Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) participated in the Norwegian exercise ARCTIC DOLPHIN during the period 6-17 February. ARCTIC DOLPHIN is an annual exercise for surface units and submarines to train together in the field of anti-submarine warfare and sharpen operational skills. The exercise offers the rich opportunity to train under the most demanding conditions along the Norwegian coast and in the fjords. The exercise involved a series of individual serials that increased in difficulty and complexity as the exercise progressed, pushing the operators to the limit both above and below the water to test and build their skills.
There is hardly a greater challenge and opportunity for submarine commanders or Commanding Officers of participating surface units to practice anti-submarine warfare,” said Rear Admiral Thorsten Marx, Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1).
It was not only operational capabilities that have been further expanded and optimized during the two weeks of training. The exercise also sent a strong signal in terms of multinational cooperation. With participating units from Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Poland, this year’s ARCTIC DOLPHIN has been a gathering of friends and allies, demonstrating cohesion and good seamanship both internally and externally. SNMG 1 is one of four standing maritime task groups composed of ships from various Allied countries.
Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) is one of NATO’s standing naval maritime immediate reaction forces. SNMG1 consists of four to six destroyers and frigates. Its role is to provide NATO with an immediate operational response capability. These task groups form the core maritime capability of NATO’s VJTF and provide a continuous maritime capability to execute NATO missions across the spectrum of operations, demonstrating solidarity and strengthening diplomatic and professional links among Allied naval forces.
