From February 5th to 15th, the annual inter-allied operation for the treatment of historical munitions, Historical Ordnance Disposal (HOD), was conducted by the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1)* , one of NATO’s two permanent mine warfare forces. The operation saw three mine warfare vessels – UGANDI (Estonia), ANDROMEDE (France), and ZIERIKSEE (Netherlands), under the command of the replenishment vessel DONAU (Germany).
Over 300 square kilometers were investigated during the operation, resulting in the discovery of a historic mine by divers from ANDROMEDE. Utilizing underwater remote-controlled robots, they successfully processed and neutralized a German LMB mine dating back to World War II, with an equivalent TNT of 850 kg.
Since 1996, inter-allied HOD operations have been conducted annually in the English Channel and North Sea to eliminate historical munitions. The seabeds of this maritime area are known for hosting a significant quantity of explosive devices from both world wars. In October 2023, the HOD operation detected and neutralized two LMB mines, totaling an equivalent of 1,300 kg of TNT.
This successful operation underscores the ongoing commitment of NATO and its member states to ensure maritime safety by eliminating remnants of past conflicts from vital sea routes.
Read this article we wrote on the same subject about Nato Mine Countermeasures
