Royal Navy submarine hunters have joined forces with international allies in Norway to enhance their collective skills in submarine warfare.
The exercise, named Dynamic Mongoose, involves various naval units and is aimed at preparing NATO countries for threats from beneath the waves and beyond.
Exercise Dynamic Mongoose, held in the icy waters between Norway and Iceland, brought together submarines, warships, and aircraft from ten nations. The participants, including the frigate HMS Portland, tanker RFA Tidesurge, and Merlin helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron, focused on developing strategies to counteract underwater threats and improve coordination among NATO members.
HMS Portland, a Type 23 frigate specialising in anti-submarine warfare, played a crucial role. Commander Mat Court, the Commanding Officer of HMS Portland, emphasised the importance of the exercise in a press release.
“As a key player in the multi-national exercise Dynamic Mongoose 24, the UK demonstrates its unwavering dedication to upholding maritime security through close collaboration with our NATO partners,” he said in a press release.
“Our involvement highlights the UK’s capability to operate seamlessly with allied forces, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of anti-submarine warfare and contribute effectively to the collective defence of the North Atlantic region. HMS Portland’s participation underscores our commitment to maintaining a robust and agile force, capable of responding to a wide range of threats and challenges in partnership with our allies.”
Dynamic Mongoose included submarines from the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States, as well as aircraft from Canada, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US. Ships from Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), commanded by Spanish Navy Rear Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo aboard flagship ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón, also participated.
Notably, this year’s exercise marked the first time Sweden participated, incorporating one of its advanced, silent Gotland-class submarines.
Might as well use them while we still have them. Wait till after the general election to see if the conservatives keep their word if they win.
They won’t win
They always say that, and then they always win 😂
Talking of Norway does anyone know what is happening with NSM fits ? Its all gone very quiet.
Details are very sparse, but the intent is 11 ships overall and 3 of them “at pace” (within 12 months I think). As of end of 2023, only Somerset had them fitted, which is what they marked IOC against. Sutherland has just come out of dry dock and will start trials this year, and St Albans Started her sea trials post refit in March this year; so I reckon those would be the other two most likely to have the launchers fitted quickly. For what it’s worth, Wikipedia marks both of them as having their Harpoon “being replaced by NSM”.… Read more »
Glad to see our Swedish friends joining in the exercise. 👍👌.