Ships, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft from six ally nations have kicked off the NATO-led submarine-hunting exercise Dynamic Mongoose off the coast of Iceland.
The maneuver began on June 29 and will see five warships and five submarines hone their anti-submarine warfare skills over a course of some two weeks.
The Royal Navy said its nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Trenchant would take part along with the US Navy’s USS Indiana (SSN 789), while Germany disclosed the participation of its newest diesel-electric submarine U36. France and Norway are also deploying submarines for the exercise.
In a first for the UK, Dynamic Mongoose will be joined by the recently-delivered Poseidon P-8A submarine-hunting aircraft.
As the host nation, Iceland is providing logistical support in Reykjavik.
The aim of Dynamic Mongoose is to provide all participants with complex and challenging warfare training to enhance their interoperability and proficiency in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare skills, with due regard to safety.
“Exercises today seize opportunities for NATO and allied nations to sharpen war-fighting skills by focusing on high-end capabilities including anti-submarine warfare. Dynamic Mongoose will ensure we remain prepared for operations in peace, crisis and conflict. In this regard, I appreciate the outstanding host nation support of the Iceland and those nations that have contributed forces. Dynamic Mongoose will, I am certain, be a highly effective exercise,” said Vice Admiral Keith Blount, Commander of NATO’s Allied Maritime Command.
Dynamic Mongoose is the second of NATO’s two annual anti-submarine workouts, following Dynamic Manta (‘Dynamic’ denotes an exercise, words beginning with ‘M’ that it’s maritime) off Sicily back in February.
Manta tests the ability of submarine hunters in warmer seas, Mongoose – which alternates between Norway and Iceland every other year – focuses on the hunt in the cooler waters of the Atlantic as temperature plays a key role in the effectiveness of sonar. The sea off Iceland is five degrees cooler than the Mediterranean around Sicily back in February.
