FGS Homburg departed Kiel July 24, 2026, to join Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) for the next few months.
In cooperation with NATO partners, particularly Lithuania and Poland, the “Homburg” makes an important contribution to the protection of critical infrastructure within SNMCMG1. Its main task is “to clear sea areas of mines and other explosive remnants, thereby ensuring the safety of sea lanes,” explains the commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Cornelia Just.
Furthermore, the crew of the minehunter will participate in the Northern Viking and Joint Warrior exercises. Their area of operation will primarily be the North Sea and the North Atlantic. The commanding officer, who can draw on experience from previous participations in SNMCMG1, knows her crew is well prepared. In recent months, the crew has undergone comprehensive training for deployment.
The planned stays in ports, mainly located on the North Sea, will offer a welcome change from everyday life at sea – plenty of new experiences for the crew, whose home waters are usually in the Baltic Sea.
Homburg is expected to operate as part of the NATO task force until the end of October.