The Croatian Navy has sent the first contingent of troops to participate in the NATO maritime security operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean Sea.
A ceremony for the navy’s warship, RTOP-41 Vukovar, and her crew of 50, was held in Split on September 3, Croatian defense ministry said in a statement.
Following the ceremony, the ship departed Lora, a naval base of the Croatian Navy.
As explained, this is the first time that a Croatian Navy vessel is taking part in a NATO task force. In the past, Croatian vessels took part in NATO drills such as Trident Juncture in 2015.
The warship will be deployed for some 30 days, patrolling areas adjacent to the Adriatic Sea and contributing to the creation of a broader picture of maritime activities in the central Mediterranean, Croatian defense ministry announced earlier this year.
Apart from Croatia, Italy will also participate in the focused operation 18-4 whose ship will be leading the NATO group, according to the defense ministry.
Operation Sea Guardian in general focuses on maritime situational awareness, counter-terrorism and regional capacity building.