- Standing NRF Maritime Group 1
Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1)is a
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) standing maritime Immediate Reaction Forces. Prior to1 January 2005 it was known as Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT).SNMG1 consists of 6 to 10 destroyers and frigates, with
Canada ,Germany , theNetherlands , the UKRoyal Navy , and theUnited States Navy each contributing 1 ship on a permanent basis. These are joined periodically by ships fromBelgium ,Denmark ,Norway ,Poland ,Portugal , andSpain . The force operates, trains and exercises as a group, providing day-to-day verification of current NATO maritime procedures, tactics and effectiveness.Ships are usually attached to the force for up to six months, on a rotating basis. Units of one nation do not necessarily relieve ships of the same nation. The force commander and the staff are appointed for one year, with the force commander rotating among the participating nations. The force is currently under the command of Rear Admiral Michael Mahon flying his flag in
USS Normandy (CG-60) .Operations
In peacetime, the force exercises primarily in the eastern
Atlantic .Allied Command Operations (ACO) has operational command of the force, and the Commander Allied Maritime Component Command Northwood administers the force while in the Eastern Atlantic. ACO delegates operational control to the area commander where the force is operating. SNMG1 and SNMG2 rotate responsibility forOperation Active Endeavour .The force is currently engaged in a circumnavigation of Africa to build maritime situational awareness and partnerships with African nations.
Organization
SNMG1 is a component of the
NATO Response Force (NRF).History
Established in January 1968, STANAVFORLANT was under the operational control of
Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic until that command was decommissioned in2003 . Due to the resulting NATO realignment, STANAVFORLANT fell under the operational control of ACO.In September 2007, SNMG1 was in the
Red Sea bound for Suez to complete acircumnavigation of Africa when the Jabal al-Tair volcano erupted. SNMG1 ships assisted theYemen i coast guard in the recovery of their military personnel stationed on the island. [http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2007/p07-097e.html]References and links
* [http://www.manw.nato.int/manw/pages/organisation/snmg1.htm official web page]
* [http://www.manw.nato.int/manw/pdf/6938%20Africa%20proof%20final.pdf Africa Deployment Brochure ]
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