A sophisticated multinational mine warfare exercise (ESP MINEX-26) is underway since last Monday in the waters off Alicante, Murcia and the Balearic Islands. The exercise, organised and led annually by the Spanish Navy, will run until May 8th. Eleven ships are participate in the exercises which will include a port stop in Alicante from May 1st-3rd. The Spanish Navy ships will be open for public visitors during open house events set for this Friday and Saturday.
Besides the eleven ships, the exercise also features an H135 helicopter, members of the Mine Countermeasures Diving Unit (UBMCM), the Mine Warfare Data Center and numerous unmanned autonomous vehicles. In total, more than 500 personnel from Spain, the United States, Greece, Italy and Turkey are participating.
According to the Naval Command of Alicante, in addition to the Spanish units, the multinational Naval Force consists of the NATO Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2 in the Mediterranean (SNMCMG-2) and the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR). The commander of the Mine Countermeasures Force (MCM Force) of the Spanish Navy, embarked with his staff on board the Maritime Action Vessel (BAM) “Relámpago”, is the authority responsible for the preparation and conduct of the exercise.
Systems for underwater detection
The participating units feature advanced underwater detecting systems, divers trained in mine neutralisation, and a variety of autonomous underwater vehicles to augment the minehunters’ capabilities.
The sombre flag lowering ceremony will be held at sunset on Saturday afternoon, during the stopover in the port of Alicante, from May 1st to 3rd, in accordance with the traditions of the Navy.
For the open days, on Friday, May 1st, the BAM “Relámpago” and the minehunters will be open from 4 to 8 pm and on Saturday morning from 10 am to 1 pm and from 4 to 8 pm only the minehunters.
This April marks the 80th anniversary of the Navy’s Mine Countermeasures Force, dating from April 25, 1946, the day the Navy received the first minesweeper built exclusively for that purpose, the Spanish-built “Bidasoa”.
Patrol car in Moraira and Denia
Besides this ship’s trip in Alicante, the patrol vessel “Formentor”, a Navy unit headquartered in the Cartagena Arsenal, will call in the port of Moraira next Friday and in Dénia on Saturday. These stops are part of the maritime surveillance patrols this vessel routinely undertakes around the Mediterranean coast. In both Moraira and Dénia the ship will open its doors to all members of the public between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. The Navy hopes to display the ship’s mission and the equipment on board.
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