Operation Active Endeavour

Operation Active Endeavour is NATO?s maritime contribution to fight international terrorism. The operation?s mission is to conduct naval operations in the Eastern Mediterranean to actively demonstrate NATO?s resolve and solidarity.Operation Active Endeavour is one of the measures resulting from NATO?s decision to implement Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, expanding the options available in the campaign against terrorism.

The Operation is conducted by Commander, Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe (COMNAVSOUTH) from his headquarters in Naples, Italy, through a Task Force deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean, named Task Force Endeavour (TFE). TFE is prepared for a prolonged operation through rotation of NATO?s Standing Naval Forces and use of facilities made available by member states in the region.

Following the North Atlantic Council?s decision on implementation of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty as a consequence of the 11 September attacks against the United States, on 09 October 2001 NATO?s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) was ordered to deploy to the Eastern Mediterranean to provide NATO presence in the area while demonstrating NATO?s resolve and solidarity. STANAVFORMED is part of NATO?s immediate reaction forces. Its primary mission is to be able to deploy rapidly to an area of tension or crisis. It also forms the nucleus around which to build a more versatile and powerful naval force, whenever required.

Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (SNFM) began Operation Active Endeavour in early October 2001, and in that time the eight ships established contact with more than 1,000 merchant vessels and conducted 32 replenishments at sea to allow continuous maritime operations in the area. Shipborne helicopters had flown more than 1,000 hours. Elements of SNFM also visited Souda Bay, Crete and Aksaz, Turkey.

As of November 2001 Task Force Endeavour was commanded by Commodore Angus Somerville, UK Navy, and was comprised of: HMS Chatham, frigate, UK (Flagship); FGS Bayern, frigate, Germany; HS Formion, destroyer, Greece; ITS Aliseo, frigate, Italy; HNLMS Van Nes, frigate, The Netherlands; SPS Santa Maria, frigate, Spain; TCG Giresun, frigate, Turkey; USS Elrod, frigate, US.

On 6 December 2001 Vice Admiral Luigi Lillo (Italian Navy), Commander of Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe, announced that NATO?s Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL) had arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean to replace Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (SNFM), continuing Operation Active Endeavour.

Standing Naval Force Atlantic (SNFL), which usually operates under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT), assumed responsibility for Eastern Mediterranean operations effective 6 December 2001 while SNFM units return to national ports for home leave, maintenance and the changeover of some force elements. SNFL was commanded by Commodore Fernando Melo Gomes, Portuguese Navy, from his flagship the NRP CORTE REAL. The force comprised 12 ships from 11 nations and includes an oil tanker.

SNFL was, in turn, replaced by SNFM in mid-January 2002. Subsequently, these two forces rotate approximately every three months for the duration of the operation.

NATO?s Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) returned to the Eastern Mediterranean under the control of the Commander Naval Forces Southern Europe (COMNAVSOUTH) on 15 April 2002 for a second tour of duty as Task Force Endeavour, replacing the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) as NATO?s maritime contribution to the fight against international terrorism. The flagships of both NATO forces, HMS Sheffield, United Kingdom, and SPS Canarias, Spain, were berthed at Molo Angioino, Naples, from 11 to 17 April for the handover of Command and staff briefings.

STANAVFORMED, commanded by Commodore Angus Somerville, Royal Navy, had conducted operation Active Endeavour since 14 January 2002. During this period the Task Force, which has included 11 warships and a submarine, has patrolled the operational area encompassing the Mediterranean east of Sicily, conducted a busy training schedule and visited ports in Turkey (Antalya and Aksaz), Greece (Souda Bay in Crete) and Italy (Augusta in Sicily). In coordinated operations with elements of the US Sixth Fleet, Task Force Endeavour has monitored shipping lanes and exchanged intelligence information.