Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) completed Turkish-led maritime exercise Dogu Akdeniz 2017 in the Eastern Mediterranean today.

 

SNMG2, consisting of Flagship Royal Navy helicopter carrier and assault ship HMS Ocean, Turkish frigate TCG Barbaros and Bulgarian frigate BGS Drazki joined ships from Romania, United States and Turkey in the two-week maritime exercise in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

 

In all, more than 20 ships, submarines and other vessels participated in the exercise designed to improve combined combat capability, increase operational capacity and strengthen relationships among NATO Allies.

 

Warfare tactics practiced included anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft areas, but also disaster relief, search and rescue as well as humanitarian aid and civil-military cooperation. In addition to maritime participants, personnel from the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Interior also participated.

 

Dogu Akdeniz 17 was conducted off the coast of Turkey with support of Turkish Aksaz Naval Base between 7-16 November 2017.