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Mine countermeasures exercise
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Exercise Damsel Fair, an exercise addressing all aspects of mine
warfare planning, execution and analysis, started off the coast of Turkey
on 20 May.
NATO's Mine Countermeasures Force South is carrying out mine clearance
operations to support the insertion of peacekeeping troops to a fictitious
country. The exercise involves approximately 1000 personnel from seven
NATO member countries and the personnel provided is from mine countermeasures
vessels, minelayers, explosives ordnance disposal teams, patrol boats
and diver support vessels.
The operations are being led in a live environment, in the Kusadasi
Bay just off the west coast of Turkey and are coordinated and controlled
by Headquarters Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe (NAVSOUTH).
NATO's Countermeasures Force South, formerly known as NATO Mine Countermeasures
Force Mediterranean, participates in NATO's peacekeeping operations.
It also supports Operation Active Endeavour, NATO's maritime contribution
to the fight against terrorism. The force was established as a NATO
Immediate Reaction Force in La Spezia, Italy on 27 May 1999.
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