Allied Maritime Command Naples

is part of NATO Allied Command Operations and is ready to conduct the full range of military operations throughout the NATO Area of Responsibility and beyond. Nineteen NATO nations contribute to the MC Naples military staff in order to deter aggression and to contribute to the effective defense of NATO territory and forces, safeguard freedom of the seas and economic lifelines and to preserve or restore the security of NATO nations..

SNMCMG2 in Passex with Croatian Navy

09 May 2012

Counter Mine vessels of the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) completed between 30 April and 4 May 2012 a five-day port visit to Split, Croatia. During the first two days of the port visit various visits to local civilian and military authorities were hosted by the Commander of SNMCMG2, Captain Abdulhamit Sener embarked on his flagship TCG S. MEHMETPASA.

SNMG1 crews receive NATO OAE medal

04 May 2012

Yesterday in the port of Den Helder, Holland, the international staff of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 and the crews of the warshisp HNLMS De Ruyter and FGS Rheinland Pfalz received the NATO medal for their recent deployment in Operation Active Endeavour.

NATO ships complete Malta Port visit

24 April 2012

Nisida, Naples, 22 April 2012: Counter Mine vessels of the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) yesterday completed a four-day port visit to La Valletta, Malta. Beginning 20 April the port visit saw various courtesy visits to local dignitaries carried out by the Commander of SNMCMG2,Captain Abdulhamit Sener embarked on his flagship TCG S. MEHMETPASA. A Force Reception was given and the crews were given the opportunity to visit the island.

Annual Maritime Commanders Meeting reaches new heights

20 April 2012

The annual Maritime Commanders' Meeting (MARCOMET) took place in Rome, Italy from 15 to 18 April with an unprecedented level of attendance in terms of national representation. "This event has grown every year and this edition gives me particular satisfaction as we have arrived at 37 nations, plus 18 NATO and numerous civilian organisations, said Vice Admiral Rinaldo Veri, Commander of Maritime Command Naples and.......

SNMCMG2 visit to La Valletta, Malta

20 April 2012

Standing NATO Mine Counter Measure Group 2 (SNMCMG2) today began a visit to La Valletta, Malta. The Port Visit will last from 20 - 23 April and forms part of an extensive Programme for the Group aimed at furthering and increasing cooperation and understanding between NATO and Malta.

Surge complete, moving out

04 April 2012

As the Rock of Gibraltar appears in the early morning light, the ships of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 prepare to leave the Mediterranean Sea. For more than two months they have patrolled the sea lanes of communications, reassured seafarers, denied terrorist room for maneuver at sea, acted as a deterrent force and have added to the maritime picture by observing and detailing patterns of life.

Two of NATO's Immediate Reaction Forces meet at sea.

04 April 2012

With only a few orders, the Italian mine hunter ITS Alghero gently leads the Netherlands frigate HNLMS De Ruyter and the Canadian Frigate HMCS Charlottetown through a path that she cleared of mines shortly before. Fortunately, this time the minefield is simulated and it serves as a means to bring the unique capabilities of both the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasure Group 2 (SNMCMG2) together.

Helicopter In Flight Refueling

02 April 2012

HIFR is the acronym for Helicopter In Flight Refueling, a real situation that can be used in different ships where a helicopter is unable to land on deck so it has to refuel while flying. In our ship (ESPS Alvaro De Bazan) we usually refuel the helo while it is on deck but you have to train the HIFR manoeuvre too, it is good training for the pilots and also for the crew. It is really spectacular to see ship and helo linked by this "umbilical cord" .

SNMG1 in Passex with US Carrier Group

26 March 2012

The Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) met with the USS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group on 24 March 2012 in the Western Mediterranean.
SNMG1 is currently patrolling in support of NATO’s operation against terrorism, Operation Active Endeavour. 

The Friendly Approach to OAE

23 March 2012

NATO ships patrolling the Mediterranean can be a daunting vision and that is the desired effect where the ill-intentioned are concerned. Warships operating within Operation Active Endeavour (OAE), NATO’s anti-terrorism operation in the Mediterranean expect to have a deterrent effect. However the commanders of NATO ships are fully aware that the vast majority of shipping in the Mediterranean is simply going about its legitimate commercial business.

Spanish Frigate joins NATO Group for Operation Active Endeavour Surge Operations

19 March 2012

The Spanish Frigate ESPS Álvaro de Bazán has joined the ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) as a new period of Surge Operations begins in the form of a sweep across a region of the Mediterranean Sea.

Commander JFC Naples visits Nisida

16 March 2012

Admiral Bruce W. Clingan Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples today visited headquarters Maritime Command Naples where he was greeted by Vice Admiral Rinaldo Veri with a Honours Cordon Ceremony. Admiral Clingan assumed command of Joint Force Command Naples on 24 February and this was his first visit to the maritime headquarters located...

NATO Maritime Group completes Port Visit to Casablanca

14 March 2012

Standing NATO Mine Counter Measure Group 2 (SNMCMG2) recently completed a four-day visit to the Moroccan capital Casablanca as part of the 2012 Mediterranean Dialogue Programme of Port Visits. From 8 to 12 March, the Group carried out courtesy calls, receptions, and also  visited the of Moroccan Navy training centre where Lt. Elias Togas from the SNMCMG2 Staff gave a presentation about the MCM Group, the  Mediterranean  Dialogue Programme and Operation Active Endeavour.

Charlottetown participates in NATO surface exercise

14 March 2012

Success in operations comes from skilful control of many moving pieces, and it takes time and training to master the skills of understanding, visualizing, describing and processing complex situations. These skills were recently applied in the Mediterranean Sea as HMCS Charlottetown conducted a surface exercise (SURFEX) with the ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) during Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR. With four ships from three different countries, one helicopter and one ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle, the SURFEX required synergy and cohesion to pull things together.

NATO Flagship executes multi-threat live firing scenario successfully

13 March 2012

HNLMS De Ruyter recently tested her capabilities in a training scenario which offered similarities with the threats warships have to be prepared to deal with in the current security climate - a mix of low and high spectrum violence.

Commander MC Northwood visits Nisida

12 March 2012

Admiral George Zambellas, DSC, United Kingdom Commander-in-Chief Fleet and Commander Allied Maritime Command Northwood today visited HQ MC Naples for the first time. The purpose of the visit was to familiarise himself with Maritime Command Naples and to be briefed on issues regarding the merger of the two Maritime Commands into a single unified....

USS The Sullivans trains with SNMG1 for the day

12 March 2012

On patrol in support of Operation Active Endeavour, on 11 March the three ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) took advantage of the presence of USS The Sullivans for a number of exercises that allowed operators to demonstrate and hone their skills. In a short timeframe, the four ships conducted a series of seamanship drills and a simulated air defence exercise before resuming respective patrols.

HNLMS De Ruyter responds to distress call

09 March 2012

Yesterday, 8 March 2012, while patrolling with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 as part of the NATO anti-terrorist Operation Active Endeavour, German frigate, FGS Rheinland-Pfalz received a distress call declaring a Man Over Board. Upon receipt of the call, SNMG1 Flagship HNLMS De Ruyter steamed in the direction of Crete where an unfortunate fisherman was reported to have fallen overboard. Greek Authorities informed by De Ruyter also reacted to the signal.

FGS Rhön leaves SNMG1 in style

09 March 2012

With a blow of a hammer the sailor from HMCS Charlottetown releases the slip hook of the jackstay which hits the deck and falls into the water. As the jackstay is recovered on board the German oiler FGS Rhön the ship completes her last replenishment and her deployment in the permanent NATO task group SNMG1.