SNMCMG1 Sails into Faslane for Joint Warrior Ex

SNMCMG1’s flagship, the Lithuanian Minelayer LNS JOTVINGIS, is leading the Group’s minehunters: the Polish Navy’s ORP FLAMING, the German Navy’s FGS DATTELN, the Norwegian Navy’s HNoMS KARMOEY, the Latvian Navy’s LVNS TALIVALDIS, the Estonian Navy’s ENS SAKALA, the Dutch Navy’s HNLMS ZIERIKZEE and the Belgian Navy’s BNS CROCUS.

SNMCMG1’s visit to Faslane is part of the Group’s deployment programme. This deployment marks the first time that the Lithuanian Navy has taken command of one of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces.

“I look forward to this very challenging and beneficial exercise with our Royal Navy partners and the various forces participating,” said Commander Premeneckas. “I am convinced that JOINT WARRIOR will add significant value to further enhancing SNMCMG1’s training and professionalism. I view this exercise as a valuable contribution to NATO-provided package of assurance measures.”

JOINT WARRIOR is a UK tri-Service multinational exercise which runs twice a year involving numerous warships, aircraft, special operations and land forces in the coast of Scotland. Joint Warrior provides a complex environment in which UK and NATO partners units can go through training together in tactics and skills for use in a combined joint task force.

The exercise runs through a range of evolving crises and conflict scenarios that could be realistically encountered in real operations. They include maritime security, disputed territory, anti-terrorism, counter-piracy, combat operations and more. This massive multinational exercise delivers specialized maritime training, bringing together into theatre, air, surface, subsurface and amphibious forces.

Commander Premeneckas took command of SNMCMG1 August 7, during a port visit to Klaipeda, Lithuania. Since then, the Group has been conducting operations in the Baltic,providing enhanced maritime security and maritime situational awareness.

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Press Release, October 06, 2014; Image: NATO MARCOM