Between 29 August and 5 September 2006, Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group One (SNMG1) conducted a transit Northwards from Brest, France to Aalborg, Denmark where it began its participation in the Danish national exercise DANEX 06.

Shortly after departing Brest on the morning of 29 August, the Force was joined by USS BOONE, an American OLIVER HAZARD PERRY Class frigate, whose crew had been enjoying a port visit in Rota near Cadiz, Spain. 

As the Force sailed towards the English Channel, French Super Entendard, Super Frelon and Atlantique aircraft took the opportunity to exercise with the Force in order to improve combined capabilities with this important NATO ally. 

As SNMG1 entered the North Sea it also took the opportunity to exercise with HMS CORNWALL, which was also enroute to Denmark for DANEX 06.  DANEX 06 is a Danish national exercise taking place in the Great Belt area, the Kattegat and the Skagerrak between 1-14 September 2006. 

The purpose of DANEX 06 is to provide training in littoral operations at a Task Group and unit level with an emphasis on Crisis Response Operations (CRO), including Maritime Interdiction Operations MIO), Disaster Relief Operations (DRO), and Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), in an expeditionary context.  Apart from SNMG1, DANEX 06 also includes international participants from Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom.

On Friday 2 September SNMG1 went alongside Aalborg near the downtown core.  This allowed crews to enjoy this city with its well-preserved old town and renowned Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum (North Jutland Art Museum). 

Commodore J.A. Denis Rouleau,  OMM CD presents SNMG 1 crest.  Photo: Claus Gustafsen, RDN

COMSNMG1 and several crewmembers from HMCS IROQUOIS and FGS AUGSBURG were also honoured by being invested into the Guild of Christian IV.  Boasting of a membership, which includes such personalities as Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, former US Presidents Ronald Reagan, and Soviet cosmonauts Beljajev and Leonov, the Guild has it origins as a meeting place for “optimistic citizens” during the occupation of World War II. 

The Guild is now very much a philanthropic organization dedicated to charity work, but also plays an important role in welcoming distinguished visitors to the city of Aalborg. 

On Saturday 2 September the Force’s Commanding Officers and many members of Staff and the ships’ operations teams had the opportunity to see the Danish countryside as they travelled to Odense for the DANEX 06 pre-sail conference.  For some there was also the chance to see a bit of that city, while its citizens enjoyed fine weather and Navy Days.

On Monday the 4th, the Force sailed from Aalborg in order to commence its participation in DANEX 06.