The Indonesian Navy warship has been sailing from Jakarta to Lebanon since the end of 2023, replacing KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368, which previously served with the TNI Garuda XXVIII-N UNIFIL Contingent MTF Task Force.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian warship KRI Diponegoro-365 served as the headquarters ship for the Periodic Capability and Readiness Joint Training (Latma Picard) in the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force (MTF) operational area in the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon.

The Indonesian Navy Information Department on Friday informed that the joint exercise was attended by warships from Indonesia, Germany, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Lebanon, on May 21, 2024.

As part of UNIFIL's routine activities, UNIFIL MTF commander, Rear Admiral Dirk Gaertner, led a series of exercises on board KRI Diponegoro-365 and directly inspected the readiness of the ship and its crew for peace and security operations in Lebanese waters.

Commander of KRI Diponegoro-365, Lieutenant Colonel Wirastyo Haprabu, informed that his ship was chosen as the headquarters due to its technical readiness and capability to work professionally while serving in Lebanon.

"The MTF commander's visit to our ship also showed his appreciation to our troops for our readiness, professionalism, and achievement of operation target set at the UNIFIL mission," Haprabu said in the statement.

Five warships participated in the joint training: KRI Diponegoro-365 (Indonesia), FGS Brandenburg F-123 (Germany), BNS Sangram F-113 (Bangladesh), TCG Boozcada F-500 (Turkey), and Trablous (Lebanon). Two air defense equipment were also deployed during the training, namely the Panther HS 1305 helicopter (Indonesia) and the Bell 212 helicopter (Lebanon).

Haprabu outlined several trainings held at the Picard Training Center, including search and rescue (SAR), advanced maneuvers, flying practice and landing helicopters between ships (cross-deck helo ops), and replenishment at sea (RAS), which involves moving logistics, munitions, or refueling from one ship to another during sailing.

KRI Diponegoro has been serving with the UNIFIL MTF in Lebanese waters since early 2024. The Indonesian Navy warship has been sailing from Jakarta to Lebanon since the end of 2023, replacing KRI Frans Kaisiepo-368, which previously served with the TNI Garuda XXVIII-N UNIFIL Contingent MTF Task Force.

The MTF Task Force in Lebanon has been tasked with maintaining peace along the Lebanese and Israeli borders along with other UN Peacekeeping Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) task forces, including the TNI Mechanized Battalion Task Force (INDOBATT), Headquarters Support Unit (FHQSU), Indo Force Protection Company Task Force (FPC), TNI Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) Task Force, Military Community Outreach Unit (MCOU) Task Force, and Level 2 Hospital Task Force.

Most of the TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces) soldiers who are members of UNIFIL operate on land, while members of the MTF Task Force carry out their duties at sea.

The tasks carried out by the UNIFIL MTF Task Force include conducting water patrols, preventing the illegal entry of weapons, and holding training for Lebanese Navy soldiers.

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Translator: Genta Tenri, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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