NATO’s major submarine rescue exercise, Dynamic Monarch 24, is underway off the coast of Norway, bringing together personnel from across the Alliance to test and refine submarine rescue operations.
The exercise, which takes place every three years, is being held in cold water for the first time since 2014. It involves forces from ten countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Norway, France, Germany, Canada, and Türkiye, according to a press release.
Running from 9 to 19 September, the exercise aims to assess and improve NATO’s ability to respond to submarine emergencies. It includes the use of cutting-edge rescue technology, such as the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS), jointly owned by the UK, France, and Norway.
The NSRS is capable of reaching submarines at depths of up to 600 metres, docking with escape hatches, and evacuating up to 15 people at a time. Participating rescue vessels include Norway’s NoCGV Barentshav, Sweden’s HMS Belos, and Türkiye’s TCG Alemdar, which are designed to assist in complex underwater operations.
Dynamic Monarch 24 focuses on real-world rescue scenarios that test international coordination, rescue procedures, and the ability to respond to submarine emergencies in challenging environments. The exercise also includes multinational medical teams, who will practice treating trauma patients inside decompression chambers aboard the rescue ships.
Rear Admiral Bret Grabbe, NATO Commander of Submarines, highlighted the importance of collaboration during the exercise. “This exercise is a clear demonstration of the cooperation among submarine nations and the professionalism of the submarine rescue community,” Grabbe said in the press release.
“It underscores the importance of international cooperation in ensuring that all nations are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to submarine emergencies.”
The event is led by NATO’s International Submarine Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO), which coordinates responses to submarine distress calls and works with more than 40 nations to ensure global submarine rescue readiness.
