Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group Two In Istanbul

The Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group Two arrived in Istanbul on 24 March 2017. The task group had made her northbound passage through the city 20 days before.

During this 20 days the task force first took part in Poseidon 2017. The mine warfare exercise was held between 5 and 15 March 2017.

After the completion of the exercise the task force sailed to Odessa, Ukraine. There the ship were open to public and received thousands of visitors during their stay there.

One day short of their allowance by the Montreux Convention the Task force sailed southbound through Istanbul Strait and docked in Istanbul port for a well-earned post visit.


Poseidon 2017 Naval Exercise





Furthermore, the exercise intents:

  • To enhance operational capabilities and readiness of all participants;


Number Name Type Country
63 BS Priboy Mine sweeper Bulgaria
M-1061 FGS Rottweil Mine hunter Germany
M-62 HS Europa Mine hunter Greece
511 Kontradmirał X. Czernicki Tender Poland
25 ROS Lieutenant Lupu Dunescu Mine sweeper Romania
30 ROS Sub Lieutenant Alexandru Axente Mine sweeper Romania
264 ROS Admiral Eustatiu Sebstian Corvette Romania
M-35 ESPS Duero Mine hunter Spain
M-265 TCG Alanya Mine hunter Turkey
M-269 TCG Anamur Mine hunter Turkey

Baltops 2015 Naval Components


Monsieur Louis, Martin-Vézian from Contemporary Issues & Geography (CIGeography) prepared this wonderful picture where you can visualize easily all nations and all warships taking part in Baltops exercise.

According to media sources there are 49 warships taking part in Baltops 2015. The below list has 49 of them.

Number Name Type Nationality
FF-337 HMCS Frederiction Frigate Canada
A-559 HDMS Sleipner Tender Denmark
F-362 HDMS Peter Willemoes  Frigate Denmark
F-363 HDMS Niels Juel Frigate Denmark
L-16 HDMS Absalon Assault Ship Denmark
MSD-5 HDMS Hirsholm Mine hunter Denmark
MSF-1 HDMS MSF-1 Mine hunter Denmark
MV Blue Capella Tender Denmark
A-432 ENS Tasuja Tender Estonia
M-314 ENS Sakala Mine hunter Estonia
2 FNS Hämeenmaa Mine hunter Finland
A-631 FS Somme Tanker France
M-641 FS Eridan Mine hunter France
A-1458 FGS Fehmarn Tender Germany
A-516 FGS Donau Tanker Germany
F-214 FGS Lübeck Frigate Germany
F-260 FGS Braunschwieg Corvette Germany
M-1093 FGS Auerbach Mine hunter Germany
P-6123 FGS Hermelin Patrol boat Germany
P-6129 FGS Wiesel Patrol boat Germany
P-6130 FGS Hyane Patrol boat Germany
M-53 LNS Skalvis Mine hunter Latvia
M-54 LNS Kursis Mine hunter Latvia
P-11 LNS Zemaitis Patrol boat Latvia
A-53 LVNS Virsaitis Tender Litanua
A-803 HNLMS Luymens Tender Netherlands
M-857 HNLMS Makkum Mine hunter Netherlands
M-861 HNLMS Urk Mine hunter Netherlands
M-862 HNLMS Zierikzee Mine hunter Netherlands
M-864 HNLMS Willemstad Mine hunter Netherlands
M-351 HNOMS Otra Mine hunter Norway
M-352 HNoMS Rauma Mine hunter Norway
297 ORP Kondor Submarine Poland
623 ORP Meva Patrol boat Poland
632 ORP Bukowo Mine hunter Poland
637 ORP Resko Mine hunter Poland
641 ORP Druzno Mine hunter Poland
643 ORP Mamry Mine hunter Poland
644 ORP Wigry Mine hunter Poland
821 ORP Lublin Landing ship Poland
822 ORP Gniezno Landing ship Poland
K-12 HMS Malmö Corvette Sweden
F-497 TCG Göksu Frigate Turkey
F-234 HMS Iron Duke Frigate UK
L-12 HMS Ocean Assault Ship UK
M-41 HMS Quorn Mine hunter UK
LDP-17 USS San Antonio Assault Ship USA
CG-69 USS Vicksburg Cruiser USA
DDG-109 USS Jason Dunham Destroyer USA


Polish Warship In Istanbul

The Polish Navy warship Wodnik passing through the Bosphorus. Photo: Kerim Bozkurt. Used with permission.


The Polish Navy warship Wodnic passing through the Bosphorus. Photo: Kerim Bozkurt. Used with permission.


On 22 June the training ship of the Polish Navy 251 Wodnik passed through the Bosphorus. According to the Bulgarian blog Sea Dog, Varna was her previous destination. Wodnik did not visit Istanbul and continued her journey to the Mediterranean. we do not see Polish warships in Istanbul very often.

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