Proud Manta 2013

[Lex]

NATO Forces in the Mediterranean for Exercise Proud Manta 2013

From 23 February to 6 March 2013, ten NATO nations will take part in PROUD MANTA 13, NATO's largest Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) exercise.

The exercise will take place in the Ionian Sea to the southeast of Sicily. Forces are provided by Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Altogether, participating nations will provide 4 submarines, 17 aircraft and 10 surface ships.

Submarines from Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey are scheduled to join the exercise. Each submarine will have the opportunity to conduct a variety of submarine operations, including being both a hunter and the hunted.
 
Surface warships from a German Task Group (1 frigate and 2 corvettes), a French destroyer and an auxiliary ship, an Italian destroyer and an auxiliary ship, a US cruiser and destroyer and a NATO research vessel will participate in the exercise.

Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Helicopters will operate from Air Bases in Sicily, and are contributed by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, United Kingdom and The United States. Over 100 air missions are planned for this year's edition of the exercise.

During POMA 13's execution, Exercise Control, and submarine and maritime air functions will be controlled from the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) in Northwood, UK.

This exercise follows on from the previous NOBLE MANTA series and will demonstrate NATO's determination to maintain proficiency in coordinated anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, coastal surveillance and other maritime security tasks. Furthermore, it aims to train participating units for NATO Response Force (NRF) tasks, roles and missions.

The MANTA Series also provides a unique opportunity for operational experimentation with new technology and tactics. As in POMA 12, this year's MANTA will host the STO-CMRE (ex-NURC) research vessel NRV ALLIANCE which is the quietest, purpose built vessel in its class, and the only ship jointly owned by all NATO nations. NRV ALLIANCE will support experimentation using some Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) for autonomous detection and tracking of submarines in shallow water.

NATO ACO pressrelease,
01 march 2013

[dudge]

Merlin prepares to weave its magic in massive Mediterranean sub hunt

The Royal Navy's best submarine hunting helicopters will begin pitting their wits against their chosen foes this weekend in the warm waters of the Mediterranean.

Merlins from Culdrose in Cornwall are making the 1,400-mile trip across Europe to join fellow anti-submarine specialists from the world's navies for the biggest NATO exercise of its type.

Each year the international military alliance gathers ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters in and off Sicily for Proud Manta – and 2013 is no different.

Although Merlin is designed primarily as a submarine hunter, in its 11½-year front-line career it has assumed a much wider role as an all-round warrior: hunting pirates, taking down drug smugglers, search and rescue duties, shifting personnel and stores around.

Its crews are always keen to return to their roots, however. HMS Northumberland's Merlin has recently been hunting for boats in an exercise east of Suez and now three Merlins and 75 personnel from 829 and 814 Naval Air Squadrons at Culdrose are the Royal Navy's commitment to the two-week Mediterranean war game.

As well as air and ground crew, logistics experts are being flown to US Naval Air Station Sigonella, the hub for the aerial side of Proud Manta, to meet all the needs of the Fleet Air Arm helicopters.

At Sigonella in eastern Sicily, they'll join up with Americans, Canadians, Norwegians, Italians, French, Germans, Spanish, Greeks and Turks.

814 – also known as the Flying Tigers – are used to large-scale exercises like Proud Manta (they were out here two years ago, while their sister squadron 820 visited Sicily in 2012); 829, on the other hand, typically provide ship's flights for Type 23 frigates, working in the cramped confines of the hangar, and with a small flight deck on which to set the Merlin down.

So the chance to work as part of a larger team – and with more space to work with – is something the 829 men and women have jumped at.

"Merlin is one the best anti-submarine aircraft in the world and this is a great chance to prove that we are equally capable of operating from ships or land-based airfields at home or abroad," said Cdr Steve Windebank, 829's Commanding Officer.

"Taking part in an exercise like Proud Manta is a fantastic opportunity for our crews to practise their anti-submarine warfare skills while working alongside our NATO partners.

"I hope everyone involved with take something away from this year's exercise."

Proud Manta is due to end on March 7.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/February/18/130218-Merlin-prepares-to-weave-its-magic-in-massive-Mediterranean-sub-hunt