With a shield or on a shield

Frigate Hessen escorts a container ship in the Red Sea

On March 24, an article was published on our website “How a German went to fight across the seven seas of the Houthis”. And, speaking absolutely objectively, it was received by readers very well and with great interest.

When selecting a texture for it, I then had to sift through a fairly large amount of material from many sources, but what I couldn’t do was find information about what was the overall result, what was the result, whether the military navigators of the countries managed or failed to complete the assigned tasks -participants. And although at that time I was interested in the German frigate Hessen as the main character, it was very interesting where everyone “sailed” to.

And then, absolutely unexpectedly, as they say, “in broad daylight,” the magazine Europäische Sicherheit & Technik publishes the article “The European Union – Operation Aspides – Interim Balance.” Written by Hans Uwe Mergener.

Exactly what I was looking for and didn’t find then! So this little work of mine can be considered a direct continuation or the second part of the previous article.

Now we, together with the Germans, will sum up the interim results of the actions of a group of EU ships in the Red Sea.

The first thing that catches your eye is that the group somehow lost weight” or simply did not gain the stated numerical weight.

It was initially announced that seven countries would participate in the operation to protect civilian ships in the Red Sea and the Strait of Aden from Houthi attacks: France, Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy and Germany. Greece is in the lead as coordinator and leader.

It turned out that the Italians replaced the frigate Virginio Fasan with the destroyer Caio Duilio, which also took the title of flagship of the group from the Germans.

France is represented by the frigate Alsace instead of the frigate Lanquedoc.

The flagship of the group of ships of Operation Aspides is the destroyer ITS Caio Duilio (D 554) of the Italian Navy fleet

The ships of the Netherlands and Denmark have completely disappeared somewhere, and there is no information anywhere whether they were there or not, and the Belgian frigate Louise-Marie, at a time when the boys are already fighting with might and main, is still languishing towards the Red Sea.

Well, the boys are really fighting.

Europäische Sicherheit & Technik informs:

“On 19 March, the EU External Affairs Service (EEAS) published an initial assessment of the EUNAVFOR Aspides mission.
A total of 35 merchant ships were protected. As of publication date, eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been shot down and three more attacks have been thwarted.
Since the publication of the EEAS report, another drone and unmanned surface vehicle have been destroyed, and three missiles have been intercepted.”

That is, nine UAVs were shot down, three UAVs were not given the opportunity to strike, three missiles were shot down and one BEC was destroyed.

Further – Europäische Sicherheit & Technik provides details:

“On the morning of March 20, 2024, while escorting a merchant ship, the French frigate Alsace destroyed a Houthi drone that posed an immediate threat. Contrary to expectations, it was destroyed not by naval artillery or Aster-type ship-to-air missiles, but by fire from an onboard helicopter.”

Houthi cruise missile shot down by frigate Alsace helicopter

Attention: repetition among the Germans too! On March 21, they also destroyed the BEC from a helicopter.

“On the same day, the French Alsacec shot down three missiles. And this is unprecedented in the present operational context of the fleet."

Launch of a ship-to-air missile from the French frigate Alsacec

Hans Ove Mergener further notes:

"Besides drones, Houthi militias also use classic anti-ship missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles. The latter have a relatively long range (450 and 500 kilometers) and speed of reaching the target in the supersonic range. Capturing targets and fighting them becomes a special challenge for ship crews.”

To summarize, he writes:

“The operation requires a stronger geopolitical strategy, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.”

This phrase is even difficult to translate into normal human language.

So, after all, the monthly result is a success, and now the armada of civilian merchant ships will rush, as in the old days, through the Suez Canal, or the “guys in slippers” do not give rest to military and civilian sailors in the Red Sea so much that they can they barely cope?

As the heroine of the work of the ancient Greek Plutarch, the Spartan Gorgo, said: with a shield or on a shield (Aut cum scuto, aut in scuto)?

Maybe it’s the Greeks who know the answer, they’re the ones in charge of Operation Shield...

Comments

[Asad]

But I’m more interested in how our Navy would react in this situation? Do respected members of the forum have an approximate vision of the situation in the topic?

[rotmistr60]

the group somehow lost weight” or simply did not gain the stated numerical weight

The Estonians have allocated as many as one military force to counter the Houthis in the Red Sea, and you say “the group has somehow lost weight.” According to the Balts, she has gained strength.

[Blanket]

Yes, yes, this representative will show “kuzkina ema”, with a shoe, probably the best thing against slippers

[KVU-NSVD]

. “The operation requires a stronger geopolitical strategy, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.”

This phrase is even difficult to translate into normal human language.

Yes, it’s not difficult to translate - this whole struggle has no end, like trying to fight flies with a fly swatter in the area of ​​​​the village toilet. And the key to resolving the situation with the passage of ships is not in the effectiveness of the air defense of ships, but in solving the problem of Gaza.

[Vadim S]

The main thing is that our people are allowed there, the rest get what they deserve!

[Boa kaa]

Interesting article, thank you. But, as always, there is something to chat about. Yeah.

Hans Ove Mergener further notes...

Mergener? not Andersen? It's a pity... But, for sure: - Hans! Not a storyteller, of course, but a PR man and a distinguished amateur!
1. In the photo about the anti-ship missile that was shot down by a helicopter, it is not an anti-ship missile at all (It doesn’t even smell like a missile!) We see the straight wing of the aircraft, the V-shaped camber of the fins and the pushing propeller in the tail... This is a UAV! not RCC. Because, for some reason, I can’t remember a similar scheme for modern ROCKETS.
2. Apparently, the Frenchman shot down 3 similar anti-ship missiles... Honor and praise to him. But in the photo there is a sea of ​​“0” points (glass!), no breakers from the stem... Damn! A rocket scientist's dream: range conditions and shooting from a stop! - Well, what else is needed for “test” shooting?
3. About PKBR... These were not “anti-ship” ballistic missiles, with their warheads with a seeker, like the whales on the DF-21D or our Iskander-M. And the Husmans let them in as a peephole, in the direction of the caravan of container ships, more for the sake of mischief than to “get in.” That’s why they were “knocked down”... by straining incredibly and changing diapers!
The storyteller, of course, beautifully spread all this to the ears of the Western public, people gloated and grabbed it. But before that there was an article about how the American EM (!) - and this is not bullshit! - failed the subsonic anti-ship missile system at the last line, and then Vulcan - Phalanx! Fortunately, MZA did not disappoint. But for some reason Aegis - “well, I couldn’t, I couldn’t! I couldn’t!!!”
And this happens, but the “storytellers” prefer to keep quiet about it.
But.

[expert]

Dear Alexander!
What a pleasure and responsibility it is to deal with an attentive and competent reader!
Of course you are right. I looked at the original article, “Andersen” was not mistaken, it was I who made a mistake in the translation. Of course, the text under the photo should say “Houthi UAV.”
I'm guilty, I repent, I repent...

[Boa kaa]

Quote: Fachmann

What a pleasure and responsibility it is to deal with...

with an intelligent and competent author, with whom you can talk in a language that is understandable to both. Thanks again for the interesting material and the article, written in easy and understandable language.
Best regards,

[expert]

Oh, they captured...
I somehow got hooked on the topic of the Red Sea, and I myself became interested in what was happening there. I’m sifting through a bunch of information from German networks and I want to share this with my colleagues on the site. And it is very important for me - comments, additions, amendments, etc. I am absolutely not a sea person. By the way, I would like to hear your opinion on my previous article on this topic.
Shake your hand

[Boa kaa]

Quote: Fachmann

I would like to hear your opinion on my previous article on this topic.

Eugen, I’ll definitely take a look and write to you in a personal message, if, of course, you don’t mind.

[expert]

I will be glad!
Not enough text
Still not enough...

[ada]

Quote: Fachmann

...Still not enough...

I add
Well, then I can suggest that you consider this situation on a larger scale - wider and larger, based on geopolitical structures and geostrategic directions in creating the conditions for initiating armed conflicts TMV.
You see, when the grass was greener, and 777 was tastier, schoolchildren, cadets and students, SA military personnel, the administrative apparatus of the party and government, and the workers of factories, ships and collective farms of the USSR were at least, and sometimes very well informed about the aspirations of the bourgeoisie military men and could list from memory the signs of an impending conflict, such as “tanker war”, “pipeline war”, “war in the strait zone (canal zone)”, “approaching military infrastructure and military contingents to the GG”, “Creation of new military blocs and unions”, “blocking cross-border transport routes and closing GG”, “inciting wars”, etc. according to the list of signs.
What is special about the Red Sea (RS)?
The point here is that according to the “primer book” of TMB, only the USA + WB are required, the rest of the accomplices - accomplices would like to live in peace, but ..., someone must be eaten and for this, someone must be sacrificed. And it is the United States that has the absolute opportunity to sacrifice its allies to ensure its future. From the same "primer" it is known that the only way to eat the "fat", strangle the "big" and intimidate the rest, has its own specific path and it begins on land and traditionally proven - in Europe. That is, from the Great European War (a major regional conflict), during which, without much suffering, you can feed a bear with poisoned European meat, inflicting significant wounds on it with someone else’s hands, and somewhat distance yourself from the threats of direct war with the use of Nuclear Deterrence Forces (SNF) , maintaining the concept of limited action and sufficient allied support to maintain the ability to manage escalation. At the same time, a situation of a long-term armed conflict is expected, waged by limited contingents of the Armed Forces using conventional weapons with conventional and precision weapons, and, if necessary, nuclear weapons, but with a limitation of the level - no higher than tactical. In this configuration, the United States has a strategic advantage in time and maneuver while maintaining its strike potential, maintaining the conditions of exhaustion of our military capabilities and cutting off allies, military and economic assistance from other countries. Their task is to create a critical level of force in the balance of armed struggle in order to present us with an uncontested ultimatum or deliver a disarming blow. That's it - lunch is ready, and for permanent goods and slaves you can go overland to visit the Global South.
You ask, what does KM have to do with this?
Here. From the “primer book” it is known that sailing by sea is of course good, but it can end badly; this does not happen on land - stability is higher. In total, in geostrategic terms, three land corridors from Europe to Africa and ASIA are interesting for the United States to occupy:
through the Balkans and Turkey (land crossing with a sea barrier section of the area);
Caucasian (land crossing);
Central Asian (land crossing).
From the same “primer book” it is known that to ensure the stability of the Great European War, support from the south is required - the Great Middle Eastern War, and the north of Africa as well, so that Europe was boiling from below. Yes, but this process also needs to be managed, and here the United States has its own permanent springboard and an auxiliary state, which directly affects the situation in the region. So what do we see:
in Europe everyone is busy working for Matraskin’s benefit;
Israel makes everyone happy and cheerful in BV.
Well, the initial list of the main signs of TMV (at the top of the text) gradually appears, which is what we see in the CM waters.
If you ask me, I’ll say that the command “fas” to the comrades with the letter “ha”, and both of them - Hamas and the Houthis and their enemy - the Israelis, were given by the United States and they gave everyone what they asked for, well, not to everyone personally, not much of course , but enough for a seed.
Here. Now look at the situation in light of the above. There is somewhere to rummage. There is no need to rush; previously it was believed that the period of armed conflicts in the struggle for the life-sustaining resources of the planet would last until the middle of the century. Well, we almost met the deadlines, but with some shift - not critical, so you can accept it.
Good luck.

[ada]

Yes, I completely forgot, there on the BV bridgehead - on the promised one, the improvement of the military infrastructure should begin to increase its stability with the help and means of the US Armed Forces, comrades. There you cannot let the situation get out of control, since part of the nuclear forces there is involved in the preparation and conduct of complex nuclear destruction of our facilities, and not only ours. In particular, equipping the sea coast with port infrastructure, profiling the coastline and dredging for landing craft in areas of landing and transfer/transshipment of military personnel and military cargo. This cannot be hidden.

[Mikhail Ivanov]

The result is known - the squadron did not take place, the ships were taken away from Yemen. Prices for delivery of goods have increased and at the moment there is no solution to the problem in sight. A separate result is the loss of ships by countries that Yemen considered accomplices of Israel, plus a downed drone and damaged warships.
The result of this activity can be described in one word - “Great”.

[Mekey Iptyshev]

Have prices fallen in Europe? Has logistics become shorter from Asia to Europe? No.
For the USA and the Russian Federation (oddly enough) this is a success, for Europe it is not.

[aweret]

With a shield or on a shield

With a sword or on a shield!

[expert]

No no.
With a shield or on a shield (ancient Greek ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς, lat. aut cum scuto, aut in scuto) is a phraseological unit meaning a call to win, achieve a goal or die with glory.