Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Reports from Portugal (1)

The portuguese special operation units - the Destacamento de Acções Especiais from the marines and the Centro de Tropas de Operações Especiais of the portuguese Army, located in Lamego - made a joint exercise with spanish forces last May. The exercise, called Viriato 07, envolved the training of reconnaissance and anti-terrorist technics.

O Centro de Tropas de Operações Especiais, (em Lamego), unidade pertencente à
Brigada de Reacção Rápida, (Brig RR) vai realizar na região de Lamego, no período de 23 de Maio a 01 de Junho de 2007, o Exercício de Operações Especiais “VIRIATO 07”.
Participam neste Exercício as Forças de Operações Especiais (FOE) do Exército Português, o Destacamento de Acções Especiais da Marinha de Guerra Portuguesa, Forças de Operações Especiais do Exército Espanhol e meios aéreos da Força Aérea Portuguesa.
O Exercício VIRIATO 07 tem como finalidade principal, aperfeiçoar a prontidão e eficácia de um Grupo Tarefa (TG) das FOE no planeamento e conduta de missões de Reconhecimento Especial, Acção Directa e Assistência Militar, no âmbito de uma Operação de Resposta a Crise (CRO) inserida na luta contra o terrorismo, exercitar o emprego de procedimentos de planeamento operacional em vigor na NATO e promover o intercâmbio entre FOE nacionais e estrangeiras.

The Brigada de Intervenção (Intervention Brigade, a medium brigade) has conducted its anual exercise, the Dragão 07, in the north of Portugal. Spanish para-troops have also participated on the exercise. The Brigada de Intervenção is going to receive, starting September 2007, 240 new Pandur II armoured vehicles (produced in Portugal by Fabrequipa) and there is an option for more 33 vehicles armed with a 105mm gun (a prototype will be tested in November 2007).

A member of the elite unit Destacamento de Acções Especiais of the portuguese marines.

The Centro de Tropas Comandos (an unit of assault troops, commandos) conducted an exercise in Dornes (Ferreira do Zêzere) in the end of May. It served for training the rescue of non combatents, a situation similar to the one that the portuguese troops found in Guiné-Bissau in 1998.
O Centro de Tropas Comandos, vai realizar, na região de Dornes – Ferreira do Zêzere, no período de 22 a 24 de Maio de 2007, um exercício, com a designação “ESTIO 071”.
Este exercício terá como objectivo testar e avaliar a 1ª Companhia de Comandos no desempenho de uma missão de “Evacuação de Não-Combatentes (NEO), contando com a colaboração das autoridades locais (GNR e Bombeiros Voluntários).
Neste exercício, para além da Companhia de Comandos serão envolvidos cerca de 50 alunos da escola EB 2,3/S Pedro Ferreiro, de Ferreira do Zêzere, sendo criado um cenário em que os alunos simularão os civis a evacuar de um país fictício em crise.
Pedro Monteiro

Navy Day of 2006

The Dia da Marinha (Navy Day) in 2006 took place, in the city of Sines, on 20th May. This day celebrates the arrival of Vasco da Gama, by maritime travel, to India. The official cerimony included a demonstration of capabilities by the combat surface units and the Corpo de Fuzileiros (marines). The report was made for the Spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo.

A Vasco da Gama class frigate (Meko 200PN) supports with her organic Super Lynx helicopter the projection of the amphibious force. At second plan, the Berrio, the support ship of the portuguese Navy.

A portuguese marine, armed withe G-3 assault riffle with a 7,62mm caliber. The special operations unit uses the modern G-36K.

The official cerimony. In the official speach, the Chief of Navy Staff, Almirante Melo Gomes, has anounced that the third patrol ship (OPV) of the Viana do Castelo class would be named Sines. This ship is the first of the variant for pollution combat - the Navy will recieved two of these ships and other six of the patrol version. Currently, the first two ships of the classe are being constructed at Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC) and will be delivery in 2008.

Former Minister of National Defence, Luís Amado, contacts with the unit of marines that made the demonstration.

A model of the U209PN submarine. In fact, this submarine is a U214. It will be armed with Black Shark heavy torpedos, MN 102 Murena mines and anti-ship missiles - probably the UGM-84 Sub Harpoon. It will have an AIP system that allows a higher range and discreteness. The portuguese navy will recieve in 2010, the first of the two submarines.

The anti-aircraft guns of Baptista Andrade class corvettes.

Pedro Monteiro

Rosa Brava 07

The portuguese Army has conducted in April an exercise involving its heavy brigade, the Brigada Mecanizada (Mechanized Brigade). The exercise, called Rosa Brava 07 has mobilized 1.230 men and 267 vehicles. In the same period, and also at Campo Militar de Santa Margarida, where the operational units of the Brigada Mecanizada are based, another exercise - Eficácia 07 - was conducted involving the artillery and fire support units of the portuguese Armed Forces. I made a report on 19th April for the spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo.

A M109 A5 howitzer in firing position.

M60 A3 TTS tanks of Brigada Mecanizada whose operation will probably end by 2008 with the reception of the new Leopard 2 A6, currently operated by The Netherlands.

A M60 main battle tank fires its 105mm gun.

The press received detailed explanations from the military evolved in the exercise. The new century has brought new challenges, such as the need of more cooperation with the press.

The following units have been involved on the operations:
Brigada Mecanizada (mechanized infantary); Brigada de Reacção Rápida (the operational and elite forces brigade, partipated with an unit of para-troops); Brigada de Intervenção (medium brigade, a cavalary unit was deployed); troops and equipment from Escola Prática de Artilharia and Regimento de Artilharia Nº 4; fire support units (mortars) from Regimento de Infantaria Nº 13, Regimento de Guarnição Nº 1 e Regimento de Guarnição Nº 3. The Navy deployed a fire support unit (mortars) of the Corpo de Fuzileiros (marines). In the case of the Air Force, F-16 OCU and Alpha-Jet fighters had made some missions, as the Alouette III helicopters in transport and logistic support role.
Na manhã do dia 19Abr07 realizar-se-á o Distinguished Visitors Day destes exercícios, que incluirá uma demonstração do Pelotão de Aquisição de Objectivos e Pelotão de Defesa NBQ e um exercício táctico com fogos reais, integrando ossistemas funcionais de Combate, Apoio de Combate, Apoio de Fogos e Apoio de Serviços orgânicos das Unidades participantes nos exercícios. Desde 13Abr07 até 20Abr07, decorrem no Campo Militar de Santa Margarida (CMSM) e de forma integrada, os Exercícios “ROSA BRAVA 07” (exercício da Brigada Mecanizada) e “EFICÁCIA 07” (exercício do Comando Operacional do Exército).


Pedro Monteiro

Pedro Monteiro: Photography and Reports

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR ::
Pedro Monteiro has been covering defense issues and the Portuguese armed forces since 2001 with works published in Portuguese and international defense publications. Among others, he has published works and reports on the ortuguese armed forces, multinational military exercises and Portuguese-built military vehicles.
More recently, in 2011, he published

Presently, he is the Portuguese correspondent of the magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo (Spain, www.fuerzasmilitares.com) and the website Defesa Net (Brazill, www.defesanet.com.br) In addition, he has published articles and photographs in Tankograd Militärfahrzeug (Germany) and Tecnologia & Defesa (Brazil). He is a regular contributor for Portuguese publications, including some targeted to large audiences, having been published by Revista de Marinha, Motor Clássico, Segurança & Defesa, Vega, and Mais Alto, among others.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT ::

Nikon D7000
Nikon D50 camera
Sigma EF-500 DG ST flash
Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II lens
Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 DG MACRO lens
Zenitar 16mm F2.8 fisheye lens
Nikon 50mm F1.8D high aperture lens
Kenko PRO 300 1.4x