Sea Guardian special ops unit achieves full operational capability

NATO’s operation Sea Guardian Special Operations Command Control Element (SOCCE) achieved full operational capability last week, NATO’s Maritime Command has announced.

On September 20, under Maritime Command (MARCOM) guidance and SOCCE control, an opposed live boarding exercise commenced with the participation of Turkish Navy special operations forces, OSG assigned Turkish frigate Gemlik and the Turkish oiler Akar simulating a suspicious vessel suspected to be involved in illegal activities related to terrorism.

In this exercise, a special operation forces (SOF) team infiltrated and took over control of the suspicious vessel, inspected documentation, searched the cargo and localized and secured two (simulated) known active terrorists on board. The exercise tested the newly established SOCCE command control functions in full, according to MARCOM.

SOCCE offered by Turkish Navy, consist of multinational staff and has the mission to conduct maritime special operations in the Mediterranean Sea in support of HQ MARCOM within the mandate of OSG. While conducting special operations, SOCCE has the capacity to take command of assigned special forces. Furthermore, SOCCE will provide MARCOM with the awareness of relevant SOF engagements with partner nations enabling it to tailor the engagements with these partners.