F A C T - S H E E T NATO-WEU OPERATION SHARP GUARD MISSION: To conduct operations to monitor and enforce compliance with UN sanctions in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 713, 757, 787 and 820. Combined Task Force 440, in particular, prevents all unauthorized shipping from entering the territorial waters of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). ACHIEVEMENTS: During operation Sharp Guard, over 15,000 merchant vessels have been challenged. Of them, over 1,550 have been halted and inspected, or diverted to a port for inspection. As a result of the coordinated efforts of the forces which have operated under NATO and WEU, 1,032 merchant vessels were halted and boarded -- or diverted to a port for inspection -- from 22 November 1992 to 15 June 1993, when operation Sharp Guard began. During the same period 12,367 merchant vessels were challenged. Therefore, an overall total of over 27,500 ships have been challenged so far, with over 2,600 inspected or diverted. These results have been possible thanks to over 5,000 ship days spent at sea, over 3,250 sorties by MPA aircraft and over 2,300 sorties by NAEW aircraft. After the UN Security Council strengthened the embargo against Serbia and Montenegro with the resolution 820 in April 1993, no ship has been able to break the embargo. HISTORY: In July 1992, forces operating under NATO and WEU, working in strict co-ordination, began monitoring in the Adriatic sea the compliance of resolutions of the United Nations Security Council against the former Yugoslavia (Operations Maritime Monitor and Sharp Vigilance). On 22 November 1992 both operations were amplified in scope to include the enforcement of relevant UN resolutions (operations 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 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. NATIONS CONTRIBUTING FORCES: Nations contributing forces at the moment are: Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States. ORGANIZATION: The overall operational control is delegated to Admiral Mario Angeli, Italian Navy, as Commander, Combined Task Force 440 (CCTF 440). He is assisted by Rear Admiral Gianfranco Coviello, Italian Navy, as Deputy CCTF 440. Admiral Angeli is the Commander of Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe. As CCTF 440, his staff has been complemented by a WEU staff element. Surface ships operate under two operational combined task groups (CTG) at sea to conduct operations in the Adriatic sea. A third task group has responsibility for ships conducting training or port visits. Operational responsibilities rotates among the task group commanders. Currently, the two operational CTG commanders at present are Commodore G. R. Maddison, Canadian Navy and Commodore Alastairs Ross, UKN. The third task group is commanded by Rear Admiral Elio Bolongaro, Italian Navy. Maritime Patrol Aircraft operate under operational control of CCTF 440 through the Commander of Combined Task Force 431, Rear Admiral John Coleman, U.S. Navy. PARTICIPATING FORCES: SURFACE SHIPS: HMCS Iroquois (D 280), destroyer (Canada) HMCS Preserver (D 280), destroyer (Canada) FS Cassard (D 614), destroyer (France) FS D'Estienne D'Orves (F 781), frigate, (France) FGS Lutjens (D 185), destroyer (Germany) FGS Augsburg (F 213), frigate (Germany) HS Aegeon (F 130), frigate (Greece) ITS Aliseo (F 574), frigate (Italy) ITS Alpino (F 580), frigate (Italy) ITS Zeffiro (F 577), frigate (Italy) HNLMS van Kinsbergen (F 809), frigate (The Netherlands) HNLMS Jacob v. Heemskerk (F 812), frigate (The Netherlands) HNOMS Narvik (F 304), frigate (Norway) NRP Corte Real (F 332), frigate (Portugal) SPS Catalu$a (F 73), frigate (Spain) SPS Santa Maria (F 81), frigate (Spain) TCG Turgutreis (D 241), destroyer (Turkey) HMS Birbingham (D 86), frigate (United Kingdom) HMS Chatham (F 87), frigate (United Kingdom) USS Comte De Grasse (DD 974), destroyer (United States) USS Dale (CG 19), cruiser (United States) CTF 440 is also presently supported by the US AEGIS cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58). FIGHTER AIRCRAFT: Eight Italian Air Force Tornado aircraft are available to support operation Sharp Guard from their home-base at Gioia del Colle. These aircraft can contribute to the defense of ships from attacks from surface ships. Other aircraft from allied forces operating in the area also contribute to this support. MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT: Continuous maritime air patrol support to the naval forces of CTF 440 is provided with assets from nine NATO nations: Canada (CP-140 "Aurora"), France (Atlantique), Germany (Atlantique), Italy (Atlantique), The Netherlands (P-3C), Portugal (P-3P), Spain (P-3B), UK (Nimrod), US (P-3C). The above aircraft operate from the airbases at Sigonella (Sicily) and Elmas (Sardinia), in Italy. NATO AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING: Eight E-3A and two E-3D from NATO's Airborne Early Warning Force (NAEWF) are supporting Operation "Sharp Guard", as well as NATO Operation "Deny Flight". The E-3A aircraft are flown, from their home bases at Geilenkirchen, Germany, and forward operating bases at Aviano and Trapani, Italy and Preveza, Greece, by multi-national crews provided by eleven NATO nations (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Turkey and the United States). The E-3D aircraft from the United Kingdom's Number 8 Squadron from their home base at Royal Air Force Station Waddington, UK, as well as Aviano and Trapani, Italy. French E-3F aircraft operating from the French air base in Avord and Italian air base at Trapani under the auspices of the WEU are also participating.