Annual Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise Underway

Ships, submarines, as well as aircraft and personnel from eight Allied nations are converging in the Central Mediterranean Sea for NATO exercise Dynamic Manta (DYMA21), an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare training.

The aim of DYMA21 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.

Each surface ship 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.

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Submarines from Greece, Italy, Turkey and the United States under NATO Submarine Command are joining surface ships from France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey. This year, French Carrier Strike Group Charles De Gaulle will also join the training along with five surface units from France, Belgium, Greece and the United States.

As the host nation, Italy is providing support in the Catania harbour, naval helicopter base in Catania, naval air station in Sigonella, as well as logistic support (refueling operations, medical assistance and personnel accommodation) from Augusta naval base.

To support the simulated multi-threat environment, maritime patrol aircrafts from France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United States support the exercise.

“NATO’s annual anti-submarine-warfare exercise Dynamic Manta remains one of the most challenging exercises and an excellent opportunity for NATO nations’ naval forces to practice, evaluate, and refine their anti-submarine skillset in a demanding environment,” said Rear Admiral E. Andrew Burcher, Commander Submarines NATO. “With a constantly evolving threat posture, this exercise is a chance to enhance our naval forces’ war fighting skills in all three dimensions of anti-submarine warfare in a multinational and multi-threat environment.”