Embargo on the Adriatic Sea: the Dutch participation in the operation
As a NATO member state, the Netherlands supplied a frigate for Operations Maritime Monitor and Maritime Guard. For Operations Sharp Vigilance and Sharp Fence, our country also supplied 2 P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, which monitored shipping in the southern part of the Adriatic from their base at the Sigonella naval air station in Sicily.
The Netherlands maintained this contribution of 1 frigate and 2 Orions during Operation Sharp Guard. As well as the Dutch naval personnel for the ships and the Orions, Dutch military also flew as radar operators and air controllers on the E-3A AWACS aircraft, which, like the Orions, monitored shipping.
Suspect ships
As mentioned previously, the participating ships were not authorised to detain suspect vessels, let alone search them, until 16 November 1992. NATO and the WEU were only permitted to approach suspect ships to a distance of 450 metres. After 16 November, a suspect ship could be secured by heavily armed marines before being boarded by a 10-man inspection team. On 2 occasions, the Royal Netherlands Army also provided a submarine to uphold the embargo. One of the Orion patrol planes was withdrawn on 2 April 1996, before the operation was suspended.
Operation Grapple
One special mission in the Adriatic was the British-led Operation Grapple. The ships that took part in Grapple were to assist with the evacuation of British and Dutch troops from Bosnia if the need arose. From February to December 1993, a Dutch frigate protected the British aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal, while the supply ship HNLMS Zuiderkruis supplied the ships taking part in Operation Grapple.