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NATO Standing Naval Forces Arrive in Scotland for JOINT WARRIOR

SCOTLAND – Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Groups ONE and TWO (SNMCMG1, SNMCMG2) ships arrived in Scotland the past two days for a port visit and to prepare for the UK-led Exercise JOINT WARRIOR 15-1.

SNMG2, led by U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Brad Williamson, arrived in Faslane comprised of the flagship USS VICKSBURG, HMCS FREDERICTON, TCG GOKSU, and FGS SPESSART.

SNMCMG2, led by Italian Navy Captain Giovanni Piegaja, arrived in Glasgow comprised of the flagship ITS EURO, TCG ANAMUR, and FGS BAD BEVENSEN.

SNMCMG1, led by Dutch Navy Commander Peter Bergen-Henegouwen, arrived in Glasgow comprised of flagship FGS DONAU, BNS LOBELIA, FGS AUERBACH, HMS PEMBROKE, ORP MEWA, HNLMS WILLEMSTAD, and HNOMS RAUMA.

"This exercise is a unique opportunity for us to work with our Allied shipmates," said Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hamm, USS VICKSBURG’s operations officer. "For most U.S. Sailors, our training and qualifications are done with other U.S. Navy ships; multinational exercises like this help our Sailors learn how to cooperate and excel with other navies in a challenging and multidimensional environment."

Exercise JOINT WARRIOR will run from 11-24 April.  NATO’s three SNFs consisting of 14 ships will join more than 40 additional warships and submarines and 70 aircraft.  In total, around 13,000 personnel from 13 countries are participating in the exercise.

The exercise provides complex coordinated training at the joint level, increasing interoperability between Allied forces and providing valuable experience integrating land, air, and maritime forces.  NATO’s Standing Naval Forces will test their anti-air and anti-submarine warfare skillsets, as well as conducting mine counter-measures training in advance of amphibious landings.