NATO
Allied Maritime Command
July 29, 2022

NATO Ships train with U.S. Navy Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group

Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 2 and the U.S. Navy’s Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) augmented by Italian Navy frigate ITS Alpino (F 594) conducted joint maritime and air defence exercises on July 24 while operating in the Mediterranean Sea.

The collaboration demonstrated the interoperable and interchangeable capabilities and strength of NATO’s maritime force.

SNMG2 is a maritime task group comprised of ships from various NATO-member nations…and is embarked aboard SNMG2’s flagship through June 2023, U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98).

…In the weeks since assuming command, the ships of SNMG2 have included Forrest Sherman, Italian Navy guided-missile frigate ITS Martinengo (F 596), Italian Navy logistic support ship ITS Vulcano (A 5335), Turkish Navy frigate TCG Kemalreis (F-247), German Navy replenishment ship FGS Bonn (A1413), Spanish Navy air-defense frigate ESPS Almirante Juan De Borbon (F-102), French Navy frigate FS Provence (D-652) and Hellenic Navy frigate HS Kountouriotis (F-462). The activities include replenishments at sea, warfare development exercises, international aircraft cross-deck landings….

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HSTCSG had the opportunity to participate with several of the nations represented within SNMG2 through a myriad of exercises and activities to include Neptune Strike 22, Iniochos 22, and Neptune Shield 22.

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is the flagship of the HSTCSG. Strike group elements include the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 and guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 28, which have included: USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) in addition to the cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56).

Photo: NATO Allied Maritime Command