Composition of the Force varies as naval units are provided by NATO contributing nations on a rotational basis while Command of the Force rotates amongst Nations. COM SNMG2 currently is Commodore Steve Chick, UK Navy. He reports to the Commander of Allied Maritime Component Command Naples, one of the three Component Commands of Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

Mission

NATO has two Standing Maritime Groups (SNMGs) and two Standing Mine Countermeasure Groups  (SNMCMGs). The Groups provide the Alliance with a continuous maritime capability for NATO Response Force (NRF) operations, non-NRF operations and other activities in peacetime and periods of crisis and conflict. The primary role of these Forces, as standing elements of their respective NRF, is the full integration and participation in the NRF, providing maritime support to operations.

Other missions that are applicable to both SNMGs and SNMCMGs include establishing Alliance presence, demonstrating solidarity, conducting routine diplomatic visits to member, partner and non-NATO countries, supporting transformation and providing a variety of maritime military capabilities to ongoing missions.

Background

SNMG2 is the successor of NATO’s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) which was activated on 30 April 1992, in Naples, Italy,  to provide a continuous maritime presence and thus a constant and visible reminder of the solidarity and cohesiveness of the Alliance.         

STANAVFORMED was the natural successor to the NATO Naval On-Call Force Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED) - which had been periodically activated during twenty years.                  

SNMG2 assumed its role on 1 January 2005, when new names and missions were allocated to NATO's maritime Immediate Reaction Forces, to make them part of the NRF. When not required for specific NRF tasks, the NATO Standing Naval Groups carry out similar activities as they had been doing under their old titles.

Operations

On 11 July 1992 the Force was directed to deploy to the Ionian Sea to be prepared for possible future operations, with reference to a NATO Ministerial decision to assist the monitoring of compliance with United Nations resolutions 713 and 757.
The North Atlantic Council decided on 15 July 1992 that NATO monitoring operations were to commence at 0800 local time on 16 July, when the first units of STANAVFORMED entered the Adriatic Sea to begin participating in NATO’s Operation MARITIME MONITOR. The Force was temporarily relieved by STANAVFORLANT in this operation on 9-26 September, to conduct the change of command, complete ship turnovers and conduct Force work-ups.
From 22 November 1992 to 15 June 1993 the force participated in Operation MARITIME GUARD which was the NATO contribution towards the enforcement of the UN embargoes on the former Yugoslavia. The operation was conducted in coordination with the WEU Operation SHARP FENCE.

On 15 June 1993 these two operations were merged in the combined NATO/WEU operation SHARP GUARD. Part of the Force visited the port of Haifa, from 16-22 November 1993. STANAVFORMED continued to conduct embargo enforcement operations until 18 June 1996, when the UN arms embargo against the Former Yugoslavia was terminated. Since then, STANAVFORMED remained ready to resume SHARP GUARD operations at short notice, should UN sanctions be re-established, until all embargoes were terminated on 1 October 1996. From 22 November 1992 – when enforcement operations began - to 18 June 1996, NATO and WEU Forces challenged over 70,000 vessels. Of these, over 7,000 were boarded and inspected or diverted to a port for inspection. After the UN authorized enforcement actions in April 1993 no ship was able to break the maritime embargoes.

STANAVFORMED deployed to the Adriatic Sea on 14 October 98 as part of NATO’s preparations for possible operations in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Following the signature of agreements under which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia committed to comply with requests from the international community, the Force was eventually authorised to resume normal duties. Because of the renewed violence in Kosovo, the North Atlantic Council decided, on 20 January 1999, to take measures to increase the capability of NATO forces to conduct air operations against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Among these measures, STANAVFORMED was ordered to deploy to the Adriatic Sea to increase Alliance presence in the area and provide evidence of NATO’s resolve. With termination of the air operation Allied Force, on 20 June 1999, STANAVFORMED returned to its normal peacetime duties, whilst remaining ready to support continuing NATO’s operations.

Following the North Atlantic Council’s decision on implementation of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty as a consequence of the 11 September 2001 attacks against the United States, STANAVFORMED was withdrawn from Exercise DESTINED GLORY 2001 on 6 October 2001 and deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to conduct Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR, NATO’s maritime contribution to the fight against terrorism. Since then STANAVFORMED and later SNMG2 participated in and supported Operation Active Endeavour whenever required.

In October 2008, at request of the United Nations, SNMG2 was deployed off the Somali coast to conduct Operation ALLIED PROVIDER, to deter, defend and protect World Food Program (WFP) vessels against the threat of piracy and armed robbery, thereby allowing WFP to fulfil its mission of providing humanitarian aid to Somalia.

Until 12 December 2008, the NATO Task Force provided close protection to WFP chartered ships, thereby assuring the safe delivery of  30,000 metric tons of humanitarian aid, and conducted deterrence patrols in the areas most  susceptible to criminal acts against merchant shipping. During the operation, which involved more than 1000 sailors  from the contributing Nations, over 34000 miles were covered and ships helicopter conducted more than 150 flying hours of surveillance. The anti-piracy tasking was eventually resumed with Operation Allied Protector, conducted by SNMG1.

In June 2009, after a decision by the NATO Defence Ministers to continue operation Allied Protector off the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden, SNMG2 was tasked to deploy to the operational area to replace SNMG1.

Exercises

SNMG2 routinely participates in major NATO exercises and, by invitation, in a number of exercises hosted by allied and partner nations.