Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) took part, with the Hellenic flagship HS Heracles, and minehunters FS Capricorne (France), HS Evropi (Greece), ITS Chioggia (Italy), ESPS Segura (Spain) and TCG Amasra (Türkiye).
ESP MINEX is an annual Allied naval exercise for mine countermeasures (MCM) units and staff, conducted by the Spanish Navy in a tactical maritime scenario. Training included the planning and execution of MCM operations in mined coastal waters, in order to allow freedom of navigation and freedom of action from the sea to the mainland. All this while countering an asymmetric and hybrid threat.
The exercise practised cooperation, mutual understanding and effectiveness among Allied units and multinational staff in expeditionary MCM operations, while operating in a crisis scenario.
ESP-MINEX 24 has been a prestigious occasion for training our units in a challenging and tangled multi-threat tactical screenplay.
“ESP-MINEX 24 has been a prestigious occasion for training our units in a challenging and tangled multi-threat tactical screenplay,” said the Commander of SNMCMG2, Hellenic Navy Captain Fotios Paraskevas. “Emphasis was given to MCM Operations, Force Protection and Maritime Situational Awareness operations, and to a robust command and control system with suitable communications. Furthermore, the support and hospitality provided by the Spanish Navy and the Spanish Navy Mine Countermeasures Force are highly appreciated.”
SNMCMG2 provides continuous maritime MCM capabilities to execute NATO missions across the whole area of responsibility. It operates under Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom. MARCOM is the central command of all NATO maritime forces and the MARCOM commander is the primary maritime advisor to the Alliance.