NATO's Dynamic Manta 2018 is currently underway in the Ionian Sea,which is an arm of the Mediterranean between Italy and Greece.The exercise is to improve warfighting skills,interoperability and readiness.Running from 5-16 March,it is described by NATO as being a high-end multinational exercise designed to sharpen existing NATO Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) skills in the Mediterranean Sea.Ten Allies are taking part:Belgium;Canada;France;Germany;Greece;Italy;Spain;Turkey;the UK;and the US.*
Five thousand Sailors and Airmen will be under three NATO Command Elements,crewing and supporting 10 helicopters;10 Maritime Patrol Aircraft;9 surface ships;and 6 submarines.Each surface ship will be eligible to conduct a range of submarine warfare operations.The submarines will alternate being hunters and the hunted,in coordination with the air and surface forces.
Rear Admiral Andrew Lennon,US Navy,is Commander Submarines NATO and Officer Conducting the Exercise (OCE):
Our Allied Sailors study and work hard to develop their undersea abilities.Dynamic Manta will give our airborne,surface and submarine teams a valuable chance to test themselves under complex scenarios.I'm very excited to be back in Sicily and so grateful to Italy for hosting us.*
Practicing together in a pure environment,the drills provide simultaneously the ability to evaluate and further develop Allied Anti-Submarine tactics.
Commodore Andreas Vettos of the Hellenic Navy is Commander Maritime Air NATO:
As Anti-Submarine Warfare includes all three dimensions,special attention needs to be placed upon ASW from the air.Because of this,it is important for aircrews from various NATO nations to come and train together in this truly challenging environment.*
DM 18 is based at Augusta Naval Base;Catania Harbour;and Sigonella Air Base,Sicily.
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