Standing Naval Force Atlantic was created in the early 1960s to display NATO solidarity and develop multinational training programs. Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and the United Kingdom each assign one destroyer or frigate to the force on a continuous basis. Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, and Norway may have warships assigned, and the number of units can vary from as low as five to as many as eleven, counting replenishment ships. Ships are normally assigned for periods of six to nine months, while the commander, from one of the five permanent countries, has a one-year tenure. He reports to SACLANT, Supreme Commander Atlantic, headquartered in Norfolk. Typical compositions are: 1987: Canada: St. Laurent-class FF Germany: Bremen (Type 122)-class FF Netherlands: Tromp-class DDG USA: O.H. Perry-class FFG UK: Exocet Leander-class FF Portugal: French Cdt. Riviere-class FF 1989: Canada: St. Laurent-class FF Germany: Bremen (Type 122)-class FF Netherlands: Kortenaer-class FF USA: Coontz-class DDG UK: Type 22/2-class FF Portugal: French Cdt. Riviere-class FF 1991: Canada: St. Laurent-class FF Germany: Bremen (Type 122)-class FF Netherlands: Kortenaer-class FF USA: Knox-class FF UK: Type 22/3-class FF Norway: Oslo-class FF 1997: Canada: Halifax FF Germany: Brandenburg (Type 123) FF Netherlands: Tromp-class DDG USA: O.H. Perry-class FFG UK: Type 42/3-class DDG Spain: Baleares-class FF In the future, the US contribution will always be an Aegis destroyer or an Aegis cruiser. BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #14 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1998 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com