AKSAZ, Turkey – Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) ships
arrived in Aksaz today for a port visit and to prepare for the Turkish
Navy led Exercise MAVI BALINA.
MAVI BALINA is a major anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise in the
Mediterranean, conducted annually and involving multiple nations,
including the Standing NATO Maritime Group in the region. It aims to
improve interoperability between Alliance maritime forces while
conducting advanced ASW and testing experimental tactics.
"Exercises like this are instrumental in ensuring that our ships
and Sailors can integrate seamlessly in times of need,” said Lt. Iain
Andrews (GBR N), SNMG2 staff anti-submarine warfare officer. "Training
such as this allows us to hone our skills as a staff within a
multi-national task group, and combine the knowledge and experience from
many different backgrounds, to create a stronger combined approach.”
The main objectives of the exercise are to offer the opportunity to
conduct all arms anti-submarine warfare, submarine and maritime air
operations and to provide an advanced training opportunity for
participating units to enhance their skills and technical knowledge.
During the course of the exercise, SNMG2 units will conduct rapid
data collection, coordinated submarine-air operations, practice
communication procedures and organize task groups in support of a common
goal.
"It is very challenging to conduct exercises with submarines due to
the fine line between realism and safety,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christoph
Ploss (GER N), SNMG2 submarine element coordination officer.
"Furthermore the environmental complexity of submarine warfare,
involving subsurface, surface and air assets at the same time, can only
be addressed by exercises like these.”
SNMG2 ships participating in MAVI BALINA are the flagship, USS
Leyte Gulf (CG 55), German ship FGS Niedersachsen (F 208), Turkish ship
TCG Kemalreis (F 247), Canadian ship HMCS Toronto (FFH 333), Spanish
ships ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbon (F 102) and ESPS Reina Sofia (F 84).
Story by: MARCOM Public Affairs Office.
