NATO SNMG1 ships train with Danish Task Group in Kattegat

Ships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1, led by Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup, trained with ships from the Danish Task Group (DATG) in waters of Kattegat on Tuesday.

The SNMG1 is on a routine maritime situational awareness patrol for NATO in the North sea and the Baltic Sea.

In addition to being part of routine interoperability development, the training conducted between DATG and the SNMG1 will help the Commander of DATG, Commodore Soeren Thingsgaard, prepare for his upcoming role as commander of SNMG1.

In January 2018, Commodore Soeren Thingsgaard Larsen will assume command of SNMG1 from Royal Norwegian Navy Commodore Petter Kammerhuber who is currently at the helm of the international group.

SNMG1 includes Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup (Norway), Portuguese Navy frigate NRP Francisco de Almeida, Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown and German replenishment oiler FGS Rhon.

The Danish Task Group units included HDMS Iver Huitfeldt, HDMS Peter Willemoes, HDM Niels Juel, HDMS Absalon and patrol boats of Diana-class.

After departing the challenging and shallow waters of Kattegat, SNMG1 ships will head for Finland for a port call in Helsinki on August 25. Some of the ships will be open and welcome visitors aboard both Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27.