Held in conjunction with the Turkish Navy’s exercises Mavi Balina 22 and Nusret 22, DYMR/MB22 brought together 16 Allied nations in the Izmir region and in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Türkiye.
Led by NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), DYMR/MB22’s aim was to test and demonstrate the incoming NATO Response Force Maritime Component Commander (NRF MCC) and interoperability between NATO forces, enhancing flexibility and improving the ability to work together among Allied nations. Successfully validated, Türkiye is slated to take the role of NRF MCC in 2023.
Dynamic Mariner/Mavi Balina 22 successfully demonstrated NATO’s maritime readiness through a series of complex scenarios that increased interoperability between Allies and fortified our defensive posture. Türkiye is ready to take the helm as NATO Response Force Maritime Component Command next year.
MARCOM Deputy Chief of Staff for Support Turkish Navy Rear Admiral Ozgur Erken
Dynamic Mariner is one of MARCOM’s largest exercises. This year, it included 50 surface units, 4 submarines, 21 air assets (including maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles), 1,500 marines, special operations forces (SOF), and explosive ordnance disposal teams. Nearly 8,000 personnel collaborated to the exercise from Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States.
DYMR/MB22 involved the ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2), two of NATO's Standing Naval Forces on active duty that contribute to the Alliance's collective defence on a permanent basis.
“NATO’s maritime strength stems from its ability to bring together Allied forces under the common goal of deterrence and defence of the Alliance,” MARCOM Deputy Chief of Staff for Support Turkish Navy Rear Admiral Ozgur Erken said. “Dynamic Mariner/Mavi Balina 22 successfully demonstrated NATO’s maritime readiness through a series of complex scenarios that increased interoperability between Allies and fortified our defensive posture. Türkiye is ready to take the helm as NATO Response Force Maritime Component Command next year.”
DYMR/MB22 included training in specific skillsets to include surface, air, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), mine countermeasures, amphibious, hybrid, cyber, electronic warfare, information, and force protection operations.