Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) standing mine countermeasures immediate reaction force. Its role is to provide NATO with an immediate operational response capability.[1]
North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationcommanderCommander Kacper Sterne, Polish Navy
| Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Active | 1973–present |
| Allegiance | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander Kacper Sterne, Polish Navy |
History
From its activation at Ostend on 11 May 1973, the unit was initially called Standing Naval Force Channel (STANAVFORCHAN).[2]
STANAVFORCHAN and her sister force Mine Counter Measures Force Mediterranean (MCMFORMED) 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 1,041 square nautical miles (3,570 km2; 1,379 sq mi).[3]
From 3 September 2001 it was known as the Mine Countermeasures Force North Western Europe (MCMFORNORTH) and from 1 January 2005 it became Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1.[2]
Current ships
In 2026, SNMCMG1 consisted of:[4]
Ships in bold are currently part of the naval force
| Year | Commander | Ship | Type | Part of task force | Flagship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |  Commander Kacper Sterne (January – ongoing) |
ORP Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki |
Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki-class logistical support vessel | January – ongoing | January – ongoing |
 FGS Fulda |
Frankenthal-class minehunter | January - ongoing | n/a | ||
 HNLMS Schiedam |
Alkmaar-class minehunter | January - ongoing | n/a |