German minehunter Weilheim joining NATO mine warfare group SNMCMG1

German Navy Frankenthal-class minehunter FGS Weilheim is set to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) for over four months of joint operations.

The vessel will depart its Kiel homeport on July 29 for a two-week at-sea phase before heading to the German Navy’s fire and damage control training center in Neustadt together with the rest of the group.

Shortly thereafter, the group is scheduled to join the annual Baltic Sea maneuver Northern Coasts.

Since the beginning of 2019, SNMCMG1 has been lead by Royal Danish Navy Commander Peter Krogh who assumed command of SNMCMG1 from Belgian Commander Peter Ramboer. Danish ocean patrol vessel HDMS Thetis is the group flagship.

SNMCMG1 is one of four NATO standing maritime groups which are multinational, integrated maritime forces made up of vessels from allied countries. These vessels are under continuous NATO command to perform a wide range of tasks ranging from deterrent presence and situational awareness to exercises and the conduct of operational missions.