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The U.S. and other NATO countries this week are wrapping up a naval exercise off the coast of Norway to test and refine their capabilities to rescue submarines that are lost or in danger.
The 10-day Dynamic Monarch exercise is held every three years and brings together naval forces from across the NATO alliance, including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Turkey.
“Participating navies and personnel will showcase the very latest in submarine rescue technology, operational strategies, and above all, enhance international cooperation to respond efficiently when lives are at stake,” NATO officials said in a statement.
Exercise planners developed complex scenarios to reflect the kind of real-world situations submariners might face. Their operations are inherently dangerous and unpredictable. The Argentine Navy’s ARA San Juan submarine imploded and sank in the southern Atlantic Ocean in November 2017 due to several factors, including a water leak and problems with the ventilation system.
The Russian nuclear submarine K-141 Kursk sank during an accident in August 2000 in the Barents Sea with the loss of all 118 personnel on board. An investigation later revealed that one of the Kursk’s torpedoes exploded while the crew prepared it for a launch.
The navies participating in Dynamic Monarch practiced coordinating efforts to rescue personnel trapped inside submarines at risk. NATO officials said that Norway, Sweden and Turkey brought their state-of-the-art rescue ships to participate in the exercise.
“This exercise is a clear demonstration of the cooperation among submarine nations and the professionalism of the submarine rescue community. It underscores the importance of international cooperation in ensuring that all nations are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to submarine emergencies,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Bret Grabbe, commander of NATO’s submarine force.
“The skills and experiences gained here will significantly contribute to the interoperability of our navies and broader maritime security cooperation initiatives,” Adm. Grabbe said.
Organizers of the exercise used it to demonstrate the effectiveness of the NATO Submarine Rescue System, jointly owned by France, Norway and the U.K.
The NSRS remotely operated vehicle can dive down to about 2,000 feet and dock with a stricken submarine. NATO said the NSRS can rescue up to 15 people at a time, including patients on stretchers, and return them to the surface.
From its naval base in Scotland, the NSRS can be deployed anywhere in the world within 96 hours.
Staging this year’s exercise in Norway gives NATO members a chance to practice rescue operations in a colder climate, Norwegian Navy Commodore Kyrre Haugen said.
“NATO should be prepared to work together towards saving submariners in danger, no matter the area of what nation the submarine belongs to,” Commodore Haugen said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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