Allied Harvest

Adriatic Sea 1999

In June 1999 NATO deployed a mine countermeasures force comprised of:
The German ships FGS Sulzbach-Rosenberg and FGS Fulda.
The Belgian ship BNS Aster,
The Royal Navy ships HMS Atherstone, HMS Bulldog and HMS Sandown.
The Greek ships HS Evniki
The Italian Ships ITS Numana and ITS Alpino.
The Danish ship HDMS Lindormen.
The Netherlands ship HNLMS Urk.
The Turkish ship TCG Edninchic.
United States Navy ships?

Operation Allied Harvest was the NATO operation to clear ordnance jettisoned during Operation Allied Force, the ordnance was jettisoned either due to poor conditions or aircraft returning with unspent ordnance and was dropped in assigned areas of the Adriatic Sea.

NATO formed the force from the Mine Counter Measures Force, North Western Europe (MCMFORNORTH) and Mine Counter Measures Force Mediterranean (MCMFORMED) forces. 11 minesweepers and mine hunters were involved as well as a support ship from Belgium. The Italian Navy activated a forward logistics site at Ancona to supply the ships involved.

The Operation began on 9th June 1999 and lasted 73 days, clearing 93 weapons from nine areas searched over an area of 1,041 square nautical miles. The operation ceased on 26th August 1999.

Allied Harvest II

In 2000, NATO resumed clearing this ordnance and the force included ships from Italy, Germany, Greece and Turkey. The Royal Navy was not involved in the second Allied Harvest.

The operation began on 10th April 2000 and ended on 4th September 2000.

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