BILLING IN PROGRESS [Sweden]: Operation Vaesite II

[Connor]

Exercise Vaesite II Swedish Armed Forces Department of Defence

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Official Operation Order​

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Swedish Department of Defence
Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, Stockholm
Operation Order
April 2006
TOP SECRET​

Situation Report
Antarctica is one of Sweden's most contested territories gives its international scientific interest, position of strategic significance and tense political history. This operation aims to reaffirm and maintain Sweden's enduring presence on the continent and its surrounding sub-Antarctic overseas territories. The Swedish Armed Forces already maintain an extensive operation footprint across these regions and this deployment will contribute to an ongoing assessment of the most effective and efficient methods to secure Swedish interests in the area. This tour constitutes the second phase of the Operation Vaesite series, building on lessons learned from the initial deployment and further enhancing regional posture.

Belligerents
Kingdom of Sweden v.

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Objectives
OVII/1/P/06 - IN PROGRESS - Primary maintenance tasks, pre-deployment ammunition provision and supply of essential services/assets.
OVII/1/PR1/06 - IN PROGRESS - Initial Transit WP1: Heard Island Naval Base.
OVII/2/PR1/06 - PENDING - Initial Transit WP2: Marion Island Air Base.
OVII/1/PR2/06 - PENDING - Sub-Antarctic Patrol WP3: Prince Edward Islands.
OVII/2/PR2/06 - PENDING - Sub-Antarctic Patrol WP4: Crozet Islands.
OVII/3/PR2/06 - PENDING - Sub-Antarctic Patrol WP5: Kerguelen Islands.
OVII/1/PR3/06 - PENDING - Antarctic Coast Patrol WP6: Casey Station TPOL Station.
OVII/2/PR3/06 - PENDING - Antarctic Coast Patrol WP7: Eastern Antarctic Sector.
OVII/2/P/06 - PENDING - Strategic operational continuance review.

Campaign Register
Operation Vaesite (2000)

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Live Deployment

South African and Antarctic Command Organisation (SOUTHCOM)
└─ Swedish Royal Navy
│--└─ 1st Antarctic Defence Flotilla
│──--└─ Svalbard-class Patrol Vessel
│──--└─ ├─ HSwMS Mashai (OP02)
│──--└─ │─├─ [50x] Active Personnel
│──--└─ │─├─ [2x] RHIB
│──--└─ │─└─ [2x] NHIndustries NH90 NFH
│──--└─ ├─ HSwMS Mohlesi (OP03)
│──--└─ │─├─ [50x] Active Personnel
│──--└─ │─├─ [2x] RHIB
│──--└─ │─└─ [2x] NHIndustries NH90 NFH
│──--└─ └─ HSwMS Mafadi (OP04)
│──--└─│ ─├─ [50x] Active Personnel
│──--└─│ ─├─ [2x] RHIB
│──--└─│ ─└─ [2x] NHIndustries NH90 NFH

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Copyright © Swedish Armed Forces, Kingdom of Sweden
All information is subject to the Swedish Document Classification and Security Act 1995​

 

[Connor]

[CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET]
[LOCATION: HEARD ISLAND NAVAL BASE, HEARD ISLAND]
[TIME: 03H45M]
[OPERATION VAESITE II: PHASE ONE]

The icy winds of the Southern Ocean whipped across Heard Island as the first waves of Swedish personnel began the necessary preparations for deployment. The foggy cliffs of Heard Island loomed as the morning sun struggled through the clouds and on the deck of HSwMS Mashai, sailors scurried between rails, verifying mooring lines, checking the readiness of RHIBs and performing final system diagnostics on the NHIndustries NH90 NFH. Engineers would extensively verify engines, radios and survival kits whilst others prepared systems and sensors for the deployment whilst in the hangar bay they would inspect rotors, top off fuel tanks and test avionics. Below decks communications officers monitored SATCOM links with Stockholm, cross-referencing Antarctic weather reports from Casey Station and tracking ice movements near Marion Island. Intelligence analysts compiled maritime traffic reports, highlighting foreign vessels or commercial shipping in proximity to Swedish overseas territory.

This mission was as much about presence as it was about patrol. Every observation made, every waypoint visited, reinforced sovereignty over the territories. Team were briefed to remain alert, follow protocols and anticipate the environment which has already taken the lives of Swedish sailors in the past.

The crew responded with practiced efficiency. As engineers conducted their final propulsion checks, monitoring fuel flow and engine temperatures. Deckhands secured cargo containers, ensuring ammunition, provisions and scientific equipment was fasted against the rolling deck. Officer reviewed the flight schedules for the helicopters, coordinating aerial reconnaissance runs that would accompany the first sub-Antarctic patrol. By mid-morning the teams practices rapid deployment drills in the choppy bay, simulating boarding operations and emergency extractions. In the galley, cooks prepared high-calorie rations to sustain crews through the cold, energy-draining missions ahead. Medical personnel ran through emergency drills, checking supplies and briefing teams on cold-weather injuries, signs of hypothermia and seasickness recovery methods.

As the tide shifted, the ship would cast off from Heard Island. The deck crew adjusted lined under the watchful eyes of their officers. The performance of the vessel would be constantly monitored by engineers as it accelerated into open water, maintaining oversight on any anomalies throughout. It was without doubt one of the most torturous seas on the planet and the bridge team were not oblivious to this. They continued to plot their course for Marion Island taking into account for currents, drifting ice and unpredictable weather.

HSwMS Mohlesi and Mafadi would remain in port, their crews mirror the activity of Mashai.

By nightfall, Mashai was a dark silhouette against the stormy horizon. Crews would rotate constantly through their watches, logging environmental data, monitoring ship systems and preparing for the challenges of the Southern Ocean.