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NATO Ships take Opportunity to train with German Navy in Baltic under Maritime Express Concept

BALTIC SEA (June 12, 2019) - Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) met with a German Navy submarine and tug in the Baltic Sea over the past two weeks to practice anti-submarine warfare skills in a small opportunity based exercise dubbed Baltic Coach.

The exercise was initiated in February as part of a new way of thinking about training opportunities for the Standing Naval Forces called Maritime Express. The exercise seized on the occasion of SNMG1's Baltic Patrol and German Navy operations in the area to conduct several anti-submarine warfare scenarios.

"Our operations with the German Navy have been a great opportunity for us to exercise multi-unit level tactical procedures with a highly skilled opposition force that is just not possible during synthetic anti-submarine warfare exercises," said Rear Admiral Edward Cashman, Commander of SNMG1. "It’s important to take advantage of every opportunity to work with our Allies in such challenging exercises in order to maintain our readiness and the interoperability that is critical to our effectiveness as an Alliance. It is also vital training for the next generation of Allied sailors who will be working together for decades to come."

Maritime Express is designed to increase the flexibility and agility of our maritime forces as an embodiment of NATO's culture of readiness and adaptability. Taking opportunities to build training exercises such as Baltic Coach helps to ensure NATO maritime assets are trained, interoperable, deployable and ready and benefits both NATO and national assets participating.

SNMG1 currently consists of flagship USS Gravely, ORP General Kazimierz Pulaski, ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbon, FGS Rhoen, HMS Westminster and TCG Gokova and met with German Navy FGS U33 and FGS Fehmarn for exercise Baltic Coach.