KING CONSTANTINE AND GENERAL LEMNITZER WATCHING; VARIOUS SHOTS OF THE EXERCISE.




Initials JMC/V_S/OP/GLH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: UNITS FROM FIVE NATO COUNTRIES - BRITAIN, THE UNITED STATES, BELGIUM, GREECE AND WEST GERMANY - ENDED IN NORTHERN NORTHERN GREECE YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) THEIR LARGE-SCALE EXERCISE, "SUMMER EXPRESS." THE FINAL PHASE WAS WATCHED BY KING CONSTANTINE OF GREECE, GENERAL LYNAN L. LEMNITZER, THE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER IN EUROPE, AND OTHER NATO COMMANDERS.

THE AIM OF THE EXERCISE WAS TO TEST THE DEPLOYMENT TACTICS OF NATO'S MOBILE FORCE IN EUROPE. SOME 3,700 HIGHLY MOBILE COMBAT TROOPS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL WERE FLOWN INTO NORTHERN GREECE DURING THE FIRST PHASE OF THE EXERCISE.

"SUMMER EXPRESS" BEGAN ON 31 AUGUST AND AMONG THE UNITS TAKING PART WERE THREE BATTALION-SIZE TEAMS FROM BELGIUM, WEST GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES; A BATTERY OF THE ROYAL ARTILLERY FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM; THE 21ST GREEK INFANTRY DIVISION; A GREEK AIRBORNE BATTALION AND TWO DESTROYERS OF THE ROYAL HELLENIC NAVY.