Admiral Tony Radakin, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, visited NATO Maritime Headquarters in Northwood to learn more about NATO’s Maritime Command, its organisation and current operations.
Vice Admiral Keith Blount, Commander of NATO Maritime Command welcomed Admiral Radakin and the two discussed the mutual support and cooperation between the UK Royal Navy and NATO.
“It is vital for NATO Maritime Command to continue to speak with Allied Navy leadership to ensure we are operating in the best way possible. Ensuring interoperability among Allies at sea is key to NATO’s deterrence and warfighting power. The more practiced we are, the better we can defend Allied nations should the need ever arise,” said Vice Admiral Blount.
“We are grateful for the Royal Navy’s contribution to NATO and look forward to it continuing.”
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan recently operated under the NATO flag as part of Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean Sea and as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two in the Black Sea for US-Ukraine exercise Sea Breeze.
At the same time, Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster served in Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) in the high North Atlantic, participating in NATO anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2019 while Royal Navy mine hunter HMS Ramsey contributed to Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) during exercise BALTOPS and historical ordnance disposal operation Open Spirit in the Baltic Sea and historical mine clearance operation Beneficial Cooperation in the North Sea.
Working side by side with Allied sailors during these events honed fighting skills for the crews and further solidified NATO techniques and procedures amongst all Allied participants, say the Alliance.
The more I find out, the more I am amazed. All these high ranking officers when in my honest opinion, the Royal Navy is so small. In its day, when the Royal Navy policed the world, there must have been dozens of Admirals.
Admirals yes. Today most are actually Vice and Rear Admirals, down to 1 * Commodores, not Admirals. How many actual “Admirals” do you think we have? We’ve had this debate on UKDJ before. In my opinion, people complaining of too many senior officers have no idea of the myriad number of organisations in the RN that need at least 1 * representation, and the support organisations it takes to put military forces in the field. There are RN officers in Mod, Joint Forces Command ( or whatever it’s called this week), Head Office, DES, DIO, DI, NATO, and other places.… Read more »