Many people are gathered on the bridge of ESBERN SNARE and there is excitement in the air. Everyone is looking out into the grey, rainy September’s day while they quietly chat with each other. Suddenly it sounds “Shot is coming!” and almost simultaneously a roar sounds followed by two more.

The roars are coming from ESBERN SNARE’s gun on the foredeck that has a calibre of 127 mm and as such not exactly can be called small. In total two times three shots are fired against a target at sea. The firing is part of today’s exercise programme which has been underway since the departure from Frederikshavn this morning.

Since live ammunition is used, gunnery exercises have high demands on security. Therefore the firing is conducted in special areas where sea and air traffic is blocked. Anyhow permission to open fire is not given before both radar and visual observations have ensured that no ships, planes or helicopters are in the danger zone.