French Navy Rear Admiral Yannick Bossu officially transferred command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) to Royal Canadian Navy Commodore Matthew Coates on 1 July, during a ceremony aboard the flagship FS Somme, according to a press release.
The event was presided over by NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) Deputy Commander, French Navy Vice Admiral Didier Maleterre.
“It has been a privilege and an honour to serve as Commander of SNMG2,” said Rear Admiral Bossu, quoted in the news release.
“This command at sea, the first for France, has been a most rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. This is largely owed to the tremendous work and dedication of the people I had the pleasure to work with; my staff for their teamwork and loyalty, the commanding officers and ship’s companies of the surface combatants that integrated SNMG2 for their warfighting spirit, and the staff in HQ MARCOM for their unwavering support.”
The handover concludes a three-month deployment for SNMG2 during a particularly volatile period, encompassing the war in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Middle East, and the Houthi crisis in the Red Sea.
From 5 April to 1 July, SNMG2 operated in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean Sea, demonstrating NATO’s solidarity and reinforcing interoperability with Allies and Partners, as highlighted in the press release.
During its mission, SNMG2 provided significant logistical support and conducted surveillance of Russian activities in the Mediterranean.
NATO added that the Task Group participated in multiple exercises, including Neptune Strike 24-1 and a NATO air defence exercise, and collaborated with the US 6th Fleet and naval units from France, Greece, Italy, and Spain. Notably, the group escorted the US aircraft carrier USS Dwight Eisenhower during its Mediterranean deployment and engaged in operational cooperation with the Italian carrier battle group.
SNMG2, one of NATO’s four Standing Naval Forces, operates under the command of NATO Allied Maritime Command in Northwood, United Kingdom.
O/T will there be an article on NATO, Isreal communication companies, and Idaho National Laboratory? being hacked. The best part is who did the hacks.
Gave me a chuckle.
Also off topic: the Houthi attack on an oil tanker carrying Russian oil to Asia and now leaking an oil slick that will probably polute the Yemini coast. Is anyone going to clean up the spill? I doubt it. The video of the Houthis shouting Allahu Akbar felt pretty ironic to me. Interesting that it was a USV attack.
I think hi Sutton did a video on it. China isn’t going to be happy. Funny how they attacked a Russian ship that is allied with Iran and China.
‘Royal’ Canadian Navy…
As a Canadian I would dearly love to chuck Chuck and the entire monarchy.
Canadian Navy, thanks just the same.
ROYAL Canadian Navy
RCN.
Yes Royal Canadian Navy !
Everyone beat me too it
Task force 150 is the real deal.5th columns and “enemy” shipping.What kind of “lookalike” enemy forces exist is probably beyond anyone’s comprehension