NATO’s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED)
was activated on 30 April 1992, in Naples, Italy. STANAVFORMED
provides a continuous maritime presence and thus is a constant
and visible reminder of the solidarity and cohesiveness of
the Alliance. The inauguration of this long-awaited NATO naval
force marked an important step in the process initiated with
the approval of the new NATO Strategic Concept, which called
for a greater role to be played by allied multinational forces.
As the natural successor to the NATO Naval On-Call Force
Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED)
–which had been periodically activated for more than
20 years – STANAVFORMED is a naval force made up of
vessels from various allied nations, training and operating
together as a collective whole under the Commander, Allied
Naval Forces Southern Europe (COMNAVSOUTH).
Nations normally contributing to the Force
are Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Turkey,
United Kingdom and United States. Other NATO nations have also
occasionally contributed. Composition of the Force varies.
Command of the force rotates among participating countries.
The present commander is Rear Admiral Hans-Jochen WITTHAUER,
German Navy, who took command on 25 September 2003.
STANAVFORMED carries out a continuous programme of operational
training and conducts port visits to know and get known in many
ports in and out of the Mediterranean, in NATO and non-NATO
nations. These include ports in nations which are part of the
Partnership for Peace and Mediterranean Dialogue programmes.
OPERATIONS
On 11 July 1992 the Force was directed to deploy to the Ionian
Sea to be prepared for possible future operations, with reference
to a NATO Ministerial decision to assist the monitoring of compliance
with United Nations resolutions 713 and 757.
The North Atlantic Council decided on 15 July 1992 that NATO
monitoring operations were to commence at 0800 local time on
16 July, when the first units of STANAVFORMED entered the Adriatic
Sea to begin participating in NATO’s Operation MARITIME
MONITOR. The Force was temporarily relieved by STANAVFORLANT
in this operation on 9-26 September, to conduct the change of
command, complete ship turnovers and conduct Force work-ups.
From 22 November 1992 to 15 June 1993 the force participated
in Operation
MARITIME GUARD which was the NATO contribution towards the
enforcement of the UN embargoes on the former Yugoslavia. The
operation was conducted in coordination with the WEU Operation
SHARP FENCE.
On 15 June 1993 these two operations were merged in the combined
NATO/WEU operation SHARP
GUARD. Part of the Force visited the port of Haifa, from
16-22 November 1993. STANAVFORMED continued to conduct embargo
enforcement operations until 18 June 1996, when the UN arms
embargo against the Former Yugoslavia was terminated. Since
then, STANAVFORMED remained ready to resume SHARP GUARD operations
at short notice, should UN sanctions be re-established, until
all embargoes were terminated on 1 October 1996. From 22 November
1992 – when enforcement operations began - to 18 June
1996, NATO and WEU forces challenged over 70,000 vessels. Of
these, over 7,000 were boarded and inspected or diverted to
a port for inspection. After the UN authorized enforcement actions
in April 1993 no ship was able to break the maritime embargoes.
STANAVFORMED deployed to the Adriatic Sea on 14 October 98 as
part of NATO’s preparations for possible operations in
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Following the signature
of agreements under which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
committed to comply with requests from the international community,
the Force was eventually authorised to resume normal duties.
Because of the renewed violence in Kosovo, the North Atlantic
Council decided, on 20 January 1999, to take measures to increase
the capability of NATO forces to conduct air operations against
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Among these measures, STANAVFORMED
was ordered to deploy to the Adriatic Sea to increase Alliance
presence in the area and provide evidence of NATO’s resolve.
With termination of the air operation Allied
Force, on 20 June 1999, STANAVFORMED returned to its normal
peacetime duties, whilst remaining ready to support continuing
NATO’s operations.
Following the North Atlantic Council’s decision on implementation
of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty as a consequence of the
11 September 2001 attacks against the United States, STANAVFORMED
was withdrawn from Exercise DESTINED GLORY 2001 on 6 October
2001 and deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to conduct Operation
ACTIVE
ENDEAVOUR, NATO’s maritime contribution to the fight
against terrorism. Through rotation of NATO’s standing
naval forces (STANAVFORMED and STANAVFORLANT), Task Force ENDEAVOUR
has maintain an active presence in the operational area, the
Mediterranean east of Sicily, as a demonstration of the solidarity
and resolve of the alliance.
EXERCISES
STANAVFORMED routinely participates in major NATO
exercises. Annually it has participated in DYNAMIC MIX,
DOGFISH, DESTINED GLORY, COOPERATIVE PARTNER and a number of
national exercises.
COMPOSITION OF THE FORCE
- HS Bouboulina (Flagship), frigate, Greece
- FGS Schleswig-Holstein, frigate, Germany
- HMS Kent, destroyer, United Kingdom
- USS Underwood, frigate, United States
- TCG Gokceada, frigate, Turkey
- ITS Grecale, frigate, Italy
- SPS Andalucia, frigate, Spain
- TCG Bartin, frigate, Turkey
|
