British, American, and Italian aircraft carriers, along with American and Turkish assault ships plus a range of warships and support vessels, are taking part in Exercise NEPTUNE STRIKE 2024-2 to enhance NATO’s ability to defend strategic maritime chokepoints and deter potential threats.

The exercise, running from 24th to 31st October, features the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, the U.S. Navy’s USS Harry S. Truman, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, Turkey’s TCG Anadolu, and Italy’s ITS Cavour, operating across the Mediterranean, North, and Baltic Seas.

The exercise, led by NATO’s Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO), showcases the complex integration of high-end maritime strike capabilities across multiple operational areas, with a focus on ensuring freedom of navigation and defence across strategic maritime chokepoints.

The exercise encompasses joint operational areas from the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas up to the North and Baltic Seas, featuring air, land, and sea coordination. It includes significant air-to-ground actions in the Baltic Sea region, notably with the involvement of NATO’s newest member, Sweden. Key operations include amphibious landings, counter-mine efforts, explosive ordnance disposal, and defence against drones.

Rear Adm. James Morley, Deputy Commander of STRIKFORNATO, commented, “The goal is to increase NATO’s ability to conduct wide-reaching multi-domain operations, integrating air, land, and sea forces in real-time to maintain freedom of movement and safeguard critical areas of operation.”

In the North Sea, the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is joined by the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales and her escorts. Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, the command and control ship USS Mount Whitney leads operations, supported by the USS Wasp, USS Oak Hill, and Turkey’s amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. Italy’s ITS Cavour also contributes to portions of the exercise.

A total of 20 surface vessels, submarines, Special Forces, and numerous aircraft are participating in the exercise, with approximately 15,000 personnel involved in various operational roles. NEST 24-2 reinforces NATO’s ability to respond to threats across multiple domains and locations.

This exercise, which is defensive in nature, is part of Project Neptune, launched in 2020 to improve the flexibility and pace of command and control within NATO’s naval strike and amphibious forces. It demonstrates NATO’s capability to integrate multinational strike and maritime groups across long distances, ensuring rapid, coordinated responses in times of crisis.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Brom
Brom
10 days ago

5 ‘aircraft carriers’ and associated support vessels deployed in the area at one time. Don’t see the Russians matching that any time soon, or indeed ever.

J. Garcia
J. Garcia
10 days ago

NATO again flexing muscles! So laughable, especially when they can’t (or more like, they won’t) handle the murderous IDF (that’s the vengeful Israelite defense forces, for those that still don’t know) in their incredibly senseless GENOCIDE against people (civilians) in Gaza and Lebanon. It is no longer a secret that every single day the IDF kill scores of innocent women, children and older people in their bid to assassinate one or two so-called terrorists – according to them and the “great” US of A (their modern-day protectors and supplier of military might). The problem though is that they (the IDF)… Read more »

Finnegan
Finnegan
9 days ago
Reply to  J. Garcia

Mabe the terrorists should release the hostages they’ve held for over a year and stop hiding in civilian areas.

It is no longer a secret that Hamas is more than happy to ensure innocent people to die just to further their cause, absolutely spineless and shameful.

But hey, I’m sure if someone came into your property, killed some of your family took some hostage and refused to release them after a year you would sit back and carry on with life as it was, sure…

Meirion X
Meirion X
8 days ago
Reply to  J. Garcia

🙄 I was Hamas that started this war off, last October!

Last edited 8 days ago by Meirion X
Steve Derby
Steve Derby
8 days ago
Reply to  J. Garcia

If the Islamic terrorists Hamas hadnt murdered and raped innocent Israelis in October’s I valuing and Islamic Muslim terrorists Hezbollah hadn’t fired hundreds of missiles into Israel. How can Israel accept this. Islamic Muslim extremists get what they deserve as do the populations who support and shelter them

Eric
Eric
8 days ago
Reply to  J. Garcia

You reap what you sow

Paul
Paul
8 days ago
Reply to  J. Garcia

Totally agree with you.

ted
ted
10 days ago

what a ridiculous thing, russia can’t even overrun three ukrianian oblasts !

Hfhf
Hfhf
8 days ago
Reply to  ted

I don’t think that Russia wants to do this….it’s what you’ve been told. Because they can’t overrun it, they’re bankrupting every single country which decides to help ukraine. Is any ammo left in Nato that they do training?

M#ch2768
M#ch2768
10 days ago

I think these exercises are vital to show despots that what ever atrocious actions they are thinking of doing,they will think twice!! Putin is a coward&is now turning to north Korea to back is failing invasion,due to killing hundreds of thousands of innocent lives! I think guys like this& little boy Kim that’s messing with his toys of destruction are worthless scum,that if you took there threatening power away they are insecure! They rely on scare tactics for control!!

Coeve date
Coeve date
10 days ago

Earth under observation from space a long time coming.A exercise they say or a test of military grade resources.All continent’s are liased with each other under law.TIme is not for sale aerospace and defence companies are listed . Interesting…

Bill
Bill
9 days ago

Good to know we are all pulling together to keep the world safe

Dave
Dave
8 days ago
Reply to  Bill

Is that REALLY, TRULY what u think???? Surely deluded… U must go through life with your hoodie on backwards and the hoods laces shoved DEEPLY in your ear-holes…!!!

Last edited 8 days ago by Dave