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Sep 23 2022

NATO's Dynamic Mariner/Mavi Balina 22 concludes in Mediterranean

NORTHWOOD, United Kingdom – NATO concluded its 12-day maritime crisis-response exercise, Dynamic Mariner 22, at Aksaz Naval Base, Türkiye, Sept. 22.

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
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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.

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NATO’s single point of contact for the merchant shipping industry, the NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) participated in the exercise not only to provide simulated crisis support but also to build real-world relationships with the shipping industry. NSC shared information on maritime threats and provided up-to-date guidance on how merchant shipping should proceed in the area. Depending on the situation, this could include merchant ships sailing independently along normal commercial routes, and creating group transit or protective schemes of maneuver.

Under the NSC, the Deployed Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) Element (DNE) conducted 34 face-to-face crisis-response briefings at Alsancak, Aliaga and Cesme ports. The team also took the opportunity to raise the merchant shipping industry’s awareness about NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian (OSG). All ships operating in the Mediterranean Sea have the potential to contribute to the NSC’s Vessel Reporting Scheme, which provides a more comprehensive picture of the maritime domain increasing safety and security for all mariners.

The In-Stride Debriefing in support of Training (IDT) team, led by the Headquarters MARCOM Operational Analysis branch, played a key role in DYMR/MB22. The multinational team provided operational analysis of ASW serials and near real-time feedback to exercise participants. It allowed units to quickly and efficiently debrief their teams, accelerate lessons learned, and increase ASW readiness.

Overall, the exercise demonstrated the ability of the Standing Force and NATO Response Force (NRF) elements to integrate rapidly with high readiness, high capability national forces and task groups. Regular training between these groups is a force multiplier and provides a collectively trained and interoperable capability that NATO can confidently deploy.

The NRF is a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force that comprises land, air, maritime and SOF components that the Alliance can deploy quickly, whenever and wherever needed.

Collective defence remains the Alliance's greatest responsibility and deterrence is a core element of NATO's overall strategy – preventing conflict and war, protecting Allies, maintaining freedom of decision and action, and upholding the principles and values it stands for.

Headquartered in Northwood, NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) is the central command of all NATO maritime forces. MARCOM’s commander is the principle maritime advisor to the Alliance. Like its land and air counterparts (LANDCOM and AIRCOM), MARCOM reports to NATO's Allied Command Operations (ACO), which is located in Mons, Belgium.

Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM

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