Courtesy Photo | ITS Viareggio sits at anchor in front of Jeddah. (Photo 2nd Lt. Gianpiero Sanna ITA...... read more read more
NAPLES, Italy - Following a month-long transit from the Suez Canal, the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 has entered into the Persian Gulf on Operation INAS BAHR (Friendly Seas) where it will spend a month engaged in activities aimed at promoting practical military cooperation in the spirit of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative as well as fostering closer links with regional navies and other maritime organisations.
“It has been a slow but steady transit but we have not wasted our time at sea,” said Greek Navy Capt. Georgios Pelekanakis, commander of SNMCMG2. “We have put ourselves through a tough programme of exercises both to maintain and improve our skills. Formation maneuver, damage control, helicopter medevac and response to asymmetrical attacks have all been perfected while in transit. The ships entering the Gulf today are welded into a tight group and are fully ready to carry out their mission.”
A part of the stated mission of the Group is to demonstrate the ability of this NATO force to sustain deployment at strategic distance. “We are poised to execute our mission. The planners are still finalizing our activities, but we are going to be busy – even going into port is important as it is there that we will strengthen our ties with the local navy and authorities,” said Pelekanakis.
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2011 07:18 |
| Story ID: | 66614 |
| Location: | NAPLES, IT |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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