Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) concluded its participation in Greek Train NIRIIS 22 on Nov. 12 in Souda Bay. Hosted by the Chief of the Hellenic Fleet, NIRIIS 22 is a maritime train primarily based on a Disaster Response Operation (CRO) state of affairs for NATO, European Union, Mediterranean Sea, and Partnership for Peace nations. The train was held in Hellenic territorial and worldwide waters and comprised numerous maritime actions together with anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, pressure safety, maritime interdiction operations, and mine countermeasure operations. The train ran Nov. 7-12 and culminated in a fancy and strong fictitious tactical state of affairs train demonstrating NATO’s interoperability on the maritime-component degree.

SNMG2 ships that participated have been 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 parts from its activity group as effectively: 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).

Commercial

An MH60R “Jaguar 606” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 60 (HSM 60) conducts flight operations on the flight deck off of the Forrest Sherman.

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) standing maritime instant response pressure. SNMG2 consists of 4 to 6 destroyers and frigates. Its position is to offer NATO with an instantaneous operational response functionality. SNMG2 is a element of the NATO Response Drive (NRF). The NATO Response Drive (NRF) is a high-readiness pressure comprising land, air, sea and particular forces items able to being deployed rapidly. Till February 2022, when NATO activated it in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, items assigned to the NRF had solely been used to help with catastrophe reduction and safety at high-profile safety occasions. On 25 February 2022 after a NATO assembly, the Very Excessive Readiness Joint Process Drive (VJTF) was activated for the protection of members of the alliance, for the primary time.

As a NATO activity group, SNMG2 prioritizes its mandate to boost the collective readiness, responsiveness, deployable readiness, integration and interoperability of its forces. Its focus is on deterrence and protection in opposition to all adversaries within the maritime area, upholding freedom of navigation, securing maritime commerce routes and defending the primary strains of communication. SNMG2 is a multinational built-in activity group that tasks a continuing and visual reminder of the Alliance’s solidarity and cohesion afloat. This steady maritime functionality performs a variety of duties, together with workout routines and real-world operations in intervals of disaster and battle. SNMG2 and SNMCMG2 are two of 4 Standing Naval Forces that function beneath NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom.