Standing NATO Maritime Group 1

The Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 ( SNMG 1) is a constant maritime task force of NATO.

History

The establishment of permanent NATO forces

Given the perceived as threatening rearmament of the Warsaw Pact and in particular the Soviet Union in the 1960s, NATO decided to set up multinational combat troops. These associations were already under her as NATO Command Forces in peacetime for use and were available for immediate response in crisis situations. With their use of the armed forces of as many NATO member countries should be involved in crisis management in order to show solidarity alliance.

As the first Eingreifverband the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (ACE Mobile Force / AMF) was (AMF / A) has been created with a country - (AMF / L) and an air component, which was under the NATO Command Europe (ACE ) 1960. As a Marine equivalent of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic ( STANAVFORLANT / SNFL ) under the NATO Command Atlantic ( ACLANT ) was established on 1968.

Standing Naval Force Atlantic

The SNFL was the precursor SNMG 1 consisted of destroyers and frigates, was established on 13 January 1968 after the use of a joint exercise Association named Matchmaker ( 1965-1967 ) had been tested previously. This association is the oldest surviving permanent task force of NATO. Since its formation, about 500 ships and more than 150,000 seafarers sailing under his command.

The Association was in what was then the commander of the Eastern Atlantic Command Atlantic ( CINCEASTLANT ) in Northwood, United Kingdom. Permanent participant nations were the United States, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany. The command moved first between the first four nations, the German navy decided not to 1984 on the lead, because it was generally assumed ACE. The navies of Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal and Spain since 1990 participate from time to time to the association. Task during the Cold War was to be able to quickly in crisis situations as a multinational federation demonstrate Alliance solidarity.

The association was mainly used in the North Atlantic. With the end of the conflict, the STANAVFORLANT was also used among other things in 1993 for Operation Sharp Guard ( Mediterranean), in other adjacent regions. For the fleet with the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean and the Western European Union Maritime Contingency Force was integrated. This operation lasted until 1996 and then the association was re- routed into the Atlantic.

2004, the group was renamed the Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1 and abolished the regional bond. At the same time responsible for the Mediterranean Association Standing Naval Force Mediterranean ( STANAVFORMED ) was renamed the Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 2. As such, both attended, among others, in Operation Active Endeavour. The name was later shortened to Standing NATO Maritime Group.

Concept

Permanent members of the current six to ten destroyers, cruisers and frigates comprehensive association are the Canadian, German, Dutch, British and the U.S. Navy, each off a ship. The association is temporarily reinforced by units from other NATO nations. He stands within the NATO command structure to the Allied Command Operations, which has been delegated to the Maritime Component Command Northwood the lead. Both SNMG are incorporated into the NATO Response Force.

The fleet exercises are held annually in the frames to strengthen especially multinational cooperation.