Russian-Norwegian exercise Pomor 2010 passed into active phase

08.06.2010 According to Northern Fleet (NF) Information Support Group, large ASW ship Severomorsk has finished official call at Norwegian main naval base Hokonsvern and along with frigate KNM Otto Sverdrup headed for the North Sea.

The fist stage of the joint exercise Pomor 2010 started in the North Sea with artillery firings. Large ASW ship Severomorsk fired the main battery upon towed surface target; frigate Otto Sverdrup used large-caliber machineguns against targets launched by Norwegian ship.

The exercise will last 5 days in June 7-11 and to be conducted in different parts of the Norwegian and the Barents seas. Russia and Norway dispatched surface ships, naval aviation, and submarine simulators to take part in the exercise. Norwegian Navy is represented by frigate KNM Otto Sverdrup, Coast Guard ship Nordkapp, and auxiliary vessel Valkyrie; Russia's Northern Fleet dispatches large ASW ship Severomorsk, Il-38 ASW aircraft, and Ka-27 helicopter.

NF mariners and their Norwegian counterparts are training a number of important tasks on communications, maneuvering, navigation, and cooperative use of arms upon various targets. They will also train rescue and vessel checking operations as well as prevent "terrorists" from capturing oil platform.

Helicopter pilots of Northern Fleet and Norwegian Navy will conduct "deck exchange" (helicopters land on the deck of the partner's ship).

Severomorsk and Otto Sverdrup will hold exchange of personnel. Every morning 5 men from each ship will board the partner's vessel; they will familiarize with service and daily activities, observe execution of the exercise stages and go back in the evening. This will help mariners to know each other better for effective cooperation in the future.

When large ASW ship Severomorsk was staying in Norwegian main naval base Hokonsvern, the crew had a chance to get ready for joint exercise Pomor 2010 at training facilities of the base, to take a rest in Bergen and to go sightseeing over the city which is rightfully named the Capital of Fjords and one of the most beautiful cities in Scandinavia. Also, NF mariners competed with the crew of Otto Sverdrup in tug-of-war and played a soccer game. Russian sailors lost the first competition due to slippery footwear but won the soccer game by a score of 3:2.

Sailors of Severomorsk had an opportunity to attend one of four coach tours, walk around Bergen, visit frigate Otto Sverdrup and sports center of the Hokonsvern naval base. Before leaving Norway, NF mariners climbed Liederhorn Mountain and enjoined picturesque view of Bergen and outskirts.

On June 6 Russian servicemen led by the ship commanding officer Capt 1 rank Andrei Klimenko paid military honors to compatriots lost during the Great Patriotic War and buried at memorial cemetery in Bergen. NF mariners laid a wreath at the tombs of Soviet soldiers and held a moment of silence.