NATO/WEU OPERATION SHARP GUARD

Operation to monitor and enforce compliance with UN sanctions in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 713, 757, 787 , 820 and 943. Combined Task Force 440, in particular, was to prevent all unauthorized shipping from entering the territorial waters of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and all arms from entering the former Yugoslavia

Operation SHARP GUARD began on 15 June 1993 replacing the separate NATO and WEU operations; MARITIME GUARD and SHARP FENCE.

ORGANISATION:
The overall operational control was delegated to Admiral Mario Angeli, Italian Navy, as Commander, Combined Task Force 440 (CCTF 440). He was assisted by Rear Admiral Gianfranco Coviello, Italian Navy, as Deputy CCTF 440. Admiral Angeli was the Commander of Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe. As CCTF 440, his staff was complemented by a WEU staff element

Surface ships operated within two operational combined task groups (CTG) at sea while conducting operations in the Adriatic Sea. A third task group was responsibility for ships conducting training or port visits. Operational responsibilities rotated among the task group commanders. Currently these were:

Operational Task Groups: 440.01 – Rear Admiral Alexandre Rodrigues

PO Navy 440.02 Rear Admiral Franco D’Agostino, Italian Navy

Training Task Group: 440.03 – Commodore Frank Ropers, US Navy

Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) operated under operational control of CCTF 440 through the Commander of Combined Task Force 431, Rear Admiral John R. Ryan, US Navy

ACHIEVEMENTS:

After the UN Security Council strengthened the embargo against Serbia and Montenegro with resolution 820 in April 1993, no ship was able to break the embargo and six ships were caught while attempting to do so

NATIONS CONTRIBUTING FORCES:

Nations contributing forces were: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States

PARTICIPATING FORCES:

SURFACE SHIPS – RFA ORANGELEAF (3), HMS GLASGOW and HMS BATTLEAXE together with warships from Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands. Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United States

RFA ORANGELEAF (3)

FIGHTER AIRCRAFT:

Eight Italian Air Force Tornado aircraft supported Operation Sharp Guard from their base at Gioia del Colle. These aircraft contributed to the defense of ships from attacks by surface ships. Other aircraft from Allied Forces operated in the area and also contributed to this support

MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT:

Continuous MPA support to the naval forces of CTF 440 was provided by assets from eight NATO nations: France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US. The aircraft operated from the airbases at Sigonella (Sicily) and Elmas (Sardinia), both in Italy

AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING:

Eight E-3A and two E-3D from NATO’s Airborne Early Warning Force (NAEWF) supported Operation “Sharp Guard”, as well as NATO Operation “Deny Flight”. The E-3A aircraft operated from Geilenkirchen, Germany, Aviano (Italy), Trapani (Italy) and Preveza (Greece) and were flown by multi-national crews provided by 11 NATO nations.

The E-3D aircraft from the UK’s No: 8 Squadron flew from RAF Waddington as well as Aviano and Trapani.

French E-3F aircraft participated under the auspices of the WEU and operated from either Avord (France) or Trapani.

STATISTICS:
During the period 22 November 1992 to 14 September 1995, NATO and WEU forces challenged, boarded or diverted to a port for inspection the following numbers of merchant vessels:

• Challenged = 59,598
• Boarded and inspected at sea = 4,590
• Diverted and inspected in port = 1,272

These results were achieved by:
• Ship days spent at sea = 10,670
• Maritime Patrol Aircraft sorties = 7,530
• NATO and French Airborne Early Warning Aircraft sorties = 5,412

Note: The period 22 November 1992 to 15 June 1993 were under separate NATO and WEU operations: Respectively MARITIME GUARD and SHARP FENCE.

HISTORY:
In July, 1992, forces operating under NATO and WEU, working closely together, began monitoring compliance in the Adriatic Sea with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council against the former Yugoslavia. The two separate operations were called respectively Maritime Monitor and Sharp Vigilance. On 22 November, 1992, both operations were amplified in scope to include the enforcement of relevant UN resolutions which included the commencement of boarding and search operations. The operations were then renamed MARITIME GUARD and SHARP FENCE

On 8 June 1993 the Councils of NATO and the WEU, at a joint session, reviewed the embargo operations and approved a combined concept of operations for the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 820, which strengthened the existing embargoes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). This concept included a single command and control arrangement for the combined operation “SHARP GUARD” under the authority of the councils of both organizations

The operation began on 15 June 1993.