NATO ships take part in Greece-led NIRIIS 2021 naval exercise

NATO ships have concluded the Greek-led maritime exercise NIRIIS 2021. Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) took part in Exercise Niriis 21 in the Mediterranean Sea, with more than 15 ships, submarines, and other vessels, from November 22 to November 30.

SNMG2 composed of the Flagship, ITS Virginio Fasan, ROS Regina Maria, BGS Drazki, and FGS Spessart, and SNMCMG2 consisting of Flagship ESPS Rayo, ESPS Segura, and HS Evropi, joined units and ships from the host nation consolidating the combat capabilities of the participants and improving the operational readiness level. This exercise aimed to improve combined combat capability and increase operational capacity while providing a realistic training environment where participants enhanced their knowledge and skills regarding crisis response operations and interoperability between units.

“The regular participation of NATO Standing Naval Forces in major Allied exercises is essential for maintaining high readiness, improving interoperability and strengthened cohesion, enabling NATO’s commitment to Maritime Security and Collective Defence,” said SNMG2 Force Commander, Admiral Russo.

SNMG2 and SNMCMG2 are two of four multinationals, the integrated maritime force made up of vessels from various allied countries. These vessels 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 an Alliance presence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support transformation, and provide a variety of military maritime capabilities to ongoing missions.

Check out Naval Library App to find out more about the specifications of the SNMCMG2 assets.