Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) joined 12 nations for Finnish Navy exercise Freezing Winds in the Baltic Sea from November 22 to December 2.
One of NATO partner nation Finland’s largest maritime exercises, the Alliance say here that Freezing Winds offered valuable training opportunities that contribute to increased maritime safety and security in the Baltic Sea region. The exercise focused on interoperability between the multinational joint forces.
Twenty-three vessels and nearly 5,000 troops participated in different scenarios throughout the exercise in the Gulf of Finland and Archipelago Sea areas, providing participants a challenging program in a broad range of maritime warfare skillsets from air defense to mine countermeasures, and submarine warfare to counter-surface measures. Regional topography and seasonal weather conditions also provided intense training opportunities from a maritime navigational perspective.
Participating nations included Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
SNMG1 and SNMCMG1 are deployed in the Baltic Sea in support of assurance measures regarding Alliance resolve and commitment to collective defence, and to enhance maritime security in the region.
Currently, SNMG1 comprises the flagship Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Tromp (F803) and Royal Danish Navy HDMS Esbern Snare (F342). After replenishing USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) on November 28, Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS Maud (A530) left the group after three months of deployment.
SNMCMG1 currently comprises flagship German Navy FGS Mosel (A512) and FGS Sulzbach-Rosenborg (M1062), and French Navy FS Croix Du Sud (M646).
The Baltic Sea region is of great strategic importance to all bordering nations. Cooperation in the area is of particular interest for NATO as six Allied nations border the Baltic Sea. NATO deploys maritime forces in the Baltic Sea in order to maintain a credible and capable defensive capability in accordance with treaty obligations.
I bet it was Baltic too!
When did the RN last contribute a major warship to SNMG1?
It shows how crazy the cuts have been that an RN vessel isn’t regularly deployed on this key NATO tasking.
Yeah deployments are not getting filled like they used to. The RN seems to try and do it’s own thing worldwide and that requires a good number of ships. 32 frigates/destroyers are roughly the number needed to be able to have a presence and be able to respond around the globe. Basically 10-15 available for deployments.
1 in the gulf. 3-4 are needed for each carrier when deployed. 1-2 for Albion/amphibious ops, 1 for uk duty guard ship. Add in training, nato fleets/allies work, single ship deployments
The rivers have filled some of the gaps like Atlantic patrol north and south.
Even basic frigate ships need some kind of radar, sonar/towed array just for situational awareness. 24-32 anti air missiles, helicopter, guns etc.
Which really highlights the desperate need for the type-32 project to get funding, designed and main-gated yesterday. It’s for reasons like that I suspect that this will be a batch 2 of the Type-31 or it will have some alterations to allow it to support more autonomous systems. We just need it soon.
An extra 5 type 31 would be a good start. Put more sea ceptor cells on it as it’s not a costly system. It looks like NSM can be equipped when needed. Get a sonar bow/towed.
One of the most interesting bit could be would the be equipped with a helicopter as more would be needed to be bought, crews trained etc or do the navy go for full drone airborne assets.
For me that’s the cheapest easiest way to grow escorts.
I worry the type 32 is being given lots of roles that don’t go together. It’s a frigate, with lots of autonomous systems, a replacement for 20 mine warfare/patrol ships and so on and so on.