Until March 8, the training activity called will take place in the central Mediterranean area Dynamic Manta which, since 2013, has represented one of NATO's most important and complex anti-submarine exercises.
Planned by the Allied Maritime Command (NATO allied maritime command – MARCOM) and conducted off the eastern and southern coasts of Sicily, DYMA is an anti-submarine exercise (ASW - anti submarine warfare) advanced, which aims to train and refine Allied capabilities to operate in an integrated manner in this form of struggle.
There are seven submarines employed in operation, belonging to the navies of Italy, France, Greece, Spain, the United States and Turkey; the boats will operate under the control of the Atlantic Alliance submarine command (NATO submarine command - COMSUBNATO), training with surface units. The use of maritime patrol aircraft is also envisaged (maritime patrol aircraft – MPA) from Canada, Germany, Greece, the United Kingdom, the United States and Turkey. All within the scope of the operation Noble Shield, under the tactical control of Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito, commander of the Second Standing NATO Naval Group (standing NATO maritime group 2 - SNMG2) operating in the Mediterranean.
The Navy takes part in the exercise with the anti-submarine frigate Carlo Margottinithe destroyer Luigi Durand de la Penne, the multi-purpose offshore patrol vessel Francesco Morosini (flag ship – flagship - of the SNMG2), two submarines and two helicopters based at the Catania helicopter station. Furthermore, Italy as host nation provides logistical support from the Augusta naval base, the port of Catania and the Sigonella air base.
