The annual multinational exercise Autumn Waves showcased the evolving capabilities of maritime special-operations forces in the face of changing security challenges. This year’s edition, held in the Netherlands and Belgium, brought together about 400 personnel from several NATO nations including the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NLMARSOF) and their Belgian counterparts.
The exercise was co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium and took place across both countries. In the Netherlands the Den Helder harbour and a location at the Maasvlakte were used by the helicopters.
The exercise was co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium and took place across both countries. In the Netherlands the Den Helder harbour and a location at the Maasvlakte were used by the helicopters.
For the first time this year, units from Poland participated alongside the Dutch and Belgian forces.
Autumn Waves focused on scenarios at the interface of land, sea and air, designed to simulate operations of maritime special-forces under realistic conditions:
• Infiltration, sabotage and boarding of ships/platforms from the sea or by helicopter.
• Night-operations, including helicopter insertions and vessel operations under limited visibility.
• International interoperability: participants used each other’s equipment (e.g., Dutch personnel in Polish helicopters, Polish troops employing Dutch boats) to strengthen procedural familiarity.
The exercise organisers emphasize that “special operations on and from the sea are more relevant than ever” given tensions in the North and Baltic sea regions.
Autumn Waves builds trust across allied special-forces, allowing them to operate jointly with confidence should a real-world mission arise.
Throughout the exercise, 300 Sqn crews executed a wide range of missions — from air assault insertions to casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and aerial logistics. Their Cougars were a constant presence over the North Sea and coastal training areas near Den Helder and Schiedam, supporting Dutch NLMARSOF, Belgian Special Forces, and newly integrated Polish operators.
