Royal Navy hands over command of Nato's premier Mediterranean task group

The Royal Navy has handed over command of Nato's premier task group in the Mediterranean after five months on frontline duties.

Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan has handed over the reins of Standing Nato Maritime Group Two to the Italian navy.

Nineteen ships from nine Nato nations operated under HMS Duncan as the task group carried out its role in the alliance's very high readiness joint task force, which was created in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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Handing over command to Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito and his flagship ITS Bergamini at a ceremony in Taranto, Royal Navy Commodore Paul Stroude said: "Commanding this multinational task group has been the most extraordinary privilege and experience. 

"Every ship and every nation that I have had the pleasure to work with has contributed its own individual skills and capabilities.

"Yet it is remarkable how through being united by a common purpose and a common set of values, and with a common set of operating procedures and equipment, these ships could come together and work seamlessly such that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. 

"This is the true strength of the Nato alliance.

"Our success from start to finish was also underpinned by the power of friendships and the incredible support that was altruistically provided to the task group by the network of Nato Mediterranean nations. This was extremely humbling."

Since Cdre Stroude took command of the task group in June from the US Navy, nine Nato nations have contributed to the task group - the UK, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey.

Nineteen ships worked with dozens more allied vessels and submarines in support of the mission, as well as multiple allied aircraft.

The multinational staff was drawn from seven contributing nations: the UK, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Romania, Spain and Turkey.

RAdm Esposito said: "I inherit an important legacy of all that my predecessor Commodore Stroude achieved, and as a task group we are ready to do whatever it takes to accomplish our mission.

"Under my command the task group will continue to demonstrate how well Nato allies operate together. Our continuous presence in the Mediterranean strengthens the deterrence and defence of the alliance."