From its activation at
Ostend on 11 May 1973, the unit was initially called
Standing Naval Force Channel (STANAVFORCHAN). STANAVFORCHAN and her sister force
Mine Counter Measures Force Mediterranean (MCMFORMED) were tasked in June 1999 to operate in the
Adriatic Sea to clear ordnance jettisoned during
Operation Allied Force. The combined force comprised 11
minehunters and
minesweepers and a support ship. The operation, named Allied Harvest, began on 9 June 1999. Search activities began three days later and lasted 73 days. In total, 93 pieces of ordnance were located and cleared in the nine areas which encompassed . From 3 September 2001 it was known as the Mine Countermeasures Force North Western Europe (MCMFORNORTH) and from 1 January 2005 it became Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1. ==Current ships==