| On
14th September 87 the Council of Ministers decided that Belgium
would take part in the purely defensive Mine Counter Measure
operation in the Persian Gulf in order to :
-
guarantee freedom of navigation in international waters.
-
defend Belgian economic interests.
-
demonstrate European solidarity in the WEU framework.
A Belgian - Dutch MCM flotilla was established under Belgian Command. The
operation was conducted from the operationscenter in DEN HELDER
OCTOPUS
1 (21
September 87 to 09 March 88)
The
binational flotilla, consisting of the Belgian Command and
Logistic Support vessel ZINNIA (which has a AlouetteIII
liaisonhelicopter embarked), the Belgian ocean
minehunters/sweepers (MHSO) BREYDEL and Bovesse and the Dutch
Tripartite minehunters (CMT) M 856 MAASSLUIS and M 859 HELLEVOETSLUIS.
|
