From May 4-8, the Mine Countermeasures Force (FMCM), with its MCM Diving Unit, organized exercise MAFRE-15 off the coast of Cartagena with participation of the U.S. Navy’s EODMU-8 stationed in Rota Naval Base, the Portuguese Navy’s Destacamento de Mergulhadores Sapadores Num 1 and the Spanish Navy’s MCM Diving Unit.
The Exercise was oriented towards underwater EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) drills and IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) clearance.
Three main aspects were envisioned: – Mine sequence (hunt, localization, identification and disposal) of bottom and tethered mines. – Pouncer and Lift Tow Beach operations. Hunting of an adrift tethered mine; disposal and laying of an intelligence-gathering device on a beach. – Mine clearance operations. Underwater improvised explosive devices in port.
One of the main advantages of this type of trilateral exercises is the comparison and standardization of TTPs (Tactical Techniques and Procedures), as well as the interoperability of different units from several countries, thus enhancing the training level of participating units.
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Image: Spanish Navy