Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Cameron Stoner | 190906-N-UB406-0175 HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (Sept. 06, 2019) Royal Canadian Navy sailors...... read more read more
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia —Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) forces visited Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sept. 5 to Sept. 6 as part of a scheduled visit prior to beginning exercise Cutlass Fury 2019.
SNMG1 includes the flagship U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101), the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl (F-314), the Belgian Navy frigate Leopold I (F930), the Portuguese Navy frigate NRP D. Francisco de Almeida (F334), and the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Van Speijk (F 828).
“It was a pleasure for SNMG1 to visit Halifax as we prepared to participate in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) hosted exercise Cutlass Fury 2019,” said Rear Adm. Edward Cashman, commander, SNMG1. “SNMG1’s primary mission is to deter conflict and preserve security by serving as the core maritime contribution to NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). The group provides NATO with maritime capability to quickly respond to crisis or contingency where needed. Our participation in Cutlass Fury supports that mission by enabling us to build and maintain readiness across the spectrum of operations and giving us the opportunity to integrate with the RCN so that we could quickly respond and operate together if needed. We appreciate the warm welcome we received from the people of Halifax, we only wish that our visit could have been longer.”
Due to the potential weather conditions in Halifax Harbour based on the impact of Hurricane Dorian, most of the ships participating in Cutlass Fury 2019 departed port two days earlier than planned. Going to sea and maneuvering to avoid weather generally reduces the risk of damage to ships and equipment.
SNMG1 participated in several events during the group’s short time in Halifax, including a reception hosted by the Royal Canadian Navy aboard the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ville De Quebec (FFH 332) on Thursday, Sept. 5 and planning meetings for the exercise held prior to the ships’ departures on Friday, Sept. 6.
“It was exciting to see the Halifax regional municipality and the Canadian navy on the east coast essentially ‘show off’ to quite a number of sailors and ships who are all part of a close alliance,” said Royal Canadian navy Lt. Cmdr. Allan Wilson, the staff above water warfare officer for SNMG1. “This visit was an opportunity for the city, people and our forces to appreciate the value of having us here. The east coast is known for its tremendous hospitality and it was on full display during our time here. As a Canadian, I’m really proud of the work they put in to creating a great port visit.”
SNMG1 is one of four standing maritime task groups composed of ships from various Allied countries. These task groups form the core maritime capabilities of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). They provide a continuous maritime capability to execute NATO missions across the spectrum of operations, demonstrate solidarity, and strengthen diplomatic and professional links among Allied naval forces.
| Date Taken: | 09.06.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2019 09:06 |
| Story ID: | 338944 |
| Location: | HALIFAX, NS, CA |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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