A NATO task group has sailed into New York Harbour to participate in the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Having spent the first half of the previous month carrying out anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills on Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 26, ships making up Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) recently sailed into the iconic American city’s harbour ahead of the International Naval Review (INR) 250 and New York Fleet Week.
These week-long events, which began yesterday (Thursday), are helping to mark the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary and demonstrate the enduring cooperation between North America and European nations in the alliance.
Commander SNMG1, Royal Navy Commodore Maryla Ingham, remarked: “Standing NATO Maritime Group One’s participation in INR250 and New York Fleet Week reflects the strength and unity of NATO’s maritime forces.
“Sailing as a task group of six multinational ships, we demonstrate every day that the alliance’s greatest advantage is its cohesion, as nations work seamlessly together towards shared values and security.
“Engaging with partners and the public also underlines our commitment to transparency, cooperation, and the enduring transatlantic bond that underpins NATO.”
German frigate Sachsen is the current flagship of SNMG1; the other ships making up the group are Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen, Belgian frigate BNS Leopold I, Dutch frigate HNLMS Van Amstel, and Turkish frigate TCG Oruçreis, as well as Dutch combat support ship HNLMS Den Helder.
As per a press statement from Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), during the INR250 celebrations, public tours will be available aboard several participating ships, including the Dutch and German frigates.
SNMG1 is one of four mission-ready NATO fleets falling under MARCOM, which is headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom, and acts as the central command of all NATO maritime forces. SNMG1 operates mainly in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.
- You can read more details on the MARCOM website