ODESSA, Ukraine, July 11 (AVN) - The active stage of the Sea Breeze 2001 multinational command post exercise carried out under the auspices of NATO started in the north-western part of the Black Sea.
The exercise tasks are being accomplished by nine vessels of Ukraine, Turkey and the USA. In accordance with the schedule the vessels control the navigation process in the sea, guide transport ships after troll and hand cargo while sailing within the framework of the operation on maintaining peace and providing humanitarian aid to the so-called Green Republic which suffered from a natural disaster. The ships also train tactical manoeuvring.
The participants will perform on Thursday artillery firing on naval and air targets, carry out missions on radio traffic, air and anti-ship defence and rescuing a person who found himself overboard and practice refuelling of a sailing ship and towing of an vessel in distress.
Almost 400 marines of the USA, Ukraine and Turkey will hold at the Chabanka proving range practical firing, anti-sniper, convoying and evacuation operations, elimination of ambushes, training of landing parties on ordnance during coastal stage of the exercise.
Helicopters and planes of the naval aircraft group of the Ukrainian Navy provide security to peacekeepers' operations in the sea and on the coast together with four planes of the Ukrainian Air Force. Particularly, the KA-29 Helix helicopter will fire the surface target which is embargo violation ship. The naval aircraft is also involved in lighting the surface situation, provision of security to sailing and flights, landing of parties, convoying columns with humanitarian cargo and injured people evacuation, landing of operations groups for maintaining public order and transportation.
The Ukrainian Navy western naval district headquarters is holding computer command post exercise here which involves officers of national armies of 13 countries.
The results of the Sea Breeze 2001 exercise will be summed up on July 16 to 17.