58th year, no. 24
Serving the nato, naples and Gaeta military community in italy
BALTOPS ‘13 Moves Into Wargame Phase The Danish Royal navy submarine HNLMS Dolfijn (S808) leads a formation during Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2013. Now in its 41st year, BALTOPS 2013 is an annual, multinational exercise to enhance maritime capabilities and interoperability with partner nations to promote maritime safety and security in the Baltic Sea. (Photo by MC1 Collin Turner)
By Lt.j.g. Loren M. Terry, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, Public Affairs
Maritime and aviation forces participating in Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2013, the 41st rendition of the annual exercise, have moved into the wargame phase of the multi-national, training event. Preceded by a serial phase, which included exercises in surface gunnery, undersea warfare, air defense, mine countermeasures, and seamanship, the war game phase
Friday, June 21, 2013
W hat ’ s I nsIde
Navy Lodge Naples Receives Award Page 4
incorporates the training and cooperative efforts honed during the serials, into an asymmetric threat environment. “Ships are divided into two competing surface action groups and tasked with completing their specific force objectives,” said Capt. Craig Clapperton, commanding officer, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20). “Mount Whitney served as the command and control platform, enabling ESG-2 to oversee both forces, guarantee the safety of all operations, issue orders, val-
idate procedures, enforce rules of engagement, and ensure each group was accurately assessing their enemies’ intentions and responding with an appropriate level of force.” Taking place in the Baltic Sea, a region bustling with merchant and fishing traffic, maintaining a safe navigational environment during the wargame phase can be challenging. “Operating in the confined waters of the Baltic…there is a lot to think about in the plan-
ning and executing of the exercises in order to keep working safely…communications are the single most important issue to solve,” explained Danish Cmdr. Peter Henegouwen, commanding officer of the Dutch/Danish Mine Counter Measure (MCM) ship task unit. “Working together means finding out about each other’s capabilities and limitations; this cannot be done from an office.”
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See Wargame Phase Page 5
An Eye on London
MWR Offers Classes at The FitZone Page 13
By Laura Byrd
The first mistake was looking down. The second mistake was looking up. Refocusing directly ahead through the thick glass, all of the structures on the River Thames were coming alive with light against the dusk. Watching the landscape grow wider as we gained altitude, soon the other capsules and long arms attached to them were no longer visible on each side. Fighting queasiness, I focused on Big Ben and the House of Parliament, glowing gold below as the daylight dimmed. We were on top of the London Eye watching the sunset. This lofty perch over one of Europe’s greatest cities was one I had never experienced during my many trips to London throughout the years. London, like Paris or New
Weekly Crime Report Review what happened between June 13 and June 19. Page 4
FRIDAY
Big Ben and the House of Parliament during the boat tour of London. (Photo by Laura Byrd)
York, is a place many travelers dream of seeing sometime in their lives. But like those cities, there are multiple layers with complexity throughout the many boroughs that surround the city. Exploring those neighborhoods is getting a taste of real life outside the tourist zone. In years past, I’d rented apartments and B&B’s in
Kensington, Chelsea, Camden and Hammersmith. Those neighborhoods have a character all their own, and digging into local life was a passionate pursuit. Going to local flea markets, neighborhood restaurants and small grocery stores created a feeling of living in another culture for a short time. See An Eye on London Page 6
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Streets of Italy Join columnist Laura Byrd as she explores things to do in the Naples area and easy daytrips to places throughout Italy.
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