A German-led maritime exercise, ‘Northern Coasts 2023’, involved Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1).
From 11th to 22nd September, over 3,000 sailors, marines, and aviators convened in the central Baltic Sea, within the territorial waters of Latvia and Estonia.
The primary goal of this large-scale exercise, initiated in 2007, is to enhance interoperability and demonstrate the participating countries’ combat readiness.
This year’s witnessed the participation of 14 NATO Allies and partner nation Sweden. Almost 30 naval vessels and more than 15 aircraft joined forces in live training exercises, grappling with multifaceted tactical challenges in the maritime realm.
Commander SNMG1, Rear Admiral Thorsten Marx of the German Navy, remarked on the vitality of such exercises: “Northern Coasts was a robust test of our capabilities, underscoring the Alliance’s commitment to demonstrate our ability and willingness to protect our territories, maintain maritime security, and showcase solidarity, strength, and credible deterrence.”
During the exercise, SNMCMG1 carried out real-world historical ordnance disposal operations. They successfully located and neutralised over 10 WWII-era sea mines along the Baltic States’ coastlines, contributing significantly to maritime safety.
Commander Piotr Bartosewicz of the Polish Navy lauded this feat, appreciating the collaboration between ships within the group and those from individual nations: “The number of remnants from World War II that were found and neutralised demonstrates that our work is meaningful. Exercises like Northern Coasts provide an ideal opportunity to enhance cooperation between the ships within the group and those contributed to the exercise by individual nations, as well as to train with specialists in our field.”
Both SNMG1 and SNMCMG1 function under NATO’s Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), based in Northwood, United Kingdom. MARCOM oversees all NATO maritime forces and offers principal maritime counsel to the Alliance, akin to its terrestrial and aerial counterparts (LANDCOM and AIRCOM), reporting directly to NATO’s Allied Command Operations (ACO) in Mons, Belgium.
