Belgian Navy minehunter joins NATO group

Photos: Belgian Navy

Belgian Navy’s minehunter BNS Primula officially joined the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 on March 14 and on March 21 began its deployment as it, together with other ships from the group, sailed out of the Zeebruge harbor in Belgium.

During the three months the ship will spend with NATO, Primula is scheduled to take part in NATO exercises Joint Warrior, Baltic Fort, Baltops and Operation Open Spirit in the Baltic Sea.

Apart from the German Navy’ Elbe-Clas replenishment ship FGS Donau, SNMCMG 1 flagship, the group is currently constituted by five other ships ships: Royal Navy minehunter HMS Ramsey, German FGS Dillingen, BNS Primula and the Norwegian Navy minesweeper HNOMS Otra.

According to the Belgian Navy, M924 Primula is scheduled to return to Zeebrugge on June 27.

M924 Primula is one of six minesweepers of the Belgian Navy. It was launched on December 20, 1990 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde, Belgium and christened on June 12, 1991.

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