The first segment of Exercise Sea Breeze 2024 commenced on June 26, 2024, in the Firth of Clyde Sea near Glasgow and Loch Ewe, Scotland. Running until July 5, the joint mine countermeasure exercise involves the U.S. Navy, Royal Navy, and Ukrainian Navy, focusing on enhancing mine countermeasure (MCM) capabilities and preparing Ukraine for future operations in the Black Sea.
Sea Breeze, which first took place in 1997, aims to address maritime safety and security challenges posed by sea mines. This year’s exercise is particularly significant as it marks the operational debut of Ukraine’s MCM vessels, Cherkasy and Chernihiv, formerly UK Royal Navy Sandown-class minehunters. The ships were transferred to Ukraine under the UK/Ukraine/Norway Maritime Capability Coalition (MCC) program announced in December 2023.
Participants in Sea Breeze 2024 include naval forces from Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Japan, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the U.K., the U.S., and NATO Maritime Command. The exercise aims to improve interoperability and train for a post-conflict era in the Black Sea region.
“Sea Breeze 2024 provides an opportunity for Allies and partners to improve interoperability and train for a post-conflict era Black Sea region,” said Commodore Capt. Geoffrey Townsend, Commander of Task Force 68. “It is crucial for Allies and partners to have a venue to work side-by-side on mine countermeasures, especially with the great threat floating mines pose to maritime safety and security in the Black Sea as a result of the war in Ukraine.”
The exercise includes 10 support personnel from U.S. 6th Fleet’s Task Force 68 and four from a U.S. expeditionary warfare training group. The multinational collaboration underscores the collective effort to ensure maritime safety and security.
“Our ability to train and rehearse, whilst growing the capability of the Ukrainian Navy, will support the globally shared long-term goal of creating a safe and prosperous maritime environment in the Black Sea,” said Royal Navy Commodore Steven Banfield, Co-Chair of the Maritime Capability Development Coalition for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Navy’s participation is bolstered by the battlestaff conducting command and control (C2) of the exercise task group, which includes Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). This group is led by the German Navy’s Elbe-class replenishment vessel FGS Donau.
“There is a huge need to train with NATO and our partners throughout the European theater,” said Commodore Dmytro Kovalenko, Chief of Training Command of Ukrainian Navy Command. “The Black Sea is a major hub for imports and exports, and training for a post-conflict era Black Sea is key to preserving security and stability. Participating in exercises like Sea Breeze supports maritime security and our fight for democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
Sea Breeze 2024-1 focuses on the integration and command and control of MCM vessels and a Ukrainian task group HQ, augmented by international staff officers and mentors. The exercise is co-hosted by U.S. 6th Fleet and the Bulgarian Naval Forces, with additional segments planned later in the year.
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