The two vessels, the Cetina and the Krka, are carrying four Patria armoured vehicles, two trucks, an off-road vehicle, equipment and 14 Croatian Army personnel. A total of 50 Croatian troops will be participating in the exercise and the remaining 36 will be transported to Spain by air.
Trident Juncture 2015 is the largest NATO exercise in the last 15 years and will test the capabilities of NATO forces, Rear-Admiral Robert Hranj said at the send-off ceremony. "It is a chance for us to show that the Croatian Army is completely ready to participate in the defence of any NATO member if need be, together with other NATO members," he said.
The two Croatian vessels will stop over for refuelling at Sicily where they will "carry out certain activities at sea" with the Andrija Mohorovicic, which is participating in an EU migrant rescue mission in the Mediterranean, said the Croatian Navy Commander, Commodore Predrag Stipanovic.
The Andrija Mohorovicic has been involved in the rescue mission for nearly two and a half months and is due back in Croatia in mid-November, Stipanovic said, adding that this ship has so far rescued about 2,200 migrants.
About 15,000 personnel from participating nations will take part in the military exercise in Spain.