NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 participates in exercise DANEX-NOCO

HNoMS Roald Amundsen (NOR)

The vessels assigned to SNMCMG1 recently participated in a large Danish-German led exercise organised in the Western Baltic Sea. The participating units were training together to face an emerging conflict situation. SNMCMG1 trained alongside NATO partners such as Sweden, Finland and Russia. The goal of the exercise was to train participating units to cooperate in coastal operations in an ‘out of area' and unstable environment.

In order to deal with this simulated crisis, almost 50 naval vessels were divided into two task forces, each with its own chain of command. The first week consisted of planned exercises in order to ‘synchronise' each participant's operational procedures. During week two, the participants were no longer informed of the scenario's evolution and had to adapt to the rapidly unfolding situation.

Communication is vital in all operations and exercises. Therefore, the Commander in charge of the Multinational Task Force, to which all SNMCMG1 units have been assigned, invited all of his deputy commanders to a meeting on board HNoMS Roald Amundsen. During this meeting the Commander, Commodore Amundsen personally gave his instructions and guidance for the upcoming free play phase of the exercise.

 

Commander Yvo Jaenen and Commodore Amundsen

HDMS Thetis joined the SNMCMG1 vessels, and together they formed a Mine Countermeasures Task Unit under COMSNMCMG1's command. During the entire exercise the Task Unit did what it does best: countermining ordnances. Clearing exercise mines, the Task Unit provides safe navigation routes for all maritime transit.  During the exercise, SNMCMG1 vessels cleared an important sea route of exercise mines, enabling the exercise scenario to evolve.