Nato Begins DYMA 15 Submarine Warfare Exercise
NATO’s Submarine Warfare Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA 2015 (DYMA 15) began friday off the Sicilian coast, with ships, submarines, and aircraft and personnel from 9 Allied nations converging on the Central Mediterranean Sea for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare training. Submarines from France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, under the control of NATO Submarine Command (COMSUBNATO), will join 5 surface ships from France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the United States under the command of Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG-2) Rear Admiral Jörg Klein (German Navy). Host nation Italy is providing support from both the Augusta Naval Base and the Sigonella Air Base in Catania.
NATO Group Sails for Anti-Piracy Duties
Seven ships, from six NATO navies, transited the , on their way to conduct both anti-piracy duties and visit NATO Partner nations in the Gulf region. In response to a UN request, NATO defense ministers last week authorized NATO naval vessels to help protect World Food Program ships carrying desperately needed supplies to conflict-ridden . This presence will also help to deter acts of piracy that continue to threaten the region. Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) already was scheduled to conduct a series of Gulf port visits and will take on the anti-piracy role off the coast of .
