Standing NATO Maritime Group 1

{{short description|Immediate reaction military unit}}

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Standing NATO Maritime Group 1

| image = Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 logo.png

| caption =

| dates = 1968–present

| allegiance = {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NATO}} North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}

| command_structure =

| garrison =

| garrison_label =

| colors =

| colors_label =

| march =

| battles =

| anniversaries =

| decorations =

| battle_honours =

| disbanded =

| commander1 = Commodore Arjen Warnaar, Royal Netherlands Navy

| commander1_label =

| commander2 =

| commander2_label =

}}

File:Ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1.jpg

Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) is one of NATO's standing naval maritime immediate reaction forces. SNMG1 consists of four to six destroyers and frigates. Its role is to provide NATO with an immediate operational response capability.{{cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/missions/maritime-groups|title=Maritime Groups|publisher=NATO|access-date=20 December 2019}}

History

In late November 1966, U.S. Rear Admiral Richard G. Colbert prepared a concept paper proposing a permanent Allied Command Atlantic naval contingency force based on Operation Matchmaker, an annual six-month exercise involving ships from NATO navies. The proposed contingency force was approved by NATO in December 1967 and activated in January 1968 as Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT).{{citation

|title = Admiral Richard G. Colbert: Pioneer in Building Global Maritime Partnerships

|first = John B.

|last = Hattendorf

|periodical = Naval War College Review

|date = Summer 2008

|volume = 61

|issue = 3

|url = https://portal.nwc.navy.mil/press/Naval%20War%20College%20Review/2008/Hattendorf%20NWCR%20Summer08WEB.pdf

}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}See also, John B. Hattendorf, “NATO’s Policeman on the Beat: The First Twenty-Years of the Standing Naval Force, Atlantic, 1968-1988,” in: John B. Hattendorf, Naval History and Maritime Strategy: Collected Essays. (Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing, 2000), pp. 187-200.

During the 1990s, STANAVFORLANT was heavily involved in Operation Maritime Monitor (July 1992 to November 1992), Operation Maritime Guard (November 1992 to June 1993) and Operation Sharp Guard (June 1993 to October 1996), the maritime embargo operations in the Adriatic Sea established to ensure compliance by Serbia and Montenegro with United Nations (UN) resolutions 713, 715, 787, 820 and 943. Between November 1992 and June 1996 some 74,000 ships were challenged, almost 6,000 were inspected at sea and more than 1,400 were diverted and inspected in port.{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/ifor/general/shrp-grd.htm|title=Operation Sharp Guard|publisher=NATO|access-date=20 December 2019}}

The force was under the operational control of SACLANT until SACLANT was decommissioned in 2003 and it was folded into NATO's Allied Command Operations (ACO) at that time.{{cite web |url= http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=28854 |title= New NATO Transformation Command Established in Norfolk |access-date=2008-09-09 |work= American Forces Press Service |publisher= United States Department of Defense |date= 19 June 2003 }}

The force was re-designated Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 in January 2005.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xClEDQAAQBAJ&q=NATO+Mine+Countermeasures+Group+2+1999&pg=PA136|title=International Order at Sea: How it is challenged. How it is maintained|page=136|first1= Jo Inge |last1=Bekkevold|first2= Geoffrey |last2=Till|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2016|isbn=978-1137586629}}

In September 2007, SNMG1 was in the Red Sea bound for Suez to complete a circumnavigation of Africa when the Jabal al-Tair volcano erupted. SNMG1 ships assisted the Yemeni coast guard in the recovery of their military personnel stationed on the island.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2007/p07-097e.html|title=NATO Press Release(2007)097|website=www.nato.int}}

From March 2009 to June 2009 SNMG1 was deployed by NATO off the Somali coast to conduct Operation Allied Protector, to deter, defend and protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels against the threat of piracy and armed robbery, thereby allowing WFP to fulfill its mission of providing humanitarian aid.[http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_48815.htm Counter-piracy Operations.] North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Retrieved: 27 December 2013.

Since August 2009, SNMG1 has been providing ships for NATO's Operation Ocean Shield anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.[http://www.manw.nato.int/page_operation_ocean_shield.aspx Operation Ocean Shield] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513125123/http://www.manw.nato.int/page_operation_ocean_shield.aspx |date=2011-05-13 }}

On 23–25 March 2012 the group conducted a passing exercise with Carrier Strike Group Twelve, led by {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}}, while carrying out Operation Active Endeavor missions in the Mediterranean Sea.{{cite web | title= SNMG1 in PASSEX with US Carrier Group | url= http://www.aco.nato.int/snmg1-in-passex-with-us-carrier-group.aspx | work= Allied Command Operations | publisher= NATO | date= March 26, 2012 | access-date= 2012-11-06 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140914133936/http://www.aco.nato.int/snmg1-in-passex-with-us-carrier-group.aspx | archive-date= September 14, 2014 | url-status= dead | df= mdy-all }} The group's commander, Commodore Ben Bekkering, Royal Netherlands Navy visited Enterprise.{{cite web | title= Enterprise Hosts Commander, Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 | url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=66086 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20121212213501/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=66086 | url-status= dead | archive-date= December 12, 2012 | work= NNS120326-04 | publisher= Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs | date= March 26, 2012 | access-date=2012-06-04}} At the time the group consisted of the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate {{HNLMS|De Ruyter|F804|2}}, the Spanish Navy frigate {{ship|Spanish frigate|Álvaro de Bazán|F101|2}}, the German Navy frigate {{ship|German frigate|Rheinland-Pfalz|F209|2}}, and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate {{HMCS|Charlottetown|FFH 339|2}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=66086|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212213501/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=66086|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 12, 2012|title=Enterprise Hosts Commander, Standing NATO Maritime Group 1|publisher=US Navy|date=26 March 2012|access-date=20 December 2019}}

File:Portuguese and Norwegian warships moored at South Quay in London.jpg

In November 2018, HNoMS Helge Ingstad was operating with SNMG1 when she was involved in a collision with a Maltese flagged tanker and had to be deliberately run aground to prevent her sinking. The remainder of SNMG1 stood by to provide assistance.{{cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/media-centre/news/2018/snmg1-ship-accident-at-sea.aspx|title=Allied Maritime Command - SNMG1 ship accident at sea|website=mc.nato.int}}

During 2021, SNMG1 was active in the region of the Baltic Sea for 12 days.

Current ships

As of January 2025, SNMG1 consists of:{{cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/snmg1.aspx|title=Allied Maritime Command - Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1)|website=mc.nato.int}}

{{legend|#cbcefb|Previous flagship}}

{{legend|#969dfa|Current flagship}}

Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force

class="wikitable"
style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#9b9b9b;"

! Year

! Commander

! Ship

! Type

! Part of task force

! Flagship

rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | 2025

| rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|Denmark}}
Commodore
Thomas Stig Rasmussen
(January 1 – January 9)
{{flagicon|Netherlands}}
Commodore Arjen Warnaar
(January 9 – )

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Norway}} HNoMS Maud

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | Replenishment oiler

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | January 1 – January 9

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | January 1 – January 9

style="background-color:#969dfa;" |{{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS Tromp

| style="background-color:#969dfa;" | De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate

| style="background-color:#969dfa;" |January 9 – ongoing

| style="background-color:#969dfa;" |January 9 – ongoing

{{flagicon|Sweden}} HSwMS Visby

|Visby class corvette

|January 21 – ongoing

|n/a

{{flagicon|Finland}} FNS Pori

|Hamina-class missile boat

|January 22 – ongoing

|n/a

{{flagicon|Belgium}} BNS Louise-Marie

|{{Sclass|Karel Doorman|frigate|2}}

|Februari – ongoing

|n/a

Previous task groups

In 2024, SNMG1 consisted of:{{cite web |last1=SNMG1 |first1=Commander |url=https://twitter.com/COM_SNMG1 |website=SNMG1 Twitter |access-date=20 January 2022 |title=SNMG1 Twitter}}{{Cite web |author=Public Affairs Office at MARCOM |date=2024-07-12 |title=Spain hands over command of SNMG1 to Denmark after six-month deployment |url=https://mc.nato.int/media-centre/news/2024/spain-hands-over-command-of-snmg1-to-denmark-after-sixmonth-deployment }}

{{legend|#cbcefb|Previous flagship}}

{{legend|#969dfa|Current flagship}}

Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force

class="wikitable"
style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#9b9b9b;"

! Year

! Commander

! Ship

! Type

! Part of task force

! Flagship

rowspan="8" style="text-align:center;" | 2024

| rowspan="8" style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|Spain}}
Rear-Admiral
Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo
(January 1 – July 11)
{{flagicon|Denmark}}
Commodore
Thomas Stig Rasmussen
(July 11 – ongoing)

| style="background-color:#cbcefb" | {{flagicon|Spain}} ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | F-100

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | January 1 – n/a

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | January 1 – n/a

{{flagicon|Spain}} ESPS Cantabria

| Replenishment oiler

| January 1 – n/a

| n/a

{{flagicon|Germany}} FGS Bonn

| {{Sclass|Berlin|replenishment ship|2}}

| January 1 – n/a

| n/a

style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Norway}} HNoMS Maud

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | Replenishment oiler

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | September 9 – ongoing

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | September 9 – ongoing

{{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS De Ruyter

| De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate

| August – n/a

| n/a

{{flagicon|Portugal}} NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida

| Multi-purpose frigate

| July 31 – n/a

| n/a

{{flagicon|France}} FS La Fayette

| La Fayette class frigate

|August – n/a

|n/a

{{flagicon|Belgium}} BNS Louise-Marie

|{{Sclass|Karel Doorman|frigate|2}}

|October – December

|No

In 2023, SNMG1 consisted of:

{{legend|#cbcefb|Previous flagship}}

{{legend|#969dfa|Current flagship}}

Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force

class="wikitable"
style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#9b9b9b;"

! Year

! Commander

! Ship

! Type

! Part of task force

! Flagship

rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | 2023

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|Netherlands}}
Commodore
Jeanette Morang
(January 1 – January 6)
{{flagicon|Germany}}
Rear-Admiral
Thorsten Marx
(January 6 – ongoing)

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS Tromp

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{Sclass|De Zeven Provinciën|frigate|2}}

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | September 19 – n/a

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | September 19 – n/a

{{flagicon|Germany}} FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

|Brandenburg-class frigate

|January 6 – n/a

|n/a

{{flagicon|Poland}} ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko

|Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

|January 6 – n/a

|n/a

In 2022, SNMG1 consisted of:

{{legend|#cbcefb|Previous flagship}}

{{legend|#969dfa|Current flagship}}

Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force

class="wikitable"
style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#9b9b9b;"

! Year

! Commander

! Ship

! Type

! Part of task force

! Flagship

rowspan="24" style="text-align:center;" | 2022

| rowspan="24" style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|Netherlands}}
Commodore
Ad van de Sande
(January 7 – July 8)
{{flagicon|Netherlands}}
Commodore
Jeanette Morang
(July 8 – ongoing)

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS Rotterdam{{cite web |title=Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) |url=https://mc.nato.int/SNMG1 |publisher=NATO |access-date=21 January 2022}}

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{Sclass|Rotterdam|amphibious transport dock|2}}

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | January 7 – February 4

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | January 7 - February 4

{{flagicon|Denmark}} HDMS Peter Willemoes{{cite web |title=Danish Frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes and F-16 Fighting Falcons to Reinforce NATO Forces |url=https://militaryleak.com/2022/01/15/danish-frigate-hdms-peter-willemoes-and-f-16-fighting-falcons-to-reinforce-nato-forces/ |website=Military Leaks |access-date=21 January 2022}}

| {{Sclass|Iver Huitfeldt|frigate|2}}

| January 15 – April

| n/a

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} HMS Kent

| Duke-class frigate

| January 24 – February 4

| n/a

style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Germany}} FGS Berlin

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{Sclass|Berlin|replenishment ship|2}}

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | February 4 – April

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | February 4 – April 6

{{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS Van Amstel

| {{Sclass|Karel Doorman|frigate|2}}

| February 7 – March

| n/a

{{flagicon|Germany}} FGS Erfurt

| {{Sclass|Braunschweig|corvette|2}}

| March 2 – May

| n/a

style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS De Zeven Provincien

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{Sclass|De Zeven Provinciën|frigate|2}}

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | March 10 – July

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | April 6 - July

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} HMS Northumberland

| Duke-class frigate

| March – April 20

| n/a

{{flagicon|France}} FS Languedoc

| Aquitaine-class destroyer

| March – April

| n/a

{{flagicon|France}} FS Dixmude

| {{Sclass|Mistral|amphibious assault ship|2}}

| March – April

| n/a

{{flagicon|France}} FS Latouche-Tréville

| Georges Leygues-class destroyer

|March – May

|n/a

{{flagicon|Canada}} HMCS Halifax

| {{Sclass|Halifax|frigate|2}}

|April 18 – July

|n/a

{{flagicon|Germany}} FGS Spessart

| Rhön-class replenishment oiler

|April – August 4

|n/a

style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS Karel Doorman

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | Joint support ship

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | May 8 – September 23

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | July 8 – September 19

{{flagicon|Portugal}} NRP Corte-Real

| {{Sclass|Vasco da Gama|frigate|2}}

|May 27 – September 14

|n/a

{{flagicon|Germany}} FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

| {{Sclass|Brandenburg|frigate|2}}

| May 30 – July 15

| n/a

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} HMS Portland

|Duke-class frigate

|June 15 – August 4

|n/a

{{flagicon|Norway}} HNoMS Roald Amundsen

|Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate

|August 9 – November / December

|n/a

{{flagicon|Norway}} HNoMS Maud

|Replenishment oiler

|August 29 – November / December

|n/a

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} HMS Lancaster

|Duke-class frigate

|August 29 – October 6

|n/a

{{flagicon|Germany}} FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

|{{Sclass|Brandenburg|frigate|2}}

|September 10 – October 11

|n/a

style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS Tromp

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{Sclass|De Zeven Provinciën|frigate|2}}

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | September 19 – ongoing

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | September 19 – ongoing

{{flagicon|France}} FS Ducuing

|D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso

|September 24 – October

|n/a

{{flagicon|Denmark}} HDMS Esbern Snare

|Absalon-class frigate

|October 26 – November / December

|n/a

In 2021, SNMG1 consisted of:

{{legend|#cbcefb|Previous flagship}}

{{legend|#969dfa|Current flagship}}

class="wikitable"
style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#9b9b9b;"

! Year

! Commander

! Ship

! Type

! Part of task force

! Flagship

rowspan="16" style="text-align:center;" | 2021

| rowspan="16" style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|Canada}}
Commodore
Bradley Peats

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Canada}} HMCS Halifax

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | Frigate

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | January 18 – April 12
May 19 – July 10

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | January 18 – April 12
May 19 – July 10

style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Denmark}} HDMS Absalon

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | Frigate

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | March 25 – June 18

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | April 12 – May 19

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} HMS Lancaster

| Frigate

| March

| n/a

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} HMS Westminster

| Frigate

| March

| n/a

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} RFA Tiderace

| Replenishment Oiler

| March

| n/a

{{flagicon|France}} FS Bretagne

| Aquitaine class destroyer

| May 7 – May 14
November 22 – December 15

| n/a

{{flagicon|France}} FS Normandie

| Aquitaine class destroyer

| May 21 – May 30
September 22 – September 29

| n/a

{{flagicon|Norway}} HNoMS Storm

| Corvette

| June 6 – June 18

| n/a

{{flagicon|Norway}} HNoMS Gnist

| Corvette

| June 6 – June 18

| n/a

{{flagicon|France}} FS Commandant Blaison

| D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso

| June 6 – June 18

| n/a

style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Canada}} HMCS Fredericton

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | Frigate

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | August 2 – October 5
October 17 – December 15

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | August 2 – October 5
October 30 – December 15

{{flagicon|Portugal}} NRP Corte-Real

| Frigate

| August 25 – December 15

| n/a

{{flagicon|Netherlands}} HNLMS Van Amstel

| Frigate

| September 6 – December 15

| n/a

{{flagicon|Norway}} HNoMS Maud

| Replenishment Oiler

| September 6 – December 3

| n/a

style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | {{flagicon|Spain}} ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | Frigate

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | September 16 – October 30

| style="background-color:#cbcefb;" | October 5 – October 30

{{flagicon|Belgium}} BNS Leopold I

| Frigate

| October 9 – October 29

| n/a

During this deployment, SNMG1 took part in numerous exercises including:

  • TG 21-1 from February 8 to February 19 in Norway{{Cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/media-centre/news/2021/snmg1-participates-in-the-norwegian-exercise-tg-211.aspx|title=SNMG1 participates in the Norwegian exercise TG 21-1|website=mc.nato.int}}
  • Dynamic Guard 21 from February 24 to February 26 in Norway{{Cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/media-centre/news/2021/nato-exercise-dynamic-guard-underway-in-norway.aspx|title=NATO exercise Dynamic Guard underway in Norway|website=mc.nato.int}}
  • Joint Warrior 21-1 from May 7 to May 14 in the United Kingdom{{Cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/media-centre/news/2021/nato-ships-train-in-exercise-joint-warrior-211-with-uk-queen-elizabeth-carrier-strike-group.aspx|title=NATO ships train in exercise Joint Warrior 21-1 with UK Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group|website=mc.nato.int}}
  • Steadfast Defender 21 from May 21 to June 2 in Portugal{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_183459.htm|title=Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021 to test NATO readiness and military mobility|website=mc.nato.int}}
  • BALTOPS50 from June 6 to June 18 in the Baltic Sea{{Cite web|url=https://sfn.nato.int/newsroom/2021/baltops-50-comes-to-a-close-2.aspx|title=BALTOPS 50 Comes to a Close|website=sfn.nato.int}}
  • Dynamic Mongoose 21 from July 1 to July 9 in Norway{{Cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/media-centre/news/2021/nato-exercise-dynamic-mongoose-21-underway-in-high-north.aspx|title=NATO Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 21 Underway in High North|website=mc.nato.int}}
  • Joint Warrior 21-2 from 18 September to 30 September 2021 in the United Kingdom{{Cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/media-centre/news/2021/nato-exercise-dynamic-mariner-and-joint-warrior-begins-in-the-atlantic.aspx|title=NATO Exercise Dynamic Mariner and Joint Warrior Begins in the Atlantic|website=mc.nato.int}}
  • FLOTEX 21 from November 22 to December 3 in Norway{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/11/royal-norwegian-navy-kicked-off-flotex-21-exercise/|title=Royal Norwegian Navy Kicked Off FLOTEX 21 Exercise|first=Xavier|last=Vavasseur|date=November 19, 2021}}
  • Exercise REP(MUS) from 12 September to 22 September in Portugal{{Cite web |last=NATO |title=NATO exercises with new maritime unmanned systems |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_207293.htm |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=NATO |language=en}}

Organization

SNMG1 is a component of the NATO Response Force (NRF).

See also

References

{{Reflist}}