The great search

This time, coronavirus did not prevail: The NATO exercise Dynamic Manta 2021 started as planned on 22 February, with a total of eight allies taking part in this annual submarine manoeuvre in the Mediterranean. The host nation this year is Italy. The participants have found their temporary home in the harbour of Catania, at the nearby Italian Navy helicopter base and at Sigonella Naval Air Station. Logistical support in the form of fuel replenishment, medical support and accommodation is also provided by the Augusta Naval Base.

Presentation of the participants

And so many sections take place off the Sicilian coast. Naturally, the submarines take centre stage, this time with five units from Greece, Italy, Turkey and the United States. They hunt themselves, but also change sides and support the ships and flying units in their search. Above the surface, ships from France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey will be on the hunt for the invisible enemy. This year, the Strike Group around the French carrier Charles de Gaulle a very special participant is expected. Five MPAs, including a German one, are on standby to provide situational awareness and air support. In the various scenarios, the participants will receive complex and challenging training, practise international cooperation in all dimensions and improve their sub-hunting skills.
"Dynamic Manta is one of the two major ASW exercises conducted by Nato Maritime Command every year. Standing Nato Maritime Group 2 usually participates in these exercises, not only to train and maintain the high readiness of its forces, but also to strengthen the cohesion and co-operation of the participating nations. This is Nato's way of showing its presence and underlining its maritime commitment to the Allies through collective defence," said Rear Admiral Manuel Aguirre Alderguia, Commander of SNMG 2, at the start of the exercise.

Preparations in Cantena, Sicily

Following the decommissioning of almost all Class 122 frigates, submarine hunting is increasingly moving out of the focus of the German Navy. Even though Class 123 has this capability and the re-professionalisation for national and alliance defence has been invoked, when viewed in the light of day, it is only the MPAs of the Naval Aviation Command that are still specialised in this complex activity and have the corresponding capabilities. But here, too, trouble is looming: with the planned decommissioning of the P-3C in the mid-twenties, a capability gap appears to be opening up for the time being. No successors have yet been planned or even ordered. Captain Thorsten Bobzin, Commander of the Naval Air Command, brings a new perspective in the forthcoming issue 3-2021 of the marineforums expressed his concern about this.

Text: mb; Photos: Nato Marcom/WO S. Dzioba