On Thursday, 8 January 2026, the handover of duties of the Commander of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) took place at the Naval Base of Taranto, Italy.
Command was transferred from Italian Captain Fortunato Genovese to Captain Dimitrios Karamoutzogiannis HN, in the presence of the Commander Submarines NATO at MARCOM, Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe.
In the context of Greece assuming Command of SNMCMG2, Hellenic Navy has assigned HS HERACLES as the Commander’s flagship (COMSNMCMG2).
SNMCMG2 is one of two permanently activated NATO naval mine warfare forces to conduct anti-mine warfare operations, with a view to ensuring maritime navigation, under the control of NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM), providing the Alliance with rapid operational response capability (NATO Response Force – NRF) in times of peace, crisis and tension.
