Thursday, March 2, 2023

019 - Submarine threat in the Baltic Sea and the German led "Northern Coasts" exercise

PREFACE/ISSUE

This post describes relevant thoughts about the NordStream affair.
Links = web link to news article. Check for more info!
I wrote these points in a document which I posted in October to my Twitter pined tweet
The purpose was to sort out things systematically to be able to understand what happened 

- under reconstryction - 

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/12/22/ffci-d22.html

https://www.bundeswehr.de/en/organization/navy/news/baltic-guard-interim-assessment-5620902


Main topics covered:

This post explores the claim that USA and allies (led by GER) actually tried to protect Nordstream pipelines.

  • The USA provided data already in June. 

  • Then USA had some split with UK on 20-21 September.

  • Did USA left the Baltic Sea on 23rd September because:

    • It left protection of pipelines on its allies? 
    • It left because it learned planting operation succeeded and it did not want to be in the possibly what could happen a battlefield. Next European messy gangrene?

 

    (Spoiler alert:

The UK is considered the Prime Suspect 

The UK submarine S120 Ambush considered involved

The data/clues hint that the USA knew about it 

The data clues/hint that allies tried to protect NS)


1. Were USA, GER and other allies aware of UK attack on Nordstream?


The article  discusses the actions taken by various countries prior to the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines. It discusses the role of USS Kearsarge, a US Navy amphibious assault ship that recently transited the Baltic Sea.

NATO and the US have been involved in efforts to address security concerns in the region.

The article explores the possibility that US, DK, SWE, DK and possibly French navies protecting Nordstream pipeline against adversary.

Possibly the UK navy and its submarine Ambush S120


2. The strategic CIA warning in June 2022

June 2022: Der Spiegel was the first to report that the The C.I.A... 

...issued a vague warning in June to a number of European nations, including Germany, that the two Nord Stream gas pipelines that carry natural gas from Russia could be targeted in forthcoming attacks, three senior officials familiar with the intelligence said on Tuesday...

... what intelligence officials call “strategic warning” of a possible attack — a warning that came with no specifics about the likely time or place or manner of a potential strike... The Biden administration, which in the run-up to the war often accused Russia of planning attacks on Ukraine, was careful on Tuesday not to blame Moscow — or anyone else. 

[M: Perhaps because the plan was still unclear? Because the threat would come in future? Note that it was warning to European nations, most likely those who are shareholders of NS: GER, FRA, NED.] 

 

3. The CNN Said there was a submarine in Baltic Sea after 26/9

The CNN wrote about it but since it was not Russian this news was "forgotten": 

The CNN shortly reports that the week before the Nordstream sabotage there were some Russian submarines in the area, other newspapers reposted.

"Russian submarines were also observed not far from those areas last week, one of the intelligence officials said.

US officials declined to comment on the intelligence about the ships on Wednesday."

[M: More about it in another blog post here, here, herehere]

[M: How is this possible that nobody followed up on this news? How so nobody tried to use this argument that a RU submarine was in the area? Could it be that it would NOT be Russian and the news about this have been supressed since the 29/09/2000 the day CNN reported it? Could it be that digging in this could expose the real adversary? If there was a sub, what is the possible evidence?]


4. Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW)Activities before 26/9

The USS Kaersarge was not part of the exercise - sub detected?

Did this lead to the next warning to Germans and European allies?

What was Kaersarge anti submarine helicopters seeing near Gdansk?

Why did Kaersarge leave the Baltic Sea on 21/09 after issues with UK-UA "special relationship - here?


1,2,3 Sept 2022 - US Military Helicopters Circled Around Future Nord Stream Leaks For Hours In September

In particular, at the beginning of the month, a US Navy Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter loitered over the location of pipelines in the Baltic Sea near Bornholm for three days in a row on September 1, 2 and 3

[M: Note that helicopters are excellent for ASW,
Anti-Submarine-Warfare, they stay at place,
they can drop sonar or sonar-buoy and transmit data]

[M: Looks like a chase but there was no boat there]

[M: Again, ASW capability.
Helicopters are better than planes due to lower speed for anti-sub warfare]

FlightRadar shows a few flights there on that day

[M: There were several flight and several investigations, was this just a drill?]


[M: The post of the blogger is interesting. How so no Russian sub was announced?
US was conducting anti-submarine mission which has not been a drill.]
[Could it be that a UK submarine was discovered here?]

It is curious that on September 2, almost in parallel with the US military, a military helicopter NH90 of the Dutch Navy was flying in the vicinity of Bornholm Island, probably observing the activities of the Americans....



US helicopters, according to Flightradar24, also flew over the branches of Russian gas pipelines on September 10 and September 19.

[Could it be that a UK submarine was tracked and followed here?]

In all cases, the trajectories of the US military speak of observation flights or loitering with other targets over a specific section of the water area. Helicopters that made sorties on the night of September 22-23 and 25-26 have especially confusing tracks.


 [M: Perhaps there was a UK submarine in the vicinity and US Navy from Kaersarge was tracking its movements. This kind of excludes that it was a secret approved NATO operation, looks more like UK went rogue and USA has been on it, knew, monitored yet has not stopped it or did not understand intentions of the submarine - speculating on another post with How it maybe went - so far sequence is in few posts on twitter. Btw, the path looks like the helicopter dropped sonarbuoys, then cycles to transmit its data to Kaersarge]. 

2 Sept 2022 - helicopter call sign FFAB123 MH-60S from USS Kearsarge flew either along the route of Nord Stream-2 or generally between the points where the accident occurred.

12 Sept 2022 NAVSUP, mission partners sustain USS Kearsarge ARG readiness for Baltic Sea exercises

18 Sept 2022 In Gdynia



19 Sept 2022 Leaves Gdynia


21 Sept 2022 Leaves Baltic sea




22 Sept 2022 -  #VVHG725 #AE4FE2 USN MH-60R Strike Hawk

 '
USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Wasp-class amphibious assault ship,
USS Arlington (LPD 24) and
USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) northbound in the Great Belt




Too many capabilities and features to list
but an advanced sonar system
seems appears to be what stands out.

Took off from USS Kearsarge off the coast of Sweden
[MRT: Kearsarge left already, from another ship?]

The MH-60R Seahawk from the USS Kearsarge
is flying off the coast of the Kaliningrad Oblast



23 Sept 2022 -  Anti-submarine warfare MH-60R from the nearby USS Kearsarge


23 Sept 2022 -  USS Kearsarge´s  MH-60R Seahawk 168146
active off the coast of #Kaliningrad.


24 Sept 2022
US Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk VVHG725

Took off from Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport
instead of USS Kearsarge.
Anti-submarine warfare helo over
the Baltics off the coast of Kaliningrad.


24 Sept 2022 - No doubt "something" has the USN's interest- concern off Kaliningrad.  Helo has been over that spot for 7 consecutive days.




24 Sept 2022 - Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group transits Danish Strait (date - earlier transit)

[M: US Kaersarge was deployed in June on Baltops 22, then redeployed to Baltics again and stayed there until 24 SEpt 2022. Left just 2 days before the event. Coincidence or was the USA actually in the area helping allies to protect their infrastructure?] 



V. The NORTHERN COASTS EXERCISE

Then it was announced: "On September 15-19 warships of Germany, France and Estonia are assembling in Klaipėda Seaport for international annual maneuvers Northern Coasts 2022 in the Baltic Sea."

The exercise was extended over the 26/09 event.

"Our allies expect a leadership role from us" mean that US said to its allies to take care of its pipelines after warning them?                             
              

"The Baltic Sea is of vital importance for the Alliance and is bordered by six NATO countries”, said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu. “Northern Coasts is now in its 13th year.'

Note Bundeswehr statements

The increased presence in the Baltic Sea has also had an impact on the Navy's annual autumn maneuvers: Northern Coasts lasted longer than usual this year at four weeks, from 29 August to 28 September. This provided an opportunity for more participation from Germany's Baltic Sea partners. 

"As a major resident, we have a natural focus in the Baltic Sea region," explains the Inspector of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jan-Christian Kaack. "Our allies expect a leadership role from us."                                                          
"There has been a significant shift in the projects of our ships, boats and aircraft from outside to the Baltic Sea," confirms frigate captain Ulrich F. from the MOCMaritime Operations Centre. And he adds: “This applies to both national and international units. However, exact figures, data and facts are classified.                                                                                                                                         
"...As much steel at sea as possible..."                                                            
[M: Why and when were assets activated and called into the Baltics?          
And why was the exercise extended from 3rd-15th till 28-09?             
 
Was USA demanding GER leadership in the case as it was about European key infrastructure?]


About the exercise: 

Northern Coasts is a recurring exercise which has been taking place in the Baltic Sea since 2007. It is hosted by a different Baltic country each year.

German Navy Admiral Stephan Haisch will lead the units involved in the exercise from the German Navy’s operations center in Glücksburg. As part of the exercise scenario, a fictitious regional country raises territorial claims over islands in the Baltic Sea using its naval forces to threaten freedom of navigation.

Acting on a UN-mandate, Allied and partner forces will seek to restore freedom of navigation. Training will also include maritime surveillance, naval combat, air-defence, anti-submarine warfare and mine-clearance.

See article about participants and paths - here.


The exercise typically involves a variety of naval activities, including:
  • Maritime interdiction operations: These are activities aimed at intercepting and boarding vessels suspected of engaging in illegal activities such as piracy, drug trafficking, or smuggling.
  • Anti-submarine warfare: This involves detecting, tracking, and countering submarines using a variety of tactics and technologies.
  • Mine countermeasures: These are activities aimed at detecting, locating, and neutralizing sea mines using specialized ships, aircraft, and divers. 
  • Maritime security operations: These are activities aimed at ensuring the safety and security of commercial shipping and other vessels operating in the exercise area. 
  • Search and rescue operations: These are activities aimed at rescuing distressed mariners or aircraft in the exercise area. 
  • Naval gunfire support: This involves using naval artillery to provide fire support for troops operating on land.


VI. One German boats seems not to be part of the exercise - why?

9-14 Sept 2022 - German Navy had an intelligence ship and a submarine hunting warship in the area (reported by Billy Bostickson, @BillyBostickson)


The German intelligence vessel „OsteA52 - The German Armed Forces call it their „eyes and ears was in the Bornholm area on 14th of September. Perhaps it spoiled the first attempt to mine the NS1 and NS2.                         
[M: Spooked by some contact it rushed to Bornholm to find nothing.
The submarine escaped and returned later to finish the job - see post.]

[M: After conducting further research, I could not find any information indicating that the German intelligence vessel "Oste" A52 participated in the NATO Northern Coasts exercise 2022. It is possible that the vessel was not part of the exercise, or that its participation was not publicly disclosed. Its presence near Bornholm is very suspicious. What was it doing there?]

Leaving the Area

Shortly after the mine sweeper, the „Oste“ and „Schleswig-Holstein“ both also finally left the waters east of Bornholm after six days. They arrived in the port of Klaipeda, Lithuania, one day later on the morning of 16 September. There they took a break from the exercise, according to a later press release from the German Navy.
[M: Unfortunately the boat did not stay to guard the Nordstream.]

 

VII. One French boat seems also not to be part of the exercise

20 Sept 2022 - The Finnish Navy is exercising with the French

... mine countermeasures vessel Céphée in the Baltic Sea 22¬-23 September 2022 Afterwards the French vessel will moor in Turku until the 28th of September.                                                                                                
[M: France is also a shareholder of Nordstream, or better to say French company, it is key EU infrastructure] 

 

VIII. The UK opens channels to deescalate to AVOID nuclear response

26 Sept 2022 - UK, Russian defence officials meet in London;

       26 Sep 2022 - 19:01 (19:01 GMT)

The UK’s chief of defence staff has held talks with the Russian defence attaché at the Ministry of Defence in London.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and Colonel Maxim Elovik met as part of ongoing efforts to “strengthen military to military channels of communication” with Russia.


IX. The DK leads the way 

30 Sept 2022 - The Prime Minister ok DK travels to London and Brussels to discuss the destruction on Nord Stream 1 and 2.

The trips to London and Brussels follow talks with a number of heads of state and government, including a video conference with the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, and the Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, who leads the Swedish transitional government.

[M:  Mette Frederiksen has before a videoconference with SWE, NOR, and GER. Then she travels to London to meet Liz Truss and then to Brussels to meet NATO. Note the sequence of meetings, the timing, who she meets in person and who she has only a video conference]  

X. Does the German navy KNOW who did it?

3 Oct 2022 - The person responsible for the Nord Stream gas pipeline leaks is unlikely to ever be held accountable, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Commander of the German Navy, told Monday's "Aktuaalne kaamera".

"The basis for seeing possible events is a clear picture of the sea, or observation. If there is a clear picture of the air, surface or subsurface — almost clear, because you cannot always be completely sure — then you can look at anomalies in the system and then you can bring a special unit to the area where the anomaly was detected," Kaack said.

[M: My interpretation is that Germany KNOWS for sure which asset was there and caused the sabotage. Note that Jan Kaack speaks most likely about the mission The German intelligence vessel „Oste“ A52 - The German Armed Forces call it their „eyes and ears“ had just before the Nordstream affair.]  

 




[M: Germany sending all they have to... do what exactly?]

XI. USA investigates the area post mortem

Around 8 Oct 2022, USS Paul Ignatius investigated Danish NS 1 blast location before moving to Swedish NS 1 blast location¨

Around 25 Oct 2022, either USS Paul Ignatius or USS Roosevelt inspected Southern NS2 blast site

U.S. Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer
USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117)

Reported by Billy Bostickson

Primary article by Oliver Alexander

Note that Oliver Alexanders´s conclusion about those moves is that:

 "While no official hands on U.S. investigation of the Nord Stream sabotage has been announced, it looks very likely that all the sites were inspected first hand by U.S. Arleigh Burke class destroyers"

 

XII. Belgium and UK relations after


25 Nov 2022 - Belgium blocks export of nuclear technology to UK

Britain and Belgium are locking horns in a furious despite after Brussels blocked the export of nuclear technology that plays a crucial role in maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent (for submarines).

Summary:

The USA warns European allies, shareholders of Nordtsream (?) in June about the possibility of future attacks on NS pipelines. In early September US assets seem to detect a submarine. The German led Northern Coast exercise is extended, all possible ships are sent to the sea. Everybody searches for a submarine yet it is able to mine pipelines and escape.

 

2-4 March 2023 - Sergey Lavrov:

 "Germany was humiliated, physically and morally"      

"We will not allow to blow up gas pipelines again" 

 "Russia's energy policy will prioritize dependable and trustworthy partners. India and China are unquestionably among them."

 

Conclusion:

It looks like the US was against the UK attacking European infrastructure, warned Germany and other European allies, it looks like they were protecting the pipeline, but they failed. 

in another words:

The German led Northern Coasts exercise which mission was at very last moment changed to protect the #Nordstream failed.  

Note: I got interesting comment on one of my posts (I try to ask questions to top accounts incl. UK DoD, world leaders, offices):

Who posted that?


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