EGV Bonn returns home from NATO’s Aegean Sea mission

German Navy’s combat support ship EGV Bonn, flagship of NATO’s Standing Marititme Group 2, returned to her homeport in Wilhelmshaven, Germany after spending six months underway.

During this time, the ship sailed a total of 26.000 nautical miles.

First commanded by Flottillenadmiral (Rear Admiral) Jörg Klein and later by Rear Admiral Kay-Achim Schönbach, the ship hosted German Federal Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen and the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg among other dignitaries.

The SNMG2 flagship took part in reconnaissance and monitoring activities in the Aegean Sea in support of Turkey and Greece, and European Union border agency FRONTEX’s cooperative efforts to tackle human trafficking and criminal networks. The group started operating in the waters off the Greek islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Kos and the Turkish coast in February 2016.