Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group1-2
On March 9th, the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups1 (SNMCMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups2 (SNMCMG2) met in Amsterdam, Netherlands for Operation Beneficial Cooperation.
Standing NATO Maritime Group1©MC.NATO
Sanding NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups 1 and 2 are Multinational Forces of Allied that work to clear the Seas and Oceans from any sorts of explosive remained from first and the Second World War.
The meeting of these two groups was also designed to facilitate closer cooperation and help to maximize the interoperability between the Allied Naval Forces.
Both groups participated in the Operation for search and to neutralize the remaining mines, bombs and torpedoes from the second world war around the water coast of Netherlands and Belgian.
Historical facts
Established in 1973 SNMCMG1 is mandated for the Ports of English Channel and the Northwest Europe.
With the extensive operational Naval Units from Netherlands and Belgium in place, between 2005-2012, the SNMCMG1 succeeded to identify and neutralize over 1,000 explosive in the North Sea.
The SNMCMG2 was formed in 1969 with its main operation in the Mediterranean Sea. Both of these two Allied Naval groups are simultaneously part of NATO Response Force (NRF).
There are currently 8 NATO member States taking part in Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups2: Belgium Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United States.
The Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups1 (SNMCMG1) is comprised of:
The group Flagship is FGS Donau (Germany Navy) and five Minehunters ORP MEWA (Poland), HMS PEMBROKE (UK), BNS LOBELIA (Belgium), FGS AUERBACH (Germany Navy) and HNLMS WILLEMSTAD (Netherlands).
The SNMCMG1 is currently led by Commander Peter A.J. Bergen Henegouwen of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups2 (SNMCMG2) is composed from:
The Group flagship ITS EURO (Italy), and the two Minehunters TCG ANAMUR (Turkey) and FGS BAD BEVENSEN (German Navy). It is currently led by Captain Giovanni Piegaja from Italian Navy
Die Bundeswehr in SNMCMG1 and SNMCMG2
In January 2015, the German Navy deployed ‘Tender Donau’ and FGS Auerbach assigned as the Flagship for Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups1
Hohlstablenkboot AUERBACH/OBERPFALZ ©Bundeswehr
For the new mission of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups2 which is also under way since February 2015, die Bundeswehr dispatched Minenjagdboot Bad Bevensen from its Port in Kiel to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Also in 2014 the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups1 was under Leadership of Fregattenkapitän Günther Brassel from die Bundeswehr.
Europe in the World 