NATO-led exercise Dynamic Mongoose concluded today in the High North. Ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from nine Allied nations exercised in the Norwegian Sea for Anti-Submarine warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface warfare training from 13 to 24 June. The exercise had the participation of Sailors and Airmen from nine NATO nations: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom and the United States including 3 submarines, 11 surface ships and 16 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. These exercises are held annually in the Northern Atlantic, the area in which NATO trains and practices Anti-Submarine Warfare skills.
“Anti-Submarine Warfare is an all-arms mission, the coordination between ships, submarines and aircraft can be difficult but is the most effective way to detect and track submarines. Dynamic Mongoose gives all our ships the opportunity to train these skills,” said Commodore A. van de Sande, Commander of NATO task group, Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1).
“This exercise helps to ensure that our Sailors can respond most effectively to threats posed by sub-surface forces. It provides an opportunity for our forces to work together as a team within the alliance, practicing and improving our interoperability in the ASW domain. It further demonstrates that the Alliance stands ready to defend against these threats across the AOR,” said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Steve Mack.
Coordination of the exercise rested with Commander Submarines Forces NATO, in Northwood, UK. Command of Submarines NATO (COMSUBNATO) operates within Allied Maritime Command based in Northwood, United Kingdom and serves alongside peer commands NATO Maritime Air and NATO Surface Forces to form the operational backbone of NATO Maritime activities. There, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Steve Mack leads 40-person team of non-commissioned officers and officers from NATO’s 13 submarine nations: Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
