23rd February 2004 to 4th March 2004

Between 23 February and 4 March 30 surface combatants, 3 submarines, 26 aircraft, 21 helicopters and 6000 personnel took part in the Spanish-sponsored exercise MARITIME COMMITMENT-04 (MC-04). The exercise, designed to validate and certify NATO’s NRF maritime task groups, took place in the Gulf of Cadiz, off Almeria and at the amphibious training ranges of Alvarez de Sotomayor (Almeria) and Sierra del Retin (Cadiz).

The scenario-driven exercise, under the operational command of a HRF(M)¹Commander - VADM José A. Martínez Sáinz-Rozas, allowed the participants to evaluate and improve the procedures for both the planning and setting up of a multinational operation in accordance with the NRF(M) concept.

MC-04 focussed on the NATO Operational Planning Process, the sea-based Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) concept and enhancing the interaction and exchange of skills during a Crisis Response (CRO)- and Non Combattant Evacuation (NEO)-operation. Participants also honed their abilities in threat integration and evaluated the requirements of a Joint Forces Targeting System for NRF Operations with a Stand Alone, Enabling and a Pre-emptive Character. The exercise’s overall concept was to establish a clear picture of all the threats, including naval MCM and reduce the risk to amphibious landings and shipping. Other subjects validated during MC-04 included the planning at tactical level, development of training standards for the “follow on” NRF(M) forces, practice Transfer of Authority (TOA) and evaluate the composition of NRF-2 maritime forces. Lessons learned from Northern Light-03 (NL-03) and Allied Response-03 (AR-03) were also included: the establishment of a rear-area commander doctrine and procedure and take into account that the intelligence needs of the Task Force. In former exercises this latter aspect could not be exercises due to limited resources.

MC-04’s overarching objectives were to train the HRF(M) commander’s Staff in: - critical NATO staff planning procedures, associated with an amphibious landing operation - mission analysis
- familiarisation with the C4I systems used during maritime Crisis Response Operations (MCRO s).

Simultaneously SPS Castilla’s capabilities as a command platform for a Maritime Component Commander (MCC), Commander of Amphibious Task Force (CATG) and a Land Component Commander (LCC) were evaluated.

The basis for the training period was a UN-mandated NATO led, out-of-area maritime Crisis Response Operation (MCRO) in an asymmetric warfare environment. The exercise scenario portrayed a crisis response operation between 3 conflicting nations (Hulisia, Carania and Marambia ) in a fictitious region Dulicia, located Andalucia. Because of its geo-strategic location Dulicia was not only an important crossroads for trade but also an area of instability due to conflict between disparate ethnic populations competing religions and rival claims. As a result of gas and oil reserves discovered in the southeastern part of Carania, a developing crisis threathened the safety and security in the region. Marambia’s naval forces carried out sea denial in the Gulf of Cadiz. using air, surfare sub-surface and special operations forces and disrupted the SLOCs. After Carania requested international support, the United Nations issued 4 UNSC Resolutions by which an arms embargo was established in order to stop illegal flow of weapons in Carania, send observerers to supervise the implementation of the USNC resolutions and authorising operations ensuring the security and functionning of Carania ports necesssary for the delivery of Humanitarian Aid (HA) and the evacuation of civilians and Non Governmental Organisation personnel, and anoher UNSC resolution allowing the deployment of a multinational force to conduct a Peace Support Oepration (PSO) under a UN Chapter 7 Charter.

The maritime assets were divided into 4 ‘task units’. Both surface and subsurface forces conducted advanced ASuW, ASW and AAW operations, collecting intelligence information and electronic warfare, train minecountermeasure forces in naval MCM operations, exercise maritime units in conducting littoral warfare operations. In a first phase ( 23 to 28 February) participants were given pre-operational briefings on missions and tasks as well as workshops on NEO-operations. On 24 February all units sailed to Rota in groups towards their respective exercise areas to conduct a Combat Enhancement Training / Force Integration Training (CET/FIT). In the Gulf of Cadiz the SPS Principe de Asturias Task Group (PdA TG) and the Surface Task Group (SURF TG) - comprising STANAVFORLANT and the French frigate FNS Aconit - operated in the Gulf of Cadiz.

The PdA TG was tasked to gain and maintain the local air support through her embarked air wing, provided support during the NEO's and contribute to the ASW-aspect of the Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) while the Surface TG had to secure the SLOCs, ports and choke points; enforce a UN arms embargo, reduce possible asymmetric threats to the UN forces by the Marambia naval forces and carry out ASW-defence. A naval MCM force, made up of MCMFORNORTH augmented by the Spanish MSC platform SPS Diana and the French minehunter FNS Cephee, carried out exploratory operations in the shipping routes and the amphibious assault areas of Retin. About 40 exercise mines had been laid in the area. The aim of the NMCM is to provide the alliance amphibious force, and friendly forces, safe anchorage and breaches to enter Sierra del Retin and carry out amphibious operation. The NMCM TG also conducted a lead-through operations in the Bay of Cadiz while a Spanish EOD team opened the breach lanes in the very shallow waters (VSW) in order to allow safe passage to the beach during the NEO ops. The SIAF Amphibious TG conducted the NEO operations while the MPA's provided assistance throughout the embargo operations. The Submarine TG carried out intelligence gathering- and ASW-operations. The French SSN, FNS Casabianca, was deployed off the coastline in order to gather intelligence and other useful information for the amphibious landing troops.

The second part of the exercise, the TACEX ( 29 Feb – 4 March) involved the execution of the amphibious and NEO-operations. Some 50 role players acted as evacuees and International Organizations (IO) / Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) representatives. The opposing forces, made up of 2 submarines, 2 Descubierta-class corvettes and 4 Spanish Barcelo-class patrol boats, as well as Spanish F-18, F-1 and C-101 aircraft carried out several day- and nightime strikes against the maritime assets. During the TACEX the submarine SPS Marsopa patrolled between western approaches of the STROG and Gulf of Cadiz while the FNS Casabianca conducted ASW and ASuW operations in the eastern STROG and carried out surveillance in SLOCS to the STROG approaches. SPS Mistral carried out intelligence gathering and surveillance operations.

MC-04 provided a solid training and certification model for the follow-on maritime components of the NATO RESPONSE FORCE, i.e. NRF-02. All participants experienced how future Alliance maritime warfare operations and NEOs may increasingly be cross-regional in nature. They also saw that, in today's dynamic and
multi-dimensional combat environment, it is increasingly important to be able to operate together jointly.

VADM José Martinez Sainz-Rozas is convinced that the NRF will provide the Alliance with a comprehensive set of sea, land and air resources, highly trained and capable of immediate response wherever and whenever they are required.