Standing NATO Maritime Group One
Norway regularly contributes vessels and personnel to Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), most recently in autumn 2022.
The maritime group is part of the NATO Response Force, which is the Alliance's most important tool for rapid response when crises or situations occur anywhere in the world. The NATO's maritime forces consist of two frigate and destroyer forces, and two standing minehunter forces.
The Norwegian contribution
In autumn 2022, Norway contributed two vessels to the force: the logistics and support vessel KNM Maud and the frigate KNM Roald Amundsen. The remainder of the force consisted of the Dutch support ship HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833), the Portuguese frigate NRP Corte-Real (F332), and the British frigate HMS Lancaster.
Together, the force patrolled and conducted surveillance across Northern Europe – from Portugal to Bergen and the Baltic Sea, depending on operational requirements.
KNM Maud departed Bergen on 12 August 2022 to join the force and remained deployed until late November/early December. KNM Maud is scheduled to contribute to the force annually in the years ahead, as the vessel enables sustained operations over longer periods. The ship is capable of conducting underway replenishment of fuel and the transfer of provisions, water and various types of equipment.
Bakground information
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NATO's standing maritime forces consist of two frigate and destroyer forces (Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 and 2), and two mine countermeasures groups (Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 and 2)
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 was established in 1968 under the name Standing Naval Force Atlantic. The maritime force got its current name in 2005. The maritime force has had participants from most of NATO's member countries, but the number of units sailing in the group at any given time has varied.
The force commander is under the commando of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Day-to-day operations are delegated to NATO's Maritime Command in Northwood, UK.
