Operation Allied Protector

Operation Allied Protector
Part of Piracy in Somalia
A US Navy VBSS team from the USS Laboon conducts training in preparation for Operation Allied Protector
Date 24 March 2009 – August 2009 Location Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Horn of Africa
Belligerents
NATO Active Participants  Canada  Italy  Greece  Turkey  Spain  Netherlands  Portugal  United Kingdom  United States	Pirates
Commanders and leaders
R. Adm. Jose Pereira de Cunha, Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group One Cdre Steve Chick, Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group Two	Unknown
Strength
5 ships, ~2 helicopters	Unknown

 NATO

R. Adm. Jose Pereira de Cunha,
Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group One

Operation Allied Protector was an anti-piracy military operation undertaken by NATO forces from March - August 2009 in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean, and off the Horn of Africa to protect maritime routes from pirates within the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). It was the second NATO anti-piracy operation in area following Operation Allied Provider and was succeeded by Operation Ocean Shield.

From March 24 - June 2009, the operation was conducted by Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1). This was the first time that SNMG1, which had previously operated in the Eastern Atlantic, was deployed to Southeast Asia. From June 29 – August 2009, Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) took over responsibility from SNMG1.

On 16 March 2009, SNMG1 departed from Souda Bay for the Gulf of Aden.