Norwegian Armed Forces Join Operation Against Piracy in the Indian Ocean

September 30, 2011 Simon Solheim, Norwegian Armed Forces Media Centre - defpro.com

Norwegian forces have joined the counter piracy operation at the coast of eastern Africa. Early September about 40 Norwegian soldiers left for the Seychelles in order to join the NATO operation Ocean Shield.

The Norwegian camp at the Seychelles is now ready and a P3-N Orion surveillance aircraft have joined the counter piracy operation in the seas along the coast of eastern Africa.

The camp for this operation is named Camp Skare. It is named after the Norwegian pilot Siri Skare (52), who was killed in Afghanistan this spring.

Skare was the first female officer who lost her life while serving in Afghanistan. She was killed during an attack on the UN-office of Mazar-e Sharif in early April this year.

Skare also was Norway's first female military pilot. She completed her pilot training in 1983. The Lieutenant Colonel flew the Orion aircraft, tha same type which now has joined the counter piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden.

OPERATION OCEAN SHIELD

Nato established their naval operation Ocean Shield on August 17th 2009. The operation is directed from Natos naval headquarters in Northwood outside London. Norway is well represented by 15 centrally placed staff officers. Earlier Norway contributed with a frigate to the EU-operation Atalanta (Aug 2009 - Jan 2010), including staff officer both to the EU and the Nato operation.

The contribution with Orion planes is planned to the period of October and throughout December 2011.