Spain assumes the command of the NATO MCM group SNMCMG2

snmcmg2
Handover ceremony (Cource: NATO MARCOM)

In a ceremony in June, Captain Javier Nuñez de Prado Aparicio of the Spanish Navy assumed command of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) from Commander Gregory Guiran of the French Navy in Cartagena, Spain, NATO Maritime Command announced.

SNMCMG2 has been under French command for the first time since April 2021 with FS Somme as the flagship.

“During this mission, my aim has been to maintain a high state of operational readiness in order to fulfil the range of missions assigned to SNMCMG2 and provide MARCOM with a continuous capability to fulfil NATO Immediate Response Force requirements,” said Guiran.

Capt. Nuñez de Prado will command the Group from the new flagship, the Spanish offshore patrol vessel, Rayo. “It is an immense honour, but also a great responsibility to assume command of the Standing NATO MCM Group Two which must be ready to respond to any contingency situation,” said Núñez de Prado.

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ESPS Rayo (MARCOM image)

The French Navy had assumed the command of SNMCMG2 from Turkey on 28 April. This was the first time that a French captain commanded the MCM group.

Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) are one of the four standing maritime forces composed of ships from various Allied countries. These vessels provide a continuous maritime capability in the Mediterranean Sea for NATO to perform different tasks ranging from partnership building and enhancing NATO relationships to being able to conduct high-intensity warfare. The Standing Naval Forces are visible demonstrations of Alliance capability.

Check out Naval Library App to find out the specifications of SNMCMG2 ships.

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