Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standing mine countermeasures Immediate Reaction Force. Its role is to provide NATO with an immediate operational response capability.

History

From its activation on 27 May 1999, the unit was initially called Standing Mine Countermeasures Force (in the) Mediterranean (MCMFORMED).

MCMFORMED and her sister force Mine Counter Measures Force North Western Europe (MCMFORNORTH) were tasked in June 1999 to operate in the Adriatic Sea to clear ordnance jettisoned during Operation Allied Force. The combined force comprised 11 minehunters and minesweepers and a support ship. The operation, named Allied Harvest, began on 9 June 1999. Search activities began three days later and lasted 73 days. In total, 93 pieces of ordnance were located and cleared in the nine areas which encompassed 1,041 square nautical miles (3,570 km2; 1,379 sq mi).

From 3 September 2001 it was known as the Mine Countermeasures Force South (MCMFORSOUTH) and from 1 January 2005 it became Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2.

Current ships

In 2026, SNMCMG2 consisted of:

Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force

YearCommanderShipTypePart of task forceFlagship
2026Greece Captain Dimitrios Karamoutzogiannis (January – ongoing)Greece HS Heracles (A472)Atlas-class general support shipJanuary 8 – ongoingJanuary 8 – ongoing
Turkey TCG Anamur (M269)Aydin class minehunterJanuary - ongoingn/a
France FS Capricorne (M653)Éridan class minehunterMarch - ongoingn/a
Italy ITS Chioggia (M5560)Gaeta class minehunterJanuary - ongoingn/a
Spain SPS Tambre (M33)Segura class minehunterMarch - ongoingn/a

See also

External links