HMS Smiter participates in Baltic Exercise

NATO's Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise is an annual scenario in the waters off Eastern Europe

This year, for the first time, HMS Smiter was invited to participate, with a delegation of students from Oxford, Glasgow and London URNUs. After travelling to Cuxhaven in Germany, we transited the Kiel Canal and began preparations for the exercise in the Danish port of Nakskov. 

A series of night-time operations followed, which saw us mooring alongside Lithuanian gunships, playing at being 'rebel forces' and 'attacking' the T23 Frigate HMS Iron Duke, hunting down 'enemy' tankers in the middle of the night an participating in a giant PHOTEX alongside ships from 14 other nations.

Overall it was a terrific deployment, giving us a real insight into the way in which the UK works with NATO to strengthen our security; and an amazing chance to see some of the most advanced warships in the world in action.