The new Polish Military Contingent is to operate from January 1 to August 15, 2026. It will consist of 70 soldiers along with the necessary equipment and support. ORP Kontradmirał X Czernicki will serve as the flagship of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG-1), whose area of operations includes northern waters (the Baltic, North, and Norwegian Seas). In this role, it will replace LVNS Virsaitis (A53).
ORP Kontradmirał X Czernicki will once again serve as a NATO mine countermeasures command ship. Pictured during a mission in the Black Sea / Photo: 8th Coastal Defense Flotilla
The primary task of SNMCMG-1 is to ensure the safety of navigation by searching for, patrolling, and neutralizing hazardous underwater objects, primarily the dangerous ordnance sunk during both World Wars, as well as clearing mines and other threats from port approaches, confined waters, and shipping lanes. An additional aspect of its mission is to build operational awareness through route patrols and to demonstrate the presence, unity, and determination of the North Atlantic Alliance in the waters of the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.
ORP Kontradmirał X Czernicki is, without doubt, one of the vessels most intensively used by Poland in operations beyond its territorial waters. Since entering service on September 1, 2001, the ship has taken part in a combat mission in the waters of the Persian Gulf (from July 10, 2002, to September 10, 2003). Following a comprehensive modernization and adaptation to the role of a mine countermeasures command ship, it has repeatedly participated in missions of SNMCMG-1 (2010, 2011, 2013, 2023) as well as SNMCMG-2 (2017).
