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Turkey hosts NATO task group for mine countermeasure drill

Turkish mine warfare drill Nusret
Photo: NATO

Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) participated in the Turkish-led maritime exercise NUSRET 2021 in the Aegean Sea off Canakkale, Turkey.

SNMCMG2, consisting of flagship ESPS Rayo, TCG Edincik, ESPS Segura, ITS Viareggio and HS Evropi, joined the other units from the Turkish Navy.

Nusret is an annual mine countermeasures exercise and this year took place from 18th October to 26th November 2021 in Gulf of Saros, Turkey. The aim of the exercise is to provide training in planning and execution of mine warfare as well as to improve the interoperability between ships from a variety of participating countries.

On this occasion, a team of the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) of NATO participated in the exercise, in order to carry out test and exploratory operations with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). In addition to mine countermeasures exercises and CMRE tests, trained to respond to asymmetric threats and air threats, utilizing unmanned vehicles.

This annual exercise contributes to interoperability across allied and partner nations and allows NATO units to test and validate concepts, procedures, systems and tactics.

SNMCMG2 is one of four multinational, integrated maritime force made up of vessels from various allied countries. These vessels, including their air assets, are continuously available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from participating in exercises to intervening in operational missions. These groups provide NATO with a continuous maritime capability for operations and other activities in peacetime and in periods of crisis and conflict. They also help to establish Alliance presence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support transformation and provide a variety of military maritime capabilities to ongoing missions.

The aim of the exercise is to provide training in planning and execution of mine warfare as well as to improve the interoperability between ships from a variety of participating countries.