Germany takes over command of SNMCMG1

German Navy Commander Martin Schwarz has acceded his Royal Netherlands Navy colleague, Commander Peter A.J. Bergen Henegouwen as commander of Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1).

The handover ceremony was led by NATO Allied Maritime Command’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Commodore Arian Minderhoud, in Kiel Harbour, Germany, January 21. The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the German Navy, Rear Admiral Georg von Maltzahn.

Commodore Arian Minderhoud, NATO Allied Maritime Command’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations said: “Mine Counter Measures and the ability to counter the mine threat are at the heart of NATO’s maritime operations. Commander Peter Bergen Henegouwen, you and your team have done an excellent job in commanding SNMCMG1 over the last 12 month. Peter, you can look back at a successful command of SNMCMG1.”

SNMCMG1 has been commanded by Commander Peter Bergen Henegouwen since January 2015.

Upon completion of the change of command ceremony, the new flagship of SNMCMG1 is FGS Donau, an ELBE-class replenishment ship, or tender.

Under German command, the Group will continue to play an integral role in support of sustained assurance measures, operational support and exercise participation.

Another German ship has become a NATO flagship earlier this month. Namely, the combat support ship EGV Bonn will be at the helm of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 during the next six months. EGV Bonn is expected to return to Wilhelmshaven, Germany at the end of June, 2016.

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