Home Europe Italy hosts anti-submarine warfare drill Dynamic Manta

Italy hosts anti-submarine warfare drill Dynamic Manta

Dynamic Manta
Illustration: US Navy photo of NATO ships underway during the 2017 edition of Dynamic Manta

NATO’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise Dynamic Manta began on February 24, as ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from nine allied nations started maneuvers off the coast of Sicily, Italy.

The two-week exercise is designed to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training, to enhance their interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills.

Submarines from France, Greece, Italy and Turkey under NATO Submarine Command are to join surface ships from Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey.

“The annual exercise remains one of NATO’s most challenging exercises and an opportunity for NATO nations’ naval forces to practice and evaluate their anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare skillset in a challenging environment,” said Rear Admiral Andrew Burcher, Commander NATO Submarines.

Dynamic Manta is one of NATO’s two annual sub hunts, focused on finding boats in warmer waters (later in the year Dynamic Mongoose is hosted off Norway).

Italy as the host nation is providing operational and logistic support to the exercise. The support includes Catania harbor facilities, naval helicopter base in Catania, naval air station in Sigonella, logistic support including refueling operations, medical assistance and personnel accommodation from Augusta naval base.

To support the simulated multi-threat environment, maritime patrol aircraft from Canada, Germany, France, Turkey and the United States and shore-based helicopters from Italy and United Kingdom are supporting the exercise.