NATO’s SNMG2 takes shape

German Navy’s combat support ship EGV Bonn, together with the Italian frigate ITS Libeccio and the Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton, headed for the eastern Mediterranean. Turkish frigate TCG Barbaros joined them in Aksaz, Turkey.

The group conducted a range of drills before and after their port call in Aksaz. The drills included replenishment at sea exercises and helicopter landings.

At the beginning of the transit, deck officers honed their maneuvering skills in various formations. EGV Bonn later served as a mock-civilian ship for a boarding exercise. A portion of the crew acted as a crew of a civilian ship while the frigates’ teams searched the ship for suspicious activities.

The Commander of the SNMG2, Vice Admiral Jörg Klein, visited the vessels of the group to meet the crews and familiarize with the ships’ capabilities.

After sailing out of Aksaz, SNMG2 vessels conducted a maneuvering exercise with the Turkish Navy. Part of the exercise had the crews of the frigates fend off a simulated speedboat attack. Finally, an air-defense exercise followed with two F-16 fighter jets.

In the following days, the group’s schedule comprises a submarine-defence exercise in which the embarked helicopters will, once again, have to put all their capabilities in use.