For 10 days unexpected attacks from threats of any kind have been part of the daily order. Warships from seven different nations and their crews have fought with and against each other. They have handled the vagaries of the sea, and they have conducted demanding operations ashore – role-players have been salvaged, disaster-struck areas relieved, and the peace in the sea between “Dania” and “Islandia” restored.

DANEX 06 is now over. Friday September 15 the participants in the exercise will all meet up in Copenhagen to evaluate, but there will be no more sea battles of the shores of Denmark for the moment.

The objective of the exercise was to train littoral operations in a foreign environment. The ships have conducted both traditional naval operations, like defence against air strikes and other ships, but also disaster relief operations and evacuation of NATO-citizens from crisis areas.
According to the exercise command DANEX 06 has been conducted very well and the objective has been reached:

Commodore Palle Cortes on board  HDMS THETIS  Photo: Martin Pedersen, SVN

- The experiences from DANEX 06 will be studied with the participants Friday, but it is already clear that the majority has had a very profitable exercise. Not least during the two special elements: The evacuation of civilians at Sjaellands Odde, NEO, and the disaster relief operation at Jerup Strand, DRO, says Commodore Palle Cortes, who at the start of the exercise in Odense, was appointed Commander Danish Task Group.

During the entire exercise the Commodore and his staff has coordinated DANEX 06 from the command ship HDMS THETIS.

Although the naval exercise has ended, the Danish vessels still have something scheduled. Today they are demonstrating maritime disciplines for the participants in the Security Politics Seminar (SIKU), held by the Chief of defence. The aim of the seminar is to show how the Royal Danish Navy works, and it is conducted on navy ships sailing from Aarhus to Helsingor.       

Text Martin Pedersen, RDN