#                                                                         Standing NATO Maritime Group Two Sets Sail With New Flagship                                                                    

##### by Cmdr. Fernando Estrella, NATO Allied Maritime Command

10 January 2023ROTA, Spain -- 
                230106-N-DH616-0001 ROTA, SPAIN (JAN 06, 2023) - Sailors stand watch as line handlers during an outbound sea and anchor transit aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) as the ship departs on a scheduled deployment with Allies and partners as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG 2).                            230106-N-DH616-0001                            230106-N-DH616-0001 ROTA, SPAIN (JAN 06, 2023) - Sailors stand watch as line handlers during an outbound sea and anchor transit aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) as the ship departs on a scheduled deployment with Allies and partners as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG 2).            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ezekiel VIRIN: 230106-N-DH616-0001ROTA, Spain - Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) departed Naval Station Rota on Friday, January, 6th 2023 after a scheduled change of flagship to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E Williams (DDG 95).The James E Williams transited the Strait of Gibraltar later that day. She transited east into the Mediterranean Sea to start her training, surveillance activities and task group assignments with the other NATO vessels in the task group. Currently, SNMG2 is comprised of its new flagship USS James E Williams as well as Carlo Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carlo Margottini (F 592), and Aquitaine-class frigate FS Alsace (D656).“James E Williams has quickly demonstrated that she is ready to execute the demanding responsibilities of NATO task group flagship” said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Scott Sciretta, commander of SNMG2. “The ship has quickly integrated into a multi-national environment, seamlessly operating and communicating with Allied warships. Her addition, along with that of ITS Carlo Margottini and FS Alsace, strengthen our deterrence and defense posture and deny adversaries of any possible opportunities for aggression.”As a NATO task group, SNMG2 prioritizes its mandate to enhance the collective readiness, responsiveness, deployable readiness, integration and interoperability of its forces. Its focus is on deterrence and defense against all adversaries in the maritime domain, upholding freedom of navigation, securing maritime trade routes and protecting the main lines of communication.SNMG2 is a multinational integrated task group that projects a constant and visible reminder of the Alliance's solidarity and cohesion afloat. This continuous maritime capability performs a wide range of tasks, including exercises and real-world operations in periods of crisis and conflict.SNMG2 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom.For more news and information on SNMG2, visit https://mc.nato.int/SNMG2 or follow us at:www.facebook.com/StandingNATOMaritimeGroup2www.twitter.com/COM_SNMG2www.instagram.com/snmg_two.

Tags:
**NATO**U.S. 6th Fleet**USS James E. Williams**SNMG 2

Terms:
**C6F**Surface Ships**Partnerships**Exercises