Between 20 and 23rd September the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) made a port visit in Istanbul. The task force consisting of The flagship ESPS Rayo, Turkish minehunter TCG Edincik and Italian minehunter ITS Viareggio were berthed at the Sarayburnu quay. After this short break, the task force sailed through Istanbul and entered... Continue Reading →
Nusret 2020 Mine Warfare Exercise
While searching for the training mine Spanish mine hunter ESPS Duero found this old English mine from World War 1. Nusret 2020 mine countermeasures exercise will end tomorrow. Nusret is an annual invitation exercise focusing on mine warfare. The exercise is named after the famous minelayer Nusret. In even years the exercise is held in... Continue Reading →
Doğu Akdeniz Naval Exercise 2019
Doğu Akdeniz 2019 -Eastern Mediterranean- naval exercise has started in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The biannual exercise is organized by the Turkish Navy will be held between 9 and 20 November 2019. This year 16 nations are taking part in this exercise by various means. Some are sending observers (Azerbaijan, Brazil, Georgia, Italy, Qatar, Kuwait,... Continue Reading →
Nusret 2019 Mine Warfare Exercise
Nusret 2019 mine countermeasures exercise will end tomorrow. Nusret is an annual invitation exercise focusing mine warfare. The exercise is named after the famous minelayer Nusret. In even years the exercise is held in İzmir Bay and in odd years it is held in Çanakkale and Saros Bay. The aim of the exercise is to... Continue Reading →
NATO SNMCMG-2 In Batumi And In Piraeus
A part of the UK led NATO mine warfare task force Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 arrived in Batumi Georgia on 3rd November for a port visit. The NATO delegation led by Vice Admiral Bléjean, the Deputy Commander of the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) held meeting with Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Mgebrishvili. According... Continue Reading →
NATO Maps The Pattern Of Life In The Med
NATO Maritime Command has started a focused operation to map, patterns of life in the Mediterranean. This focused operation is led by Captain Emre Sezenler, Commodore of 2. Destroyer Flotilla of Turkish Navy and TCG Gaziantep acts as his flagship. Italian frigate ITS Aviere and Greek frigate HS Navarinon are the other components of this task... Continue Reading →
From The Archive (20)
Italian helicopter cruiser, C-550 ITS Vittorio Veneto in Istanbul. She visited Istanbul a few times before being decommissioned in 2003. I have no date for this photo but it looks like late 1990's.
TCG Enez In Italian Minex 2015
M-262 TCG Enez, Engin class mine hunter from Turkish Navy is taking part in Italian mine warfare exercise Italian Minex 2015 as part of NATO SNMCMG-2. The training involves all the staff and facilities of the strength of mine countermeasures based in La Spezia and forces European and NATO mine countermeasures, including Spain, Germany, France,... Continue Reading →
SNMG-2 Arrives In Varna
The ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2) arrived to-day to the Bulgarian port Varna. There is a very strong north wind in the Black Sea throughout the weekend and I think the sailors are happy to be in a port in this weather. According to the excellent Bulgarian blog SeaDog, the flagship... Continue Reading →
From The Archive (6)
This is Italian warship D-551 ITS Audace. Armed with a 127mm main gun 4 76mm secondary guns, Sea Sparrow and SM-1 Standard anti-air missiles and Otomat anti ship missiles she was a deadly ship. This photo is probably taken in 1992.
