patth@ccnysci.UUCP (Patt Haring) (09/04/89)
Briefing 1 September 1989
Hans M.Kristensen
Greenpeace-Denmark
Phone: (45) 31185444
Fax: (45) 31184267
NEW NAVAL EXERCISE TO BE BIGGEST IN 13 YEARS
More than 270 ships and submarines and 320 aircraft from 10 NATO
countries will exercise in northern waters 8-21 September 1989 in
the largest naval exercise to take place in northern waters since
1976.
WHY?
The SHARP SPEAR 89 exercise is the first in a series of new
exercises in northern waters to be conducted every four years,
and is intended to "demonstrate and improve the ability of NATO
maritime forces to conduct shallow seas operations and protect
reinforcement and merchant shipping in the waters of north west
Europe."
WHAT?
SHARP SPEAR 89 appears less offensive than other major northern
naval exercises, like TEAMWORK, NORTHERN WEDDING, and OCEAN
SAFARI. The main exercise objectives will be "to establish and
maintain control of the shallow seas in accordance with NATO
contingency and defence plans in order to ensure the safe passage
of reinforcement, resupply and merchant shipping. This will be
achieved through the coordination of surface, sub-surface and air
forces in a hostile electronic warfare environment. Particular
emphasis will be place upon surveillance operations, air defence,
mine countermeasures, naval control of shipping and area defence
of offshore installations. Ten convoys, which include 27
chartered merchant ships, will sail during the exercise."
WHERE?
SHARP SPEAR 89 will be conducted in the Baltic, Baltic
Approaches, the North Sea and waters surrounding the British
Isles including the Channel, and countries participating are
Belgium, Denmark, France, West Germany, Holland, Norway, Spain,
England and USA.
WHAT?
SHARP SPEAR 89 will see several "firsts": No U.S.Navy aircraft
carriers will participate in the exercise, according to the PR
office at CINCLANT in Northwood. Two ASW carriers will
participate; the British Ark Royal (R07) and the new Spanish
carrier Principe de Asturias.
Several nuclear capable ships have already been identified:
NUCLEAR POWER SHIP NUCLEAR WEAPONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. NAVY Mahan (DDG-42) (3 ASROC)*
9 TERRIER
William V.Pratt (DDG-44) (3 ASROC)*
9 TERRIER
Elmer Montgommery (FF-1082) (3 ASROC)*
ROYAL NAVY Ark Royal (R07) 3-5 strike bombs
3-5 depth bombs
Birmingham (D86) (depth bombs)**
Edinburgh (D97) (depth bombs)**
Manchester (D95) (depth bombs)**
Beaver (F93) 2-3 depth bombs
London (F95) 2-3 depth bombs
Coventry (F98) 2-3 depth bombs
FRENCH NAVY One unidentified nuclear powered submarine***
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* As revealed by Greenpeace in May, nuclear armed ASROCs are
being fased out and they are already belived to have been
taken off the ships although there has been no official U.S.
announcement.
** British TYPE 42 destroyers are reportedly not certified to
carry nuclear depth bombs in peacetime.
*** French attack submaines are not nuclear armed.
NUCLEAR PORT VISITS
Several nuclear port visits have already taken place and others
are reportedly scheduled involving the STANAVFORLANT:
STANAVFORLANT
NATION SHIP NUCLEAR WEAPONS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CANADA Ottawa (F-229) Not nuclear capable
ENGLAND Edinburgh (D97) (depth bombs)*
HOLLAND Witte de With (F-813) Not nuclear capable
PORTUGAL Roberto Ivens (F-482) Not nuclear capable
USA Mahan (DDG-42) (3 ASROC)**
9 TERRIER
WEST GERMANY Emden (F-210) Not nuclear capable
-----------------------------------------------------------------
* TYPE 42 destroyers are reportedly not certified to carry
nuclear weapons in peacetime.
** As revealed by Greenpeace in May, nuclear armed ASROCs are
being fased out and they are already belived to have been
taken off the ships although there has been no official U.S.
announcement.
On 25-29 August STANAVFORLANT visited Copenhagen, Denmark, and on
31 August the force arrived in Oslo, Norway. Following Oslo the
STANAVFORLANT will reportedly enter the Baltic Sea.
Unconfirmed scheduled portvisits involving the USS Mahan (DDG-
42), and thus possibly also the STANAVFORLANT, are Hamburg, West
Germany, Zeebrugge, Belgium, Portsmouth, England, Amsterdam,
Holland, Le Havre, France, and two other french ports. (NOTE THAT
THESE VISITS ARE NOT OFFICIAL AND HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED).
----------------
FURTHER DETAILS ON EXERCISE SHARP SPEAR
'Sharp Spear' is a new NATO exercise title, although it is similar to
names used in the past for land forces exercises in West Germany. The
significance of this is not clear. However, the fact that this exercise
does not involve US carrier battle groups or offensive operations in the
Norwegian Sea should not be seen as an indicator of changed priorities
in NATO maritime strategy. All the indications are that 'Sharp Spear'
is simply a new title for the exercise series formerly known as 'Ocean
Safari'. The latter have always concentrated on convoy operations,
naval control of shipping and shallow seas ASW, rather than forward
offensive operations. Offensive ops are left to other exercise series
such as Northern Wedding, which happen in different years.
'Sharp Spear' will involve particular activity in the following areas
between the dates stated:
8 to 17 September
Bay of Biscay/SW Approaches
8 to 15 September
Eastern Atlantic, to the west of Scotland
11 September
Middle of North Sea, between northern England and Denmark
12 September
Skagerrak
14 September
'SINKEX' - a ship hulk will be towed to position 5830N 12W (about 150
miles NW of St Kilda, off NW Scotland) and will be sunk by live missiles
and bombs fired from ships and aircraft on this date.
14 to 19 September
From coast of Northern Scotland to Faeroes and off the Norwegian coast,
up to a northern limit of 64N.
18 September
Small coastal area in SW Norway, around 5920N 0550E, but avoiding the
Kaarstoe Oil Plant. (This is believed to be either an amphibious landing
or a low-level air attack)
19 to 21 September
Norwegian coastal area between 58N and 62N (believed to be for low flying
aircraft and helicopters), plus the whole of Denmark and the Skagerrak.
Exercise 'Sharp Spear' will also involve the following specific air activities
in Britain:
Activation of Stornoway airfield by the RAF, with Tornado air defence aircraft
based there for the duration of the exercise. Heavy activity is expected
there on 14 September, during 'SINKEX'.
Dropping of mines from the air in several locations off the coast of England.
This activity will almost certainly be carried out by USAF B-52 bombers
deployed to RAF Fairford for the exercise.
---
Patt Haring | UNITEX : United Nations
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Patt Haring | UNITEX : United Nations
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patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange
-=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-