[Sweden]: Exercise Azurite

[Connor]

EXERCISE AZURITE
SWEDISH ARMED FORCES
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE​

---

OFFICIAL OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVE
TOP SECRET​

---

[1] PREAMBLE
Exercise Azurite serves as an alias for Operation Astatine.



[2] OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES

1. Formal training exercises to be conducted with the Norwegian Royal Navy throughout predetermined route.​

2. Response, capability and resource testing within Belgian territorial waters by military and civilian entities.​

3. Reconnaissance mission over Belgian airspace with the view to locate imprisoned former royal family.​

[3] BELLIGERENTS

Kingdom of Sweden Kingdom of Norway

Republic of Belgium

[4] ORDER OF BATTLE

Scania Air Force Wing [Såtenäs Air Base] 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron​ [2x] Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady"​

3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla [Karlskrona Naval Base] [200x] Active Personnel 1st Frigate Division​ Naresuan-Class Frigate​ HSwMS Hesse​

Helicopter Air Wing [Ronnebay Naval Air Base] Helicopter Combat Squadron 1​ [1x] Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk​

[4] CAMPAIGN REGISTER

Campaign	Location	Description	Status
OA-N-D	Karlskrona Naval Base, Sweden	Deployment of HSwMS Hesse for Norwegian rendezvous	COMPLETE
OA-NLD	Kingdom of the Netherlands	Pre-Determined deployment route with Norwegian vessel	COMPLETE
OA-BEL	Republic of Belgium	Intelligence gathering opportunity whilst coast-side	ONGOING
OA-AF-D	Kingdom of Sweden	Deployment of Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady"	ONGOING

[TR][TD][/td][/tr]

 

[Connor]

Karlskrona Naval Base, Sweden​

Deployment
At Karlskrona Naval Base activity was relatively low considering the clock had only just struck 0300hrs, the sun was barely reaching the horizon line yet casting seemingly spooky shadows through the windows on the on-base barracks in which the crew of the Naresuan-Class Frigate HSwMS Hesse were sleeping. The crew had been pre-briefed following yesterdays cleaning of the ship that they would be involved in Exercise Azurite, also known as Operation Astatine, and such such many of the sailors struggled to sleep with the anticipation of being deployed into continental Europe - with the Kingdom of Sweden entertainingly fairly neutral over the past few years and the armed forces yet to be deployed abroad under the current administration, excitement was high. HMwMS Hesse was a brand new vessel, recently joining the Swedish Royal Navy fleet with the intention to form part of the newly assumed Carrier Support Groups although not quite making the cut; it was nevertheless treated like the divisions baby, as all ships were, remaining in a battle-ready state throughout the year.

The crews sleep was cut very short as sirens begin to bellow through the barracks, signifying the time to wake up, get dressed and report for inspection. Meanwhile, this served as a notice for night-shift engineers to begin loading the ship with the appropriate ammunition including that for the naval artillery guns, small calibre guns and missiles for the vertical launch system, surface-to-surface systems and torpedo. The vessels would be fully stocked in less than an hour and once the crew had their morning inspection and very quick briefing they would load into the ship awaiting the order to deploy.

Commanding officers would inform the Norwegian Navy of the time and date of the Swedish deployment to allow them to locally determine an appropriate interception just off the Norwegian coastline, to then travel together towards the Belgian coastline following the order of travel provided in the establishment of this exercise.

At approximately 0500hrs HMwMS Hesse deploys from Karlskrona Naval Base.

Travel remains in sector JO throughout deployment, expected arrival off the coastline of Norway is 5 hours.

@Odinson
@Flying Damascas

 

[Odinson]

Classified

The KMS Leif Erikson was a Spruance-class destroyer that was presently anchored in Oslofjord. Orders from the Ministry of Defense made their way to the Royal Navy who set things into action. It was fully manned with Navy sailors including officers and the captain of the ship, who were all uniformed. Rifles and small arms were loaded into the barracks of the ship, as well as ammunition. It was also fully armed, fueled, and had enough food on board for a several-week journey. The ship rose its anchor and safely departed Oslofjord using normal shipping routes as to avoid any hazardous areas. It had clear Norwegian markings and was flying the Norwegian naval ensign. The Swedes were told in advance, securely, that the Leif Erikson would be the ship that they were going to be conducting the mission with. Once it was outside of Oslofjord, the captain had the ship remain in Norwegian territorial waters until it was off the coast of Kristiansand, where he estimated that they would be meeting up with the Swedes. On a secure channel, the vessel would attempt to contact the HSwMS Hesse so that they could safely approach each other and continue their journey south together. If they did meet, and the Swedish captain was prepared to move forward, the Leif Erikson would continue to steam ahead towards the North Sea and thus towards The Netherlands on the pre-planned route.

JO>IO>IN
Route Example
Route Example

@Connor
@Flying Damascas

 

[Connor]

HSwMS Hesse​

North Sea
Upon intersecting the Norwegian vessel the crew would be immediately summoned to the deck, or at least as many of the extensive two hundred strong crew were able to fit around the perimeter. The commanding officer onboard would issue an instruction causing the entirety of the personnel on-board to salute the Norwegian vessel once at a visible distance, this would be held for a couple of minutes before the stand-down command is issued permitting the crew to report back to their stations an enact business as usual. Similar to the Norwegian vessel, the Swedish ship would also be flying the naval ensign to ensure international law compliance and throughout their voyage the should we remain on civilian and military maritime radio channels for ease of contact.

All communication with the Norwegian vessel would be via encrypted channels and monitored by the Department of Defence.

Just prior to hitting the North Sea the HSwMS Hesse would be joined overhead by the chopping of helicopter rotors slicing through the air, above a Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk from the Swedish Royal Navy Helicopter Air Wing, Helicopter Combat Squadron 1 joins the convoy. The intention was to land this aircraft carefully and secure it aboard the vessel. On board the aircraft sat a further nine personnel. Despite a steady crosswind and waves rising as they approaches the notoriously vicious North Sea the helicopter would begin lowing itself towards the helipad, a marshal aboard the vessel would slowly guide the vessel down with paddles trying his best to guide the aircraft into the centre of the helipad and having the final say whether or not a landing is to be aborted. Never-the-less the aircraft lands with precision prompting the pilot to immediately disengage the engines allowing the rotor blades to spin to a gradual halt.

Once the aircraft is secured to the deck, the ship continues to shadow the Norwegians to the pre-determined destination.

@Odinson
@Flying Damascas

 

[Odinson]

Classified

The KMS Leif Erikson continued to steam down the aforementioned route, being sure to keep pace with the Swedish vessel, and also keeping a safe distance. Once they approached Dutch waters, the Leif Erikson informed the HSwMS Hesse that they would take the lead in informing countries that they were passing through their territorial waters. First, the Dutch were securely informed in advance exactly where both ships would be going through Dutch waters and were told that they were simply passing through. If any more clarification was needed, the Dutch would be given the exact route that they would be travelling through Dutch waters, which would be a straight line.

Once the Norwegian ship, which was at this point still leading the Swedish ship, continued on the aforementioned path so that when they left Dutch waters, they would be well-within Belgian territorial waters during the day. In fact, for most of the journey through Belgian waters, the Norwegian and Swedish ships would be only roughly two miles from the coast, allowing Belgian beachgoers to easily see the Norwegian and Swedish ships. This of course would be a very unusual site to see. Anyone with a pair of binoculars would be able to see the large Norwegian and Swedish flags flying from their masts and sterns. A secure transmission was sent from the captain of the Leif Erikson to the Hesse. "Captain, it appears that we're having some slight issues in our engine room. No need to worry, we can fix it, however it looks like we're going to need to go slow.. Dead Slow... Over." Because of the apparent need to slow down, they would cross the Belgian coast over the next 20 hours. During this time, the Norwegian ship would continue to monitor all air traffic, as well as sea traffic within visible range, and record any interesting data. From all visible indicators on shore, the Norwegian and Swedish ships had no weapons pointed at the Belgian Coast of any kind. No call was made from the Norwegian warship to the Belgian government or Coast Guard to inform them that they, and the Swedes, would be taking passage through their territorial waters.
@Connor
@Dutchy
@Flying Damascas

 

[Connor]

Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady"​

Belgian Territorial Waters
Noticing the immediate slowdown by the Norwegian vessel, this was mirrored very quickly by the Swedish ship. The Swedish Royal Navy growing concerned over the Norwegian technical fault would return radio transmission via the encrypted channel "Your message is received loud and clear; slow... dead slow." - similarly the HSwMS Hesse begin intelligence gathering, the crew are instructed to continue normal duties on the deck whilst appropriately trained naval personnel begin systems monitoring, specifically of electromagnetic signals coming from the Belgian coast potentially allowing the identification of weapons systems, radars and similar reliant equipment.

Whilst this is ongoing the Swedish Air Force, Scania Air Wing, 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron begin preparations of the Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady" with a single crew member. This single-jet engine, ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft is one of the most advanced aircraft operated by the Swedish Air Force and has capability to provide day and night, all-weather intelligence gathering. By encrypted communication the Norwegian Ministry of Defence is made aware of the imminent deployment of Swedish spy planes. The focus of the deployment was purely to identify Belgian military bases, air bases and naval bases throughout the coast and capital city, this was all done with the view to eventually identify the location of the former royal family. Prior to takeoff the aircraft is given a full inspection to ensure it is capable of being deployed to its maximum potential and with all the necessary countermeasures in working condition.

@Odinson
@Dutchy
@Flying Damascas

 

[Odinson]

Classified

The KMS Lief Erikson would continue on the aforementioned path at maximum speed. It would remain on a heightened state of alert, before heading out into the Celtic Sea, turning around, taking the same route back, and eventually passing through the English Channel again. The ship continued on its route and would eventually return home to Norway, and would go to the exact location it was before it had departed so that it could be refueled and maintained. The Swedish would be updated on when the ship would be taking different maneuvers so that they could properly follow.
@Connor
@Dutchy
@Flying Damascas

 

[Connor]

HMwMS Hesse​

TOP SECRET
Home, Sweet Home
The HSwMS Hesse, similar to the KMS Lief Erikson, would also begin to return to their home port via the same route in reverse. The commanding officer would issue the order for personnel to return from action stations and fire retardant suits are returned to the appropriate storage, this ensures that the personnel are ready to prepare the ship for docking when closer to Sweden. With Operation Astantine coming to a swift conclusion the deployment of the Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady" is also cancelled, fortunately as the aircraft was not deployed the associated costs were avoided.

Throughout the travel home the operations centre of the vessel would continue to monitor sensors, radars and equipment to ensure the safety of the ships company.

@Odinson
@Dutchy
@Flying Damascas