with duck tape. On the tape it was written "Amber Sea 2000 Estonia Latvia Lithuania."
Marinich said sending small packages between ships is not only good for sending beers but it could also be used for sending ammunition or small spare parts.
Just then the plane made its pass and apparently took the picture - a huge success. The Sudunis turned back toward the port and the exercise was over.
Please enter your username and password.
2024 © The Baltic Times /Cookies Policy
