The Signature
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Dynamic Manta Converges By Lt. Karl Schonberg, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
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ver the past two weeks you may have noticed an uptick in the number of NATO personnel around Sigonella, specifically on NAS I, around the flightline and dining in our “Ney” award winning Ristorante Bella Etna galley. Some of you may have even had to stand extra watch to check them on to base. So what exactly is all this about? It is the large annual NATO anti-submarine exercise
A crew member of the Italian Navy frigate ITS Carabiniere, flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2), prepares to fuel an NH90 helicopter during Exercise Dynamic Manta 2020. Dynamic Manta is an annual antisubmarine warfare exercise. (courtesy photo by NATO)
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involving nine Allied nations. NATO exercise Dynamic Manta (DYMA20) kicked off Monday, Feb. 24, near the coast of Sicily. Ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel converged in the Central Mediterranean Sea for advance antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) training. Submarines from France, Greece, Italy and Turkey under NATO Submarine Command joined surface ships from Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey. Some of these ships pulled into the NATO pier in Augusta bay, while others moored in the port of Catania. Locally, you may have heard the buzz from commands closely involved in the exercise, such as our very own Commander, Task Force 67 and the forward deployed Maritime Reconnaissance Patrol Squadron, VP-4. These commands serve as our local experts when it comes to airborne antisubmarine warfare. “As a member of a VP-4 flight crew, it was a unique experience being able to participate with our NATO allies to train toward real world scenarios,” said Naval Aircrewman (Operator) 2nd Class Douglas Harris. “We worked with a wide variety of multinational platforms in order to enhance our maritime performance capabilities.” If you work at any of the commands near NAS II’s flight line, you may have witnessed
