Britain’s newest operational boat, HMS Ambush, made a rare appearance on the surface of the Mediterranean for NATO’s biggest submarine exercise of the autumn.
Over 10 days, five surface ships and seven maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters pitted their wits against seven submarines, five conventional diesel boats and two nuclear, in the Ionian Sea.
Exercise Dynamic Manta 15 was billed as one of the most demanding submarine hunting workouts above, on and below the Seven Seas.
Throwing the hat into the ring on behalf of the UK was HMS Ambush, carrying out her second operational patrol since joining the Silent Service. Ranged against her and boats from the US, Spanish, Turkish, Greek, French and Italian navies were NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2, led by the German frigate FGS Hamburg.
After a couple of days in Catania, Sicily, to discuss the exercise, the warships and submarines put to sea for the active phase, while the aircraft lifted off from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily.
Throughout Dynamic Manta, the air station, just outside Catania, has also been home to an international team of anti-submarine warfare experts who followed the progress of the daily ‘battles’ in real time – then provided feedback and advice to all participants.
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Image: Royal Navy