NATO’s anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Merlin began in the Baltic Sea on 9 November, hosted by Sweden. Eight allied nations are taking part, according to the Swedish Armed Forces.
— Sweden is prepared to take on a large responsibility within the alliance, and hosting this exercise is just one example of how we do that, says Chief of the Navy Johan Norlén.
Sweden is contributing five corvettes, one submarine, a Helicopter 14 and the support ship HMS Trossö. Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) is also taking part. Its ships were due to dock at Frihamnen in Stockholm on 6 November, ahead of the exercise.
According to the Swedish Armed Forces, the exercise aims to build NATO’s joint capability to hunt submarines. They point to the Baltic’s shallow, varied waters and to Sweden’s long experience of submarine hunting. They say Dynamic Merlin will become one of NATO’s standing naval exercises.
This is the third time Sweden has hosted the exercise. Last year’s edition, Playbook Merlin 25, brought together nine NATO countries, as reported by NDS.
