NATO Strengthens its Anti-Submarine Warfare Skills with Exercise Dynamic Manta in Italy

: Posted On Monday, 29 February 2016 09:29

Naval Forces News - NATO

NATO Strengthens its Anti-Submarine Warfare Skills with Exercise Dynamic Manta in Italy

NATO’s Submarine Warfare Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 2016 (DYMA 16) began one week ago off the Sicilian coast, with ships, submarines, and aircraft and personnel from 8 Allied nations converging on the Central Mediterranean Sea for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare training.

FS MONTCALM (D642) (left) and 2 other units from France and Italy with Spanish submarine, and SPA submarine - 22 FEB 2016 - Photo by WO ARTIGUES (HQ MARCOM). Ionian Sea, Italy - NATO’s Submarine Warfare Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 2016 (DYMA 16).

Submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, under the control of NATO Submarine Command (COMSUBNATO), will join 4 surface ships from France, Italy and Spain. Host nation Italy is providing support from the Augusta Naval Base, Catania Harbour and the Sigonella Air Base in Catania.

To support the simulated multi-threat environment, 9 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Helicopters from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States will operate from Sigonella Air Base under the control of personnel from NATO Maritime Air Command (COMMARAIRNATO).

The aim of this exercise is to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance their interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills, with due regard to safety.

5 submarines from Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Greece with 4 surface units from France (x2), Spain and Italy during a PHOTEX in vicinity of Sicily - 22 FEB 2016 - Photo by WO ARTIGUES (HQ MARCOM). Ionian Sea, Italy - NATO’s Submarine Warfare Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 2016 (DYMA 16).

“Sicilian Maritime Command (MARISICILIA) will support the exercise assets during their operational port visit in Augusta and Catania harbours, in order to provide them logistic support, in details for refuelling operations, medical assistance and personnel accommodation” said Sicily Maritime Commander Rear Admiral (LH) Nicola De Felice (Italian Navy).

Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA-16 will be supported by an In-Stride Debriefing Team (IDT) who will produce an analysis of the training's from submitted highlights signals. The team will analyse anti-submarine warfare events real time and will provide debriefs to ships, submarines and aircrews. It allows crew to accelerate their process, make adjustments, improve the performance and boost the anti-submarine warfare readiness. IDT team is composed of ASW experts and will perform its mission from Sigonella Air Base.

Each surface ship will have the opportunity to conduct a variety of submarine warfare operations. The submarines will take turns hunting and being hunted, closely coordinating their efforts with the air and surface participants.

“NATO’s annual anti-submarine-warfare exercise DYNAMIC MANTA remains one of the most challenging exercises and an excellent opportunity for NATO nations’ naval forces to practice and evaluate their Anti-Submarine skillset in a challenging environment.” said Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio, Chief Of Staff NATO Allied Maritime Command. “This exercise is a unique opportunity to enhance naval forces’ war fighting skills in all three dimensions of Anti-Submarine-Warfare in a multinational and multi-threat environment. We appreciate the outstanding host nation support of the Italian Navy that is required to make this challenging and effective exercise happen”