Image of the Defense Forces.
Today, the Estonian Navy minesweeper EML Ugandi was sent from Minesada to the international military operation as part of NATO’s first permanent mine countermeasures group.
“Preparations for this assignment began exactly one year ago. It has been an incredibly challenging time and not always everything has gone according to plan, but today we finally set sail with calm hearts, knowing that we are firmly prepared for whatever comes our way The flag will be held high,” said Ugandan EML commander Captain Major Janno Lauri.
Before departure, the ship’s entire crew lined up so family members and loved ones could say goodbye and send the Marines on a six-month operation. A team of more than 30 people will return home this summer.
After the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, NATO’s rapid reaction force was brought to a higher level of readiness. Thus, the participation of the Estonian Navy in the first NATO permanent mine countermeasures group was transformed into an international military operation, that is, into a NATO collective self-defense operation.
Since 2005, Estonia has contributed to NATO’s first permanent mine countermeasures group with both personnel ships and minesweepers. Last year, the naval minesweeper EML Sakala joined the NATO Mine Countermeasures Group, and for the second time Estonians also manned the positions of the group’s staff and commander.
As one of four ship groups under NATO Maritime Command, Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) is a readiness unit that provides mine countermeasures expertise and is tasked with being among the first to respond quickly . The group is mainly composed of ships with mine countermeasures capabilities from allied countries and participates in large-scale drills and exercises of various countries.
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2024-01-10 17:11:01
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