“When we started our deployment this summer, we had eight ships from Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland which were already trained to really high standards. The key mission ahead of us was to integrate them into SNMCMG1 and make a group both coherent and efficient team able to cope with any challenges whenever and wherever they arise. Today, I can say with a full confidence that we have succeeded in our mission of making SNMCMG1 group truly coherent", Cmdr. G. Premeneckas says.
Since the beginning of August 2014, NATO ships under command of CDR G. Premeneckas participated in a number of large-scale multinational exercises which include “Northern Coast 2014” in the territorial waters of Finland, joint forces exercise “Joint Warior 2014” held in the north-west coast of Scotland, mine clearance operation "French Hodops “ off the French coast, etc.
By demonstrating presence of Alliance in the region and solidarity, the ships visited many ports of NATO and partner countries such as Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, France. While conducting transit between ports of visit, SNMCMG1 ships conducted various tactical training exercises.
“ We had to carry out our exercises and operations in a geopolitical situation which has been unseen for over two decades. I am certain that the number of ships in our group which was also unprecedentedly high shows clear signal of NATO nations’ solidarity, willingness and ability to cope with today’s challenges. It also demonstrates that NATO maritime standing groups remain relevant and important tool in safeguarding our security", Cmdr. G. Premeneckas says.
LNS Jotvingis berthed in Klaipėda Harbor on 17 December and was accompanied by the two of eight Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 ships – ENS Talivaldis (Latvia) and LVNS Sakala (Estonia). The other ships of the group have already returned to their home bases.
SNMCMG1 ships‘ welcoming ceremony was attended by crews of SNMCMG1 staff and ship crews, Vice Minister of Lithuanian National Defence Mr. Antanas Valys, Commander of the Latvian Navy Captain (Navy) Juris Roze and Estonian Navy representative Commander Indrek Hanson.
CDR G. Premeneckas will remain in command of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasure Group 1 up to 22 January. He will be relieved by the Royal Netherlands Navy officer Commander Peter A. J. Bergen Henegouwen. His staff will be embarked on board the German Navy tender ship FGS Donau.
Lithuania - is the first of three Baltic states, which was entrusted to lead the NATO standing group by assigning commander, providing staff support ship LNS Jotvingis and staff personnel. Lithuanian Navy Officer was entrusted to lead the group of eight ships representing Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, the Netherlands and Germany.
SNMCMG1 is a multinational maritime rapid response mine counter measures unit providing NATO with a naval mine counter-measures capability in peacetime, war or crisis.
SNMCMG1 conducts mine clearance operations at sea, and participates in international training events within NATO framework, as well as with NATO partners mostly in the waters of Northern Europe.
SNMCMG1 mine hunters and sweepers, staff support and auxiliary ships, commander and staff are assigned by maritime member states of NATO on a 6-to-12 months rotational basis.
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