| Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1992–present |
| Allegiance |  North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Rear Admiral H. Ilker Avci, Turkish Navy |
Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standing maritime immediate reaction force. SNMG2 consists of four to six destroyers and frigates. Its role is to provide NATO with an immediate operational response capability. [1]
Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) was activated on 30 April 1992, at Naples, Italy. STANAVFORMED was the successor to the NATO Naval On-Call Force Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED) – which had been periodically activated for more than 20 years. [2]
During the 1990s, STANAVFORMED was heavily involved in Operation Maritime Monitor (July 1992 to November 1992), Operation Maritime Guard (November 1992 to June 1993) and Operation Sharp Guard (June 1993 to October 1996), the maritime embargo operations in the Adriatic Sea established to ensure compliance by Serbia and Montenegro with United Nations (UN) resolutions 713, 715, 787, 820 and 943. Between November 1992 and June 1996 some 74,000 ships were challenged, almost 6,000 were inspected at sea and more than 1,400 were diverted and inspected in port. [3]
On 6 October 2001, STANAVFORMED deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in support of Operation Active Endeavour, NATO's maritime contribution to prevent the movement of terrorists or weapons of mass destruction. [4]
The force was re-designated Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in January 2005. [5]
From June 2009 to August 2009 SNMG2 was deployed by NATO off the Somali coast to conduct Operation Allied Protector, to deter, defend and protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels against the threat of piracy and armed robbery, thereby allowing WFP to fulfill its mission of providing humanitarian aid. [6]
Since August 2009, SNMG2 has been providing ships for NATO's Operation Ocean Shield anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden. [7]
In 2019, SNMG2 was tasked with patrol of the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. [8] In 2021, SNMG2 took part in Exercise Sea Breeze 2021 in the Black Sea, co-hosted by the Ukrainian Navy and the United States Sixth Fleet. [9] [10]
As of 3 January 2025, SNMG2 consists of: [11]
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |  Rear Admiral H. Ilker Avci (January – ongoing) | TCG Kemalreis | Barbaros-class-class frigate | January – ongoing | January – ongoing |
As of 20 January 2024, SNMG2 consisted of: [11] [12] [13]
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |  Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito (January – July 1)  Commodore Matthew Coates (July 1 – December 3) Rear Admiral H. Ilker Avci (December 3 – ongoing) | ITS Carlo Bergamini | Carlo Bergamini-class destroyer | January – n/a | January – n/a |
| HMCS Charlottetown | Halifax-class frigate | July 1 – December 3 | July 1 – December 3 | ||
 ESPS Cristóbal Colón | Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate | July 1 – December 3 | n/a | ||
| TCG Yıldırım | Yavuz-class frigate frigate | July 1 – December 3 | n/a | ||
| TCG Kemalreis | Barbaros-class-class frigate | December 3 – ongoing | December 3 – ongoing |
As of 16 February 2023, SNMG2 consisted of: [11] [12] [13]
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |  Rear Admiral Michael Scott Sciretta (January – July)  Commodore Paul Stroude (July – December 7) Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito (December 7 – n/a) | USS James E. Williams | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer | January – July | January – July |
| ITS Carlo Margottini | Bergamini-class frigate | January – n/a | n/a | ||
| TCG Barbaros | Barbaros-class frigate | January – n/a | n/a | ||
 HS Psara | Hydra-class frigate | January – n/a | n/a | ||
| HMCS Fredericton | Halifax-class frigate | January – n/a | n/a | ||
| HMS Duncan | Type 45 Destroyer | July – December 7 | July – December 7 | ||
| ITS Carlo Bergamini | Carlo Bergamini-class destroyer | December 7 – n/a | December 7 – n/a |
In 2022, SNMG2 consisted of: [11]
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Rear Admiral Mauro Panebianco (January – July) Rear Admiral Michael Scott Sciretta (1 July – July 2023) | ITS Carlo Margottini | Bergamini-class frigate | January – July | January – July |
| TCG Göksu | Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate | January – April | n/a | ||
 FGS Lübeck | Bremen-class frigate | January – 1 June | n/a | ||
| ESPS Blas de Lezo | Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate | 22 January – 30 June | n/a | ||
 FS Auvergne | Aquitaine-class frigate | 22 February – May | n/a | ||
| HMS Trent | River-class offshore patrol vessel | February – March | n/a | ||
| HS Aegean | Elli-class frigate | March – | n/a | ||
| ITS Stromboli | Stromboli-class replenishment oiler | March – | n/a | ||
| HMCS Montréal | Halifax-class frigate | March – July | n/a | ||
| HMS Diamond | Type 45 destroyer | March – April | n/a | ||
| TCG Barbaros | Barbaros-class frigate | 24 March – 30 May | n/a | ||
| FS Alsace | Aquitaine-class frigate | 4 April – May | n/a | ||
| ESPS Cantabria | Replenishment oiler | 10 May – 26 June | n/a | ||
| FS Forbin | Horizon-class frigate | May – 16 June | n/a | ||
| FGS Bonn | Berlin-class replenishment ship | 29 May – June | n/a | ||
| TCG Salihreis | Barbaros-class frigate | 30 May – July | n/a | ||
| FS Provence | Aquitaine-class frigate | 16 June – 31 July | n/a | ||
| USS Forrest Sherman | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer | 1 July – 13 December | 1 July – 13 December | ||
| TCG Kemalreis | Barbaros-class frigate | 1 July – September | n/a | ||
| ITS Vulcano | Logistic support ship | 14 July – 28 July | n/a | ||
| HS Kountouriotis | Kortenaer-class frigate | 20 July – August | n/a | ||
| ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón | Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate | 24 July – 6 September | n/a | ||
| FS Languedoc | Aquitaine-class frigate | 31 July – 6 September | n/a | ||
| FGS Bonn | Berlin-class replenishment ship | 16 August – September | n/a | ||
| ITS Antonio Marceglia | Bergamini-class frigate | 21 August – September | n/a | ||
| ESPS Cristóbal Colón | Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate | 13 September – 30 November | n/a | ||
| TCG Gemlik | G-class frigate | September – December | n/a | ||
| FS Provence | Aquitaine-class frigate | September – December | n/a | ||
| ITS Alpino | Bergamini-class frigate | September – December | n/a | ||
| USS James E. Williams | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer | 13 December – July 2023 | 13 December – July 2023 | ||
In 2021, SNMG2 consisted of: [11]
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 [14] | Rear Admiral Stefano Russo | ESPS Cristóbal Colón | Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate | January – March | January – March |
| Brandenburg | Brandenburg-class frigate | January – February | n/a | ||
| HS Machitis | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | January – February | n/a | ||
| HS Simeoforos Simitzopoulos | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | January – February | n/a | ||
| HS Armatolos | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | January – February | n/a | ||
| HS Plotarchis Maridakis | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | January – February | n/a | ||
| TCG Türkeli | Tuzla-class patrol boat | January – March May – August | n/a | ||
| Patiño | Replenishment oiler | January – February | n/a | ||
| ITS Virginio Fasan | Carlo Bergamini-class frigate | February – March | n/a | ||
| TCG Kemalreis | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | February – May | n/a | ||
| HS Kountouriotis | Kortenaer-class frigate | February – March | n/a | ||
| HS Navmachos | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | February – March | n/a | ||
| HS Xenos | Fast attack craft | February – March | n/a | ||
| HS Tolmi | Asheville-class gunboat | February – May | n/a | ||
| FGS Werra | Replenishment oiler | February – August | n/a | ||
| TCG Karaburn | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | March – May | n/a | ||
 Regina Maria | Type 22 frigate | March – April | n/a | ||
 Smeli | Frigate | March – April | n/a | ||
| ESPS Méndez Núñez | Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate | April – August | April – August | ||
| HS Kasos | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | May – August | n/a | ||
| HS Aittitos | Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat | May – August | n/a | ||
| HS Degiannis | Fast attack craft | May – August | n/a | ||
| FGS Lübeck | Bremen-class frigate | May – September | n/a | ||
| TCG Kumkale | Tuzla-class patrol boat | June – August | n/a | ||
| HMS Kent | Type 23 frigate | June – August | n/a | ||
| ITS Virginio Fasan | Carlo Bergamini-class frigate | August – December | August – December | ||
| ESPS Cantabria | Replenishment oiler | August – October | n/a | ||
| TCG Gökçeada | Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate | September – December | n/a | ||
| FGS Spessart | Rhön-class tanker | September – December | n/a | ||
| ITS Carlo Margottini | Carlo Bergamini-class frigate | December – July 2022 | December – July 2022 | ||
SNMG2 is a component of the NATO Response Force (NRF). [15]
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