International group of warships in the Baltic is led by the Royal Navy

THE ROYAL Navy is leading an international task group of warships on a security patrol of the Baltic.

The ships – frigates HMS Lancaster and Westminster, and tanker RFA Tiderace – have been joined by vessels from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said some of the UK’s closest and most steadfast allies are found in the Baltic region.

He said this deployment is “both the latest example of a long and proud history of defence co-operation and a clear demonstration of the capability of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force”.

The British ships underwent a week of “full-throttle” individual and combined training in the North Sea on their way to join their Baltic allies.

The Royal Navy said the workout has covered firefighting, medical training, damage control, ships sailing in close formation, refuelling at sea, gunnery, air defence, and intensive training with helicopters – plus adjusting to sub-zero temperatures and snowstorms as the ships pushed deeper into the Baltic.

The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a framework that provides a high-readiness intervention capability of more than 10,000 personnel. The creation of the JEF was announced in December 2012 by the-then Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards.

The United Kingdom element of the JEF consists of personnel and equipment from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force and is designed to provide greater levels of integration than previously achieved especially when combined with other nations’ armed forces.

The JEF is intended as a pool of high-readiness, adaptable forces designed to enhance the UK’s ability to respond rapidly, anywhere in the world, with like-minded allies, or on behalf of international organisations such as the UN or NATO.

The UK’s contribution will include the lead commando, airborne, armoured, aviation, air and maritime task groups. JEF Defence Ministers also meet regularly to discuss issues around decision-making.

Example of a long and proud history of defence co-operation. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

PICTURES: LPHOT DAN ROSENBAUM/MOD CROWN CO/PA ON PATROL: Main, HMS Lancaster (centre) leads the other ships; above left, Able Seaman Sam Siddell clears snow from a communications lamp on HMS Lancaster; above right, Petty Officer Thomas Short (right) prepares shells for a live firing exercise.