Italy: NRF Warships Bound for Brilliant Mariner Exercise

A large fleet of warships from NATO’s Response Force (NRF) sailed from ports across Europe to take part in the maritime exercise “Brilliant Mariner” in the Mediterranean Sea that starts on Wednesday 25 September 2013 .

The warships will take part in integration training that will enable them to respond to operational needs or crisis situations anywhere in the world, as and when required. The exercise, which will end on 6 October 2013, will take place in the Tyrrhenian Sea between Sicily and Sardinia.

Over five thousand military and naval personnel from 10 NATO nations comprising Germany Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, France and the United States will participate.

The exercise will involve a total of 25 warships, including one aircraft carrier, 12 frigates, one auxiliary ships, and 7 mine counter measure vessels. Two submarines and a range of maritime Patrol aircraft will also take part.

NATO’s Maritime Command at Northwood, U.K will be responsible for directing the exercise known as Brilliant Mariner 2013. They will ensure that the NATO Response Force is faced with a realistic and demanding scenario, presenting a number of challenges for the commanders at sea; including, asymmetric or terrorist threats, maritime security operations and embargo operations.

“Brilliant Mariner will not only hone our ability to provide force integration and combat readiness training for the maritime forces assigned to the NATO Response force (NRF) but it is also a tangible demonstration of what maritime power can bring to the various security challenges that we are likely to be faced with in coming years,” said NATO’s maritime commander, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson of the UK Navy. “A key attribute of Maritime forces that is of increasing premium is that they can achieve influence without embroilment, offering political choice and viable military options,” he said.

This exercise is part of NATO’s efforts to maintain connected and interoperable maritime forces at a high-level of readiness. Through dynamic and demanding exercises, the goal is to make sure that maritime NRF troops are ready to deal with any situation in any environment.

[mappress]
Press Release, September 24, 2013; Image: NATO ACO