Ships, submarines, aircraft, and personnel from nine allied nations arrived in Italy for anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare training that will be taking place in the Central Mediterranean Sea.
Submarines from Greece, Italy, Turkey and the United States navies have joined surface ships from Canada, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the US for exercise Dynamic Manta 2023.
Ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 will also be part of the exercise, while Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States are providing air assets including maritime patrol aircraft.
The aim of Dynamic Manta is to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills.
Each participating unit 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.
“Dynamic Manta is one of MARCOM’s most technically challenging exercises and is made possible by the outstanding support we have received from the Italian Navy as host nation,” Commander, Submarines NATO US Navy Rear Admiral Stephen Mack said.
“Strategic defense of the alliance must incorporate a planned, multi-threat response. Dynamic Manta provides the framework to deliver that training in a wide range of maritime competencies to our multinational audience.”
As the host nation, Italy is providing support in Catania and Augusta Harbors, the naval helicopter base in Catania, Naval Air Station Sigonella and Trapani, as well as support from Augusta Naval Base.
Dynamic Manta is one of nearly a dozen MARCOM-led maritime exercises held each year in addition to numerous national exercises that increase readiness in defense of the alliance. Its sister exercise, Dynamic Mongoose, is held in the cold waters of the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap.
