(Source: MARCOM) – NATO’s advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise Dynamic Manta concludes
IONIAN SEA, Italy – NATO’s Submarine Warfare Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 2017 (DYMA 17) concluded March 24 off the Sicilian coast, with ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from 10 Allied nations converging on the Central Mediterranean Sea for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface warfare training.
Submarines under operational control of NATO Submarine Command (COMSUBNATO) joined surface ships under Standing NATO Maritime Group Two Task Unit Two (SNMG2 TU02) and maritime patrol aircraft under NATO Maritime Air Command in a simulated multi-threat environment.
Nine Submarines, 10 surface ships, nine Maritime Patrol Aircrafts and three land based helicopters from 10 NATO countries (Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States) participated in the exercise. Host-nation Italy is providing support from the Augusta Naval Base, Catania Harbour and the Sigonella Air Base in Catania.
The aim of this exercise was to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance their interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills.
SNMG2 TU02 commander, Captain Ruben Rodríguez Peña (ESP N) expressed how this exercise contributed to improve Allied interoperability and warfare capabilities. “DYNAMIC MANTA has provided the opportunity to enhance NATO Anti-Submarine and Surface Warfare skills, practicing in a realistic and well planned scenario. Very professional aircrews and excellent submarine playmates has undoubtedly increased Allies Subsurface and Surface Warfare skills” said Captain Rodríguez Peña. “This quality exercise also demonstrated advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities in the southern NATO Area of Responsibility,”.
Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA was also supported by an In-Stride Debriefing Team (IDT), consisting of 11 ASW experts from nine nations, working from Naval Air Station Sigonella. This team reconstructed and analysed all the ASW events, bringing together operational data from all participants. The analysis results were sent to ships, submarines and aircrew within 24 hours. The rapid operational analysis turnaround allowed participants to further optimize their performance while events are still fresh in mind.