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SNMCMG2 concludes participation in French Exercise OLIVES NOIRES

TOULON, France – On Friday last week, Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2), has completed their participation in French Navy multinational maritime exercise OLIVES NOIRES 16 in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Toulon.

OLIVES NOIRES 16 is a multinational mine warfare exercise organized by French Navy every two years. With the participation of SNMCMG2 this year the exercise has gathered more than 900 sailors, 17 warships, 3 Explosive Ordnance Disposal units from 8 Navies from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Slovenia.

Observers and staff personnel from United States, United Kingdom, Poland, Sweden and United Arab Emirates have also contributed to this exercise. The main focus was primarily on mine countermeasures operations. Other Warfare areas tested included Unmanned Underwater Vehicles operations, Asymmetric defense, damage control, towing and other tactical maneuvers.

"We demonstrated that we are fully capable to conduct mine warfare operations with a great degree of interoperability and efficiency” said Captain Panagiotis PAPAGEORGIOU, (Hellenic Navy) Commander SNMCMG2. "Exercise OLIVES NOIRES was an excellent training opportunity and the number of mines on our units’ aft deck convey the best credentials for the overall performance”.

SNMCMG2 is a multinational, integrated maritime force made up of vessels from different allied countries. The Group is presently composed by FGS FULDA (GER), TCG AMASRA (TUR) and HS ALIAKMON (GRC) as the flagship. The Group is permanently able to perform different tasks, ranging from participating in Mine Countermeasures (MCM) operations and exercises to other real world intervention (e.g. Historic Ordnance Disposal) and to Maritime Situational Awareness contribution, mainly for anti-terrorism and anti-smuggling purposes.