View source for Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1

{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1
| image                         = Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1.jpg
| caption                       = 
| dates                         = 1973–present
| allegiance                    = {{nowrap|{{flagicon|NATO}} [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]]}}
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| disbanded                     = <!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = Commander Erik Kockx, [[Belgian Navy]]
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}}
'''Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1''' ('''SNMCMG1''') is a [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organisation]] (NATO) standing [[Minesweeping|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 at [[Ostend]] on 11 May 1973, the unit was initially called '''Standing Naval Force Channel''' (STANAVFORCHAN).<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>

STANAVFORCHAN and her sister force [[Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2|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 [[Minehunter|minehunters]] and [[Minesweeper|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 North Western Europe (MCMFORNORTH) and from 1 January 2005 it became Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1.<ref name=till/>

==Current ships==
[[File:Ships of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 in Geirangerfjord, Norway, 9 March 2022 (220309-O-NO101-1001).JPG|thumb|SNMCMG1 in Gerangerfjord, Norway, 9 March 2022.]]
SNMCMG1 consists of:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mc.nato.int/snmcmg1.aspx |title=Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) |website=Allied Maritime Command |accessdate=3 January 2025}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Netherlands}} (Flagship) [[Hydrography|hydrographic]] [[Survey ship|survey vessel]] [[HNLMS Luymes (A803)|HNLMS ''Luymes'']]
* {{flagicon|Germany}} {{sclass|Frankenthal|minehunter|1}} {{ship|German minehunter|Datteln||2}}
* {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Tripartite-class minehunter#Netherlands|''Alkmaar''-class minehunter]] {{HNLMS|Schiedam|M860}}
* {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Koster-class mine countermeasures vessel|''Koster'' class]] {{HSwMS|Ulvön|M77}}
* {{flagicon|Norway}} {{sclass|Oksøy|mine hunter|1}} {{HNoMS|Hinnøy|M343}}

== See also ==
*[[Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2]]
*[[Standing NATO Maritime Group 1]]
*[[Standing NATO Maritime Group 2]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://mc.nato.int/snmcmg1}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.mcm.mw.mil.pl |title=SNMCMG1 deployment 2013 |website=[[Polish Navy]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201171136/http://www.mcm.mw.mil.pl/ |archive-date=1 February 2014}}

{{NATO}}

[[Category:Military units and formations of NATO]]