(October 9th 2001)

British Frigate Leads NATO Warships

The NATO Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), currently led by the British frigate HMS Chatham, has been deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean both as a gesture of support and solidarity to the United States and to provide a NATO presence in the region.

STANAVFORMED currently comprises of:

• HMS Chatham (F87), Frigate, UK (Flagship);
• FGS Bayern (F217), Frigate, Germany;
• HS Formion (DDG 220), Destroyer, Greece;
• ITS Aliseo (F574), Frigate, Italy;
• HNLMS Van Nes (F883), Frigate, The Netherlands;
• SPS Santa Maria (F81), Frigate, Spain;
• TCG Giresun (F491), Frigate, Turkey;
• USS Elrod (FFG 55), Frigate, USA;
• FGS Rhoen (A1443), Auxiliary Oiler, Germany.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11th NATO invoked Article 5 of the Washington Treaty- the convention that an attack on one is an attack on all - for the first time in its fifty year history.

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