IRIA News

NATO ships, submarines, aircraft, and personnel from nine Allied nations participated in anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare exercises in the Central Mediterranean Sea. The two-week-long Dynamic Manta 23 Exercise started on February 27 in Italy.

NATO Allies, including Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States sent their naval assets to participate in the annual anti-submarine warfare exercise off the coast of Sicily, Italy.

The NATO partners’ surface ships worked with maritime patrol aircraft and submarines in a simulated submarine hunt to locate and neutralize threats.

According to the NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) statement, the Dynamic Manta exercise aims to “provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills”.

NATO Allies🇧🇪🇨🇦🇫🇷🇩🇪🇬🇷🇮🇹🇪🇸🇹🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸brought together ships, submarines, aircraft and crews to practice anti-submarine tactics in the Mediterranean Sea on Exercise #DynamicManta #WeAreNATO #DeterandDefend #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/ma5JPhvWlN

— NATO Maritime Command (@NATO_MARCOM) March 10, 2023

During the course of the two-week-long exercise, participating units of each nation had the opportunity “to conduct a variety of submarine warfare operations” and the allied nations’ submarines took turns hunting and being hunted, as well as closely coordinating their efforts with the air and surface participants of the naval drills.

As the host country, Italy provided support in Catania and Augusta Harbors, the naval helicopter base in Catania, Naval Air Station Sigonella, and Trapani, as well as support from Augusta Naval Base, the MARCOM statement added.

The Turkish National Defense Ministry earlier confirmed in a statement that the country is participating in the NATO exercise with its “TCG Preveze submarine and our TCG Barbaros frigate, which is assigned to NATO Permanent Naval Task Group-2”.

During the exercise, submarines from Italy, the U.S., Greece, and Turkiye navies joined surface ships from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Greece, including the ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2.

NATO allies Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States also provided air assets, which included maritime patrol aircraft.

United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force deployed its Poseidon patrol aircraft in Sicily, Italy to take part in Nato’s anti-submarine warfare exercise. The British aircraft coordinated with allied ships and submarines in searching and locating the targeted platforms.

According to the British Royal Air Force CXX Squadron detachment commander squadron leader Birchall, the “high-end training and complex exercise environment offered by Dynamic Manta combined with [the] opportunity to share best practice with so many other partners and allies is invaluable. Our presence here also demonstrates the UK’s commitment to maritime security and deepening cooperation with our NATO allies”.

Commander, Submarines NATO U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Stephen Mack said, “Dynamic Manta is one of MARCOM’s most technically challenging exercises and is made possible by the outstanding support we have received from the Italian Navy as host nation.”

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Stephen Mack further added that “Strategic defense of the Alliance must incorporate a planned, multi-threat response. Dynamic Manta provides the framework to deliver that training in a wide range of maritime competencies to our multinational audience.”

Dynamic Manta is a MARCOM-led maritime exercise that is held every year to increase readiness in defense of the Alliance. North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Allied Maritime Command is the central command of all NATO maritime forces. Another MARCOM-led exercise “Dynamic Mongoose” is also held every year in the cold waters of the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap.

Maritime patrol aircraft crews from 🇨🇦🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇹🇬🇧🇺🇸 trained in anti-submarine warfare tactics, techniques, & procedures during #NATO Ex #DynamicManta 23-1. Training together builds interoperability and interchangeability, strengthening the defence of the Alliance. #DeterAndDefend pic.twitter.com/qiEOVyOQxp

— NATO Maritime Command (@NATO_MARCOM) March 11, 2023