Ionian Sea, Italy - NATO exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 2015 (DYMA 15) has started off the Sicilian coast with ships, submarines, airplanes and personnel from 9 Allied countries, gathered in the central Mediterranean for anti-submarine warfare training ( ASW) and against surface vehicles.
Submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, England and the United States, under the control of NATO Submarine Command (COMSUBNATO), joined 5 surface units of France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and England dependent on the Command of the second Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG-2), in the person of Rear Admiral Jörg Klein (German Navy).
Italy, the host country, provides logistical support through the Augusta naval base and the Sigonella airbase in Catania.
Details of the exercise were provided during a press conference held in Catania on board the FGS Hamburg by Rear Admiral Jörg Klein, commander of the SNMG-2., NATO Submarine Command, Rear Admiral Matthew A. Zirkle (US Navy) and Admiral Nicola De Felice commander of the Sicily Maritime Command (MariSicilia).
Rear Admiral Zirkle specified that "this exercise serves to ensure that the forces in the field can be exercised in real scenarios and to maintain operational capacity. When you do this type of activity, you look for the goals as quickly as possible so that you can intervene quickly. It is a multi-force activity that allows to test the interoperability of the various units.
Rear Admiral De Felice added that the Dynamic Manta 2015 represents a precious international opportunity for the armed force and for the city of Catania. The Italian Navy participates in this important NATO exercise with its best assets: the Pelosi submarine, the Grecale frigate and the air assets of the Maristaeli base in Catania. In addition, it plays the important role of host nation, that is, of host nation, which guarantees all the different airborne assets participating every kind of support requested, from the technical and logistic to the health support. In the 2012 with the reorganization of NATO the submarine command he was transferred from Naples to Northwood; the Dynamic Manta continued to be carried out in the waters of the Ionian Sea with the exception of the last edition, carried out in the Atlantic Ocean. By wishing to continue to carry out this important exercise in the Ionian Sea and in Sicily, NATO once again wanted to give centrality to the Mediterranean and to Italy. Doing this in such a difficult and demanding moment for many and different reasons represents an important point for our armed force and for the country.. During the Dyma 15 important training topics will be carried out such as the training of aeronaval assets aimed and concentrated on anti submarine warfare (ASW) for surface and air forces and anti surface warfare (ASUW) for underwater forces as well as cooperation and interoperability in antisubmarine operations. Such specific and peculiar training appointments, following the considerable increase in operational activity, dictated by the contingent international situation, find less and less space in the agendas of the marinas and therefore it is particularly important to be able to participate in these exercises which are aimed at maintaining high capacity. NATO response in underwater and surface combat. This is to guarantee the safety of member countries against the underwater and surface threat of non-friendly countries or organizations".
Rear Admiral Klein finally explained the role of the SMG2 by specifying that it is one of the four groups that are in force at NATO. "The main objective of the group is to be able to guarantee security to participating nations both in time of peace and in time of war. This year's exercise will focus on the interoperability aspect ".
(photo of the author)
