The Change of Command Ceremony (CoC) for the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG 2) took place in Erdek Naval Base, Turkey, with command of SNMCMG2 passing from Captain Giovanni Piegaja (Italian Navy) to Captain Ramazan Kesgin (Turkish Navy).
The MEKO-class Turkish Navy frigate TCG BARBAROS is the new flagship for the Group, with the mine hunter TCG ENEZ also currently attached. Additional mine counter-measures vessels will join the Group in the near future.
Since Italy assumed the command of SNMCMG2 in June 2014, the Group has operated in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the North Sea and the Atlantic in order to enhance NATO’s solidarity and readiness in these regions. The Group visited 25 ports, including Casablanca, Morocco, and Algiers, Algeria, in order to enhance interoperability and familiarity between naval partners. Throughout this deployment, SNMCMG2 participated in 8 major exercises and conducted historic disposal operations such as BENEFICIAL COOPERATION in the Netherlands.
Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group TWO (SNMCMG2), will continue its deployment by conducting various types of mine warfare trainings and exercises with navies as well as engaging in NATO’s counter-terrorism Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR.
Image: MARCOM