Royal Navy’s HMS Enterprise concluded a year-long stint with NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 2, handing over the flagship role to German Navy tender FGS Rhein.
The Royal Navy survey ship concluded her deployment in a change of command ceremony in Souda Bay, Crete, on July 6.
Enterprise led SNMCMG2 as it trained with navies in the Mediterranean and Black Seas in both the art of hunting mines and disaster relief and search and rescue missions.
With a battle staff under Commander Justin Haines embarked, Enterprise has directed six major exercises, visited 40 ports, helped locate four WW2-era mines, worked with scientists to further the use of unmanned technology in finding objects underwater, and worked with around a dozen NATO and foreign navies.
Command of the mine warfare group is now with Fregattenkapitän Frank Maginsky and his flagship FGS Rhein .
“It has been an immense privilege to command a multi-national task force with outstanding people at its heart,” said SNMCMG2 Commander Justin Haines as the NATO flag was passed to the Deutsche Marine.
Enterprise is now preparing to return to the UK before the end of the month.