NATO carries out HOD in English Channel and North Sea
Between 23 March and 5 April, the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1) carried out Historical Ordnance Disposal (HOD) 20 to destroy sea mines left from the First and Second World Wars.
The operation took place in the English Channel and North Sea but focused on the Bay of Seine and Bay of Somme.
HOD has been carried out by the alliance ever year since 1996 to find and neutralised bombs, concreted shells and bottom mines. This year, UUVs helped to remove seven German LMB type mines and one submarine grenade with the TNT equivalent of 6,800kg.
Participating vessels including the Andromede (France), the HNoMS Otra (Norway), the HNLMS Willemstad (the Netherlands), BNS Bellis (Belgium), HMS Grimsby (UK) and FGS Donau (Germany).
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