The Italian-hosted and NATO-led anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Manta concluded on Friday off the coast of Sicily.
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 aircraft and three land based helicopters from Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States participated in the exercise.
Host-nation Italy provided 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.
“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 have undoubtedly increased allies subsurface and surface warfare skills” said SNMG2 TU02 commander, Captain Ruben Rodríguez Peña (ESP N).
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.