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NATO Exercises: New SNMG1 Flagship Completes its First Port Visit
By Commander Chris Dickinson
Between 23-30 January 2006, Canadian destroyer HMCS Athabaskan conducted a port visit to Kiel, Germany where she assumed her new role as the Flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group-1 (SNMG11). Since then, the force has consisted of five ships from Canada, Germany, Poland, Portugal, and the United States. These vessels are HMCS Athabskan, FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, ORP General Kazimierz Pulaski, NRP Vasco Da Gama, and USS Simpson.
The visit to Kiel was special in many ways. It was the force’s reassembly point after Christmas dispersal, it was ORP General Kazimierz Pulaski’s first port of call as first Polish ship to join the force on a fulltime basis. Also, it was the homeport of the out-going force commander, Rear Admiral Wolfgang Kalahne and the spot chosen for the turnover of the force to its new Canadian Commander, Commodore Denis Rouleau.
It was an extremely busy week for the thousand plus sailors, marines, soldiers and airmen of SNMG11. After arriving alongside, things quickly got underway as the German and Canadian staffs started their turnovers. Meanwhile, the five international staff officers representing Germany the Netherlands Portugal Spain and the United Kingdom made themselves comfortable in their new home on board HMCS Athabaskan.
Two days later, everything had been prepared for the operational change of command ceremony held in Kiel Naval Station’s gym. Many distinguished dignitaries attended the ceremony, including General Wolfgang Schneiderhan, the Chief of Staff German Armed Forces and Vice-Admiral Glenn Davidson, Canadian Military Representative to NATO. The parade opened with a surprise, as the Squadron Operations Officer, Commander Gunnar Wolff, was promoted to his new rank in front of the assembly. In his address to the parade, Gen. Schneiderhan highlighted the importance of NATO in maintaining peace in Europe during the Cold War. As a native of Kiel, out-going Commander RAdm Kalahne recognized the importance of the city of Kiel, and thanked his crews and staff for their magnificent work over the past 10 months of his command tenure.
Commodore Rouleau commenced his first address saying he was committed to ensuring that SNMG11 was ready to respond to its tasks.
“As I assume command of this naval formation of multinational units, I do so with the firm intention of bringing it to its highest level of operational capabilities, and to stand ready to respond to the multitude of possible tasks likely expected of us,” he said.
Finally, the commodore completed his speech with a touching tribute to his crews and the loved ones they have left behind to sail with the force.
A few days after the ceremony, the force set sail for Danish naval exercise (SQUADEX 05-06), which will give new ships their first opportunity to integrate into the SNMG-1 environment through a series of maritime warfare exercises.
Commander Chris Dickinson is a Squadron Public Affairs Officer with SNMG1.
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