Tag Archives: Standing NATO Maritime Group 1

Three Sisters

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How about this striking night shot of a recent transfer of fuel (RAS) from the Norwegian tanker and SNMG1 flagship HMoMS Maud (A530) to the British Type 23 frigate HMS Portland (F79) from the group of ships around the British carrier HMS Prince of Wales.

Photo: Danish Forsvaret

Of note, from July 2024 through January 2025, the Danish Navy has the leadership of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1)– with a Tactical Staff provided by the Swedish Navy.

Besides HMoMS Maud, shown above, the force includes the Danish frigates Absalon (F341) and Niels Juel (F363), the German Braunschweig (Type K130) class corvette FGS Magdeburg (F261), Dutch Karl Doorman-class frigate HNLMS Van Amstel (F831), the Portuguese Doorman NRP D. Francisco de Almeida (F334), and the Belgian Doorman BNS Louise-Marie (F931).

The Swedish corvette HSwMS Helsingborg, French frigate FS La Fayette, and old Tico USS Normandy also tapped in briefly, making for some great shots.

Three sisters under different flags: Francisco de Almeida (F334), HNLMS Van Amstel (F831), and BNS Louise-Marie (F931)

Three sisters under different flags: Francisco de Almeida (F334), HNLMS Van Amstel (F831), and BNS Louise-Marie (F931)

Three sisters under different flags: Francisco de Almeida (F334), HNLMS Van Amstel (F831), and BNS Louise-Marie (F931)

Three sisters under different flags: Francisco de Almeida (F334), HNLMS Van Amstel (F831), and BNS Louise-Marie (F931)

HMoMS Maud from HMS PoW

HMoMS Maud and Portuguese Doorman NRP D. Francisco de Almeida (F334)

French frigate FS La Fayette, and USS Normandy

The Danish-led naval force SNMG1 has in the past week carried out operations and exercises in the North Sea, the English Channel, and the Irish Sea. The Navy has been cooperating with the British aircraft carrier group centered around the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The force has also been deployed to monitor Russian naval activity in the area.

Flattops (and drones) Making Waves

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After what must have been a staggering yard period for the crew, the sixth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George Washington (CVN 73), has finally been redelivered to the Navy after 2,120 days at Newport News, wrapping up its mid-life refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). Importantly, the carrier also now has new C4ISR systems, radars, and upgrades for full F-35 capability.

The RCOH represents 35 percent of all maintenance and modernization in an aircraft carrier’s service life and GW was pulled offline in 2017 originally for what was scheduled to be a four-year yard event, which ran seven due to COVID, “supply chain issues” and the like.

NNS made sure to work in a victory lap, because, well, at least it’s over.

“Redelivering George Washington to the Navy is the end result of incredible teamwork between our shipbuilders, the CVN 73 crew, our government partners, and all of our suppliers,” said Todd West, NNS vice president, of in-service aircraft carrier programs. “George Washington has gone through a transformation and now returns to the fleet as a fully recapitalized ship, ready to support any mission and serve our nation for another 25 years.”

In related news, the first Ford-class supercarrier, CVN-78, just made the first visit by an American flattop to NATO member Norway in 65 years, escorted up the fjord by His Norwegian Majesty’s Ship (HNoMS) Roald Amundsen (F311) as the GRFCSG Surface Warfare Commander. Of course, this came during a scheduled meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Oslo.

The flagship USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the Oslo fjord for its first port call in Oslo, Norway, May 24, 2023. Gerald R. Ford is the first U.S. aircraft carrier to pull into Norway in more than 65 years. (US Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Glunt) Released.

This meant a round of community relations events and the opportunity to visit popular cultural and historical landmarks in Oslo, including the WWII War Sailors Monument near Akershus fortress.

They also got in some work with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. Besides CVN-78, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group consists of Carrier Strike Group 12, Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron 2, USS Normandy (CG 60), USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

Meanwhile, in Portugal, the navy is proceeding with the Plataforma Naval Multifuncional, a new drone mothership project.

The video, which shows a roughly 10,000-ton ish LPH-style vessel complete with a ski-jump and what looks like MQ-9B STOL drones, will be minimally manned but outfitted to launch and recover dozens of AUV, UUV, and USVs of assorted types along with helicopters and OTH-capable small boats. This is likely the future face of expeditionary naval aviation.

Speaking of which, the U.S. Navy just announced the first four “air vehicle pilots” completed flight training and earned their wings during a ceremony aboard NAS Pensacola on 25 May.

The four AVPs were winged at the National Naval Aviation Museum alongside a graduating class of Naval Flight Officers (NFO). The AVPs are the first service members authorized to wear the AVP warfare device.

The AVP warfare device is similar to traditional Naval Aviator wings but with an inverted delta displayed on a shield centered on two crossed anchors and flanked by wings. Service members qualified to wear this device will belong to a new community of aviation professionals who operate the MQ-25 Stingray and future UAVs. (Navy Photo by Ensign Elias Kaser).