The exercise improves cooperation between Allied units and staff, making them more effective at working together in expeditionary mine countermeasure (MCM) operations.
SNMCMG2 participated in the exercise with the Turkish flagship TCG Yzb. Gungor Durmus, Greek minehunter HS Evropi, Italian ship ITS Alghero and Spanish ship ESPS Tajo. ESPS Tambre and ESPS Duero also provided associated support to the group throughout.
The Spanish Minex was a well planned and executed exercise that provided all the participants an opportunity to improve their mine countermeasure and anti-asymmetric warfare skills in a realistic multi-threat scenario
-dALKU1.jpg "_nato4")
Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) took part in Spain’s major annual mine warfare exercise ESP MINEX-23
The crews were put to the test in a simulated MCM operation during a tactical transit from Palma to Alicante, during which they faced a multi-faceted crisis scenario in an asymmetric threat environment.
“The Spanish Minex was a well planned and executed exercise that provided all the participants an opportunity to improve their mine countermeasure and anti-asymmetric warfare skills in a realistic multi-threat scenario,” said Commander SNMCMG2, Turkish Captain Ahmet Serhat Akyazi. “SNMCMG2 has completed this exercise with very successful results and great achievements, which increase our level of readiness.”
SNMCMG2 is one of four standing forces that comprise the maritime component of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), which is part of the NATO Response Force (NRF). To respond to contingency situations, additional forces can be added to this group, with the NATO command staff on board the Flagship, capable of providing timely support to NATO operations.