Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2

{{Infobox military unit | unit_name = Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 | image = SNMCMG2 CoA.svg | caption = | dates = 1999–present | allegiance = {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NATO}} North Atlantic Treaty Organization}} | command_structure = | garrison = | garrison_label = | colors = | colors_label = | march = | battles = | anniversaries = | decorations = | battle_honours = | disbanded =  | commander1 = Captain Dimitrios Karamoutzogiannis, Hellenic Navy | commander1_label = | commander2 = | commander2_label = }} '''Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2''' ('''SNMCMG2''') is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standing mine countermeasures Immediate Reaction Force. Its role is to provide NATO with an immediate operational response capability.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mc.nato.int/missions/maritime-groups|title=Maritime Groups|publisher=NATO|accessdate=20 December 2019}}</ref>

==History== From its activation on 27 May 1999, the unit was initially called '''Standing Mine Countermeasures Force''' (in the) '''Mediterranean''' (MCMFORMED).<ref name=till>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xClEDQAAQBAJ&q=NATO+Mine+Countermeasures+Group+2+1999&pg=PA136|title=International Order at Sea: How it is challenged. How it is maintained|page=136|first1= Jo Inge |last1=Bekkevold|first2= Geoffrey |last2=Till|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2016|isbn=978-1137586629}}</ref>

MCMFORMED and her sister force Mine Counter Measures Force North Western Europe (MCMFORNORTH) were tasked in June 1999 to operate in the Adriatic Sea to clear ordnance jettisoned during Operation Allied Force. The combined force comprised 11 minehunters and minesweepers and a support ship. The operation, named Allied Harvest, began on 9 June 1999. Search activities began three days later and lasted 73 days. In total, 93 pieces of ordnance were located and cleared in the nine areas which encompassed {{convert|1,041|nmi2|lk=in}}.<ref name=gs>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/allied-harvest.htm|title=Operation Allied Harvest|publisher=Global Security|accessdate=20 December 2019}}</ref>

From 3 September 2001 it was known as the Mine Countermeasures Force South (MCMFORSOUTH) and from 1 January 2005 it became Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2.<ref name=till/>

==Current ships== In 2026, SNMCMG2 consisted of:<ref name="natolist">{{cite web |url=https://mc.nato.int/snmcmg2 |title=Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two |website=NATO: Allied Maritime Command |access-date=24 February 2026}}</ref> {{legend|#cbcefb|Previous flagship}} {{legend|#969dfa|Current flagship}} Ships in '''bold''' are currently part of the naval force {| class="wikitable" |- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#9b9b9b;" ! Year ! Commander ! Ship ! Type ! Part of task force ! Flagship |- | rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | 2026 | rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|Greece}}<br />Captain <br />Dimitrios Karamoutzogiannis<br />(January – ongoing) | style="background-color:#969dfa;" | {{flagicon|Greece}} '''HS ''Heracles (A472)''''' | style="background-color:#969dfa;" | ''Atlas''-class general support ship | style="background-color:#969dfa;" | January 8 – ongoing | style="background-color:#969dfa;" | January 8 – ongoing |- | {{flagicon|Turkey}} '''TCG ''Anamur (M269)''''' | ''Aydin'' class minehunter | January - ongoing | n/a |- | {{flagicon|France}} '''FS ''Capricorne (M653)''''' | ''Éridan'' class minehunter | March - ongoing | n/a |- | {{flagicon|Italy}} '''ITS ''Chioggia (M5560)''''' | ''Gaeta'' class minehunter | January - ongoing | n/a |- | {{flagicon|Spain}} '''SPS ''Tambre (M33)''''' | ''Segura'' class minehunter | March - ongoing | n/a |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.mc.nato.int/org/smg/Pages/SNMCMG2.aspx SNMCMG2 official web page]

Category:Military units and formations of NATO Category:Greece and NATO Category:Germany and NATO Category:Italy and NATO Category:Spain and NATO Category:Turkey and NATO