Atlantas next flag ship gets underway
The French Navy anti-submarine destroyer de Grasse left Toulon in southern France late 31 July, having embarked the future Atalanta force commander and his multinational staff.
Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, deputy commander of the French Naval High Readiness Force, will take over command of Task Force 465 and thus de Grasse will replace the current Swedish Force HQ on board HSwMS Carlskrona .
Before assuming command, transit from Toulon to the area of operation will be an opportunity to warm-up the engines and begin to optimize the battle rhythm. Once in Djibouti and after a few days of exchange with the Swedish staff, Rear-Admiral Coindreau and his staff will assume the command of TF 465, from August 14, 2010.
The staff comprises 29 sailors from 8 different nationalities. Including the flag ships crew members, a total of approximately 330 sailors on board destroyer de Grasse will be operating in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin as of mid-August.
Source: EUNAVFOR