On Tuesday, December 4, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy visited the Polish naval forces. Vice Admiral Bernt Grimstvedt met with the Commander of the Polish Navy Vice Admiral (three star) Tomasz Mathea and visited the 3rd Flotilla of Ships, Divers Training Centre and the Naval Academy.
After the welcoming ceremony in front of the historic destroyer ORP ‘Blyskawica’, both commanders participated in presentation of the Polish Navy latest concept of modernization and the structure and tasks of the newly appointed Coastal Missile Squadron. Current status and future implications of mutual relations of both Navies were also discussed.
After the bilateral talks the Norwegian Guest was introduced to one of the most advanced diver training centers in Europe – Divers Training Center for Polish Armed Forces located at the Naval Base in Gdynia. The visit was also an occasion to meet with the crews of Polish submarine ORP ‘Orzel’ and the missile ship ORP ‘Orkan’. The last part of the visit covered visiting the Polish Naval Academy and the Marine Science Center.
Polish and Norwegian cooperation primarily involves international exercises at sea during multinational exercises within NATO and Partnership for Peace program. Between 2002 and 2004 the Kingdom of Norway provided Polish Navy with Kobben-class submarines which are still a viable part of Polish submarine forces. Norway was also chosen as a supplier of Naval Strike Missiles for Coastal Missile Squadron of the Polish Navy – the procurement that is being finalized at this time.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, December 10, 2012; Image: Polish Navy