NATO-led exercise Dynamic Guard concluded off the coast on February 15.
Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG 1), commanded by U.S. Rear Adm. Edward Cashman, were joined by other ally units in the region for ten days of evolutions.
The exercise is executed concurrently with Norwegian led exercise Task Group 19-1 and designed to build and maintain proficiency in maritime electronic warfare and anti-submarine warfare.
“This exercise allowed NATO allies to train together in advanced anti-submarine warfare tactics,” said German Lt. Cmdr. Jan Schroder, SNMG 1 Staff anti-submarine warfare officer. “We tested new tactics and equipment with our assets, which enhanced our skills by learning through integration how our equipment works together.”
Dynamic Guard provided SNMG 1 the opportunity to engage in realistic maritime training, which presented various electronic warfare and anti-submarine warfare scenarios in a challenging environment.
“Our interaction with the allied units went extremely well,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Tyler Hagberg of the US Navy, lead electronic warfare supervisor for the SNMG 1 flagship guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107). “All units were highly professional and came prepared, going above and beyond what was asked of them. During certain exercises they even requested additional training beyond what was planned out.”
Participating forces came from Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, and the United States.
SNMG 1 is composed of the US flagship guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), the German navy replenishment tanker FGS Spessart (A 1442), and the Polish guided-missile frigate ORP General K. Pulaski (FrR 272).