NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy –
Sailors assigned to the “Tridents” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 participated in exercise Dynamic Manta 2019 from Feb. 25 to March 7.
Dynamic Manta is a multilateral Allied Maritime Command anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare exercise involving NATO forces and is focused on improving the interoperability and proficiency of participating units.
Trident combat aircrews participated alongside U.S. partner and allied nations in 16 ASW training flights over the course of the two-week exercise. The flights focused on enhancing
inter-operability between the P-8A Poseidon and the various ASW assets of the other participating nations.
“Participating in exercises like Dynamic Manta is invaluable for us at the operational level,” said Lt. Taylor Janoe, a tactical coordinator assigned to VP-26. “It allows us to receive firsthand experience operating with our allies in a dynamic maritime environment, and gives us the opportunity to see what sort of capabilities they bring to the table while showcasing the P-8.”
The ASW flights consisted of Trident aircrews coordinating with allied surface and air assets to locate, track and conduct simulated attack runs on allied submarines acting as combatants.
“The ASW portion of this exercise was very rewarding for me as an acoustic operator,” said Naval Aircrewman (Operator) 1st Class Jeffrey Morter, an acoustic operator assigned to VP-26. “It is not very often that I get to work with diesel submarines from our partner nations and it was really great to see how they operate.”
The U.S. participation in the exercise demonstrates our commitment to working closely with NATO allies and partners to enhance maritime security and stability, readiness, and naval capability.
The Tridents are deployed to the U.S. 6th fleet area of operations in support of maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.