Forever Wars: Steadfast Defender, NATO’s “unprecedented” wargame begins!

Countries that are taking part in Steadfast Defender: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.

NATO’s largest wargame in decades (NATO itself calls it “unprecedented”) is meant to frighten ‘Near Peer’ threats like China and Russia. NATO announced that the departure of United States Ship Gunston Hall (LSD 44) “marks the first tactical movement of Steadfast Defender 24.”

On 24JAN2024, the U.S. Navy’s Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall, departed Naval Station Norfolk for NATO wargame Steadfast Defender. Video by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Porsha Thompson:

U.S. Marines trained for winter combat in Norway, as part of Nordic Response-Steadfast Defender. Video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 07FEB2024:

Sometime between the 11th and 13th of February 2024, in the Irish Sea, NATO-France and NATO-Spain deployed a small flotilla for NATO’s largest ever wargame, called Steadfast Defender. The NATO waraships conducted a resupply exercise called Maritime Livex. Video via U.S. Navy-North Atlantic Treaty Organization:

Marine Nationale/La Royale (French navy) NH90 helicopter hooks-up to a cargo net on the deck of USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), 14FEB2024. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Danielle Serocki.

Well deck operations on dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), during Steadfast Defender, 28FEB2024, Norwegian Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Danielle Serocki.

20FEB2024, NATO-Spain offloads their Leopard-2 battle tanks at Szczecin, Poland. Video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization, edited by me:

Sometime at the end of February 2024, NATO-France launches a Rafale combat aircraft in a non-disclosed location. Video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization:

Sometime at the end of February 2024, NATO-France deploys SSN (Submersible Ship Nuclear-powered) Amethyst (Améthyste) from Brest. Video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization:

Steadfast Defender is actually made-up of numerous smaller wargames; Brilliant Jump, Dynamic Manta, Exercise Dragon, Maritime Livex, Nordic Response.

Polish Leopard-2 battle tanks are loaded onto railcars for wargame Brilliant Jump, 24FEB2024. U.S. European Command photo by Jackie Faye Burton.

United Kingdom Jackal-2 (HMT-400) reconnaissance vehicles after being off-loaded on Emden quay, Germany, 24FEB2024. U.S. European Command photo by Jackie Faye Burton.

26FEB2024, as part of Steadfast Defender, a smaller wargame for submarines (sub=under, marine=water), called Dynamic Manta, was held near Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea. NATO-Turkey’s TCG Anafartalar (a NATO-Germany designed Type 209/1400 Preveze Class submarine) took part. Video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization, edited by me:

Same date, NATO-Turkey’s TCG Gediz F495 (a former U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate) took part with its S-70B Seahawk helicopter. Video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization, edited by me:

Same date, NATO-Spain conducts hoisting with its S-70 Seahawk and its NATO-France built Agosta class submarine, video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization:

27FEB2024, NATO-Spain’s tank force somewhere in NATO-Poland for Steadfast Defender-Brilliant Jump. Spain has deployed its Leopard based engineer vehicle, M113 Personnel Carriers and its battle tank Leopard-2. U.S. European Command video by Jackie Faye Burton, edited by me:

28FEB2024, Sweden shows off its CB-90 Fast Assault Craft during Nordic Response-Steadfast Defender. The boats had launched from the USS Gunston Hall, and were carrying troops from neighboring Finland, landing them at Tovik, Norway. Video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization:

28FEB2024, NATO-Italy AW101 (aka EH101) Merlin helicopter delivers snowmobile to Finnish troops in NATO-Norway. Video via North Atlantic Treaty Organization: