The exercise was held in Hellenic territorial and international waters and comprised various maritime activities including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, force protection, maritime interdiction operations, and mine countermeasure operations. The exercise ran Nov. 7-12 and culminated in a complex and robust fictitious tactical scenario exercise demonstrating NATO’s interoperability at the maritime-component level.
SNMG2 ships that participated were U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), Spanish Navy guided-missile frigate ESPS Cristobal Colon (F 105) and German Navy tanker FGS Spessart (A 1442). Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) participated with elements from its task group as well: Royal Netherlands Navy minehunter HNLMS Vlaardingen (M863), Belgian Navy minehunter BNS Narcis (M923), Spanish Navy minehunter ESPS Duero (M35), Portuguese Navy patrol vessel NRP Viano de Castelo (P360) and Italian Navy minesweeper ITS Chioggia (M5560).
An MH60R “Jaguar 606” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 60 (HSM 60) conducts flight operations on the flight deck off of the Forrest Sherman.
As a NATO task group, SNMG2 prioritizes its mandate to enhance the collective readiness, responsiveness, deployable readiness, integration and interoperability of its forces. Its focus is on deterrence and defense against all adversaries in the maritime domain, upholding freedom of navigation, securing maritime trade routes and protecting the main lines of communication.
SNMG2 is a multinational integrated task group that projects a constant and visible reminder of the Alliance's solidarity and cohesion afloat. This continuous maritime capability performs a wide range of tasks, including exercises and real-world operations in periods of crisis and conflict.
SNMG2 and SNMCMG2 are two of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom.
