Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 to visit and exercise with the Finnish Navy

Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) visits Turku 25 - 27 April 2022. After the visit the SNMCMG1 will participate in an exercise lead by the Coastal Fleet in the Archipelago Sea 28 - 29 April 2022. The exercise prepares the Katanpää-class Mine Hunters for the upcoming NRF readiness rotation activities.

SNMCMG1 vessels arriving in Turku are LVNS Virsaitis, ENS Sakala and HNLMS Schiedam. The vessels will not be open to public.

The visit will be concluded with Passing Exercise (PASSEX), which has a focus on mine countermeasures and seamanship. The PASSEX aims at training participants in operating in a multinational framework. The Finnish participants from Coastal Fleet are Katanpää-class Mine Hunters Purunpää and Vahterpää and 4th Mine Countermeasures Squadron Staff.

The exercise also enhances the execution of Katanpää-class Mine Hunters' NRF readiness rotation year 2022.

- For this year's NRF readiness rotation, the plans include, among other things, participating in the exercise BALTOPS in June. For Mine Hunter Purunpää, which will participate in BALTOPS, practicing together with the SNMCMG1 vessels now, is valuable preparation for the upcoming exercise, says Coastal Fleet's Chief of Staff, Commander Mikko Villikari.