Warning. This post shows the positions of the main naval groups or other individual units deemed relevant. This post is not exhaustive of all units present at sea at this time.
The most significant naval activity these days is taking place in the Ionian Sea during the Dynamic Manta 24 exercise, while international attention has been focused on the Red Sea where numerous units, not only from the United States but also from the European Union (as part of the Aspides mission), are operating.
NATO
In these days he NATO’s annual training activity named ‘Dynamic Manta’ is set to take place in the central Mediterranean area between February 26 and March 8. Organized by the NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) and conducted off the eastern and southern coasts of Sicily, Dynamic Manta is an advanced antisubmarine warfare exercise aimed at improving allied capabilities to operate integratively against this threat.
This year, seven submarines from the navies of Italy, France, Greece, Spain, the United States, and Turkey (TCG Anafartalar, S-356)will be involved, operating in coordination with the NATO Submarine Command and surface units. Additionally, maritime patrol aircraft from Canada, Germany, Greece, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Turkey are expected to participate. These activities will be carried out as part of Operation Noble Shield, under the tactical guidance of Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito, Commander of the Second Permanent Naval Group of NATO in the Mediterranean.
The Italian Navy will participate in the exercise with the anti-submarine frigate Carlo Margottini (F 592), the destroyer Luigi Durand de la Penne (D 560), the Offshore Multipurpose Patrol Ship Francesco Morosini (P 431), two submarines (among which Todaro, S526)and two helicopters based at the Catania Helicopter Base.
The Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is also participating in the exercise, while the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
📌 26 Feb – 8 Mar
— 🇮🇹 Italy at NATO (@ItalyatNATO) February 29, 2024
🇮🇹 & #Allies 🇨🇦🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇷🇪🇸🇹🇷🇬🇧🇺🇸 are honing their interoperability skills during #NATO Dynamic Manta 2024 Anti-Submarine Warfare exercise off the coast of Sicily 🌊
📸 @ItalianNavy#WeAreNATO#StrongerTogether
➡️https://t.co/K3upJ5cWww
➡️https://t.co/fIBIQmzfes pic.twitter.com/hyJSLXpaij
The presence of the United States Navy in the Mediterranean continues with the USS Bataan (LHD-5) and its support group (including the USS Mesa Verde, LPD-19), which has been operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, engaged in exercises with Turkish and British naval units.
🇺🇸🇬🇧
— U.S. Fleet Forces (@USFleetForces) February 27, 2024
📍MEDITERRANEAN SEA – The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, dock landing ship USS Carter Hall, amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde, and guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke transit with the United Kingdom primary casualty receiving ship RFA Argus Feb. 25. pic.twitter.com/x5FAP906pX
Still in the Eastern Mediterranean, the frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini (F 590) is currently anchored in Limassol.
#MediterraneoSicuro visita a bordo di #NaveBergamini in sosta a Limassol (Cipro) del Console Onorario d’Italia a Limassol, Avv. Rosita Minischetti. #MarinaMilitare #NoiSiamolaMarina pic.twitter.com/IYpeHEMVK3
— Marina Militare (@ItalianNavy) February 27, 2024
Meanwhile the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond (D34) is in Gibraltar, where it has reloaded its missile launchers, ready to return to the Red Sea.
What a warship!
— James Heappey MP (@JSHeappey) February 20, 2024
BZ @hmsdiamond.
Don’t let anyone make you paint over the scorch marks on the silos!#Battlehardened pic.twitter.com/qSS3nFGKtw
It’s worth noting that the two NATO aircraft carriers currently available in the Mediterranean are in their respective home ports: the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) is in Toulon and its return to service, after a long period of maintenance, is imminent. The Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (C550) is instead anchored in Taranto.
RUSSIA
The situation of the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean, now reduced to very few units, is instead calm. Only two units are not reported to be present in the Syrian port of Tartus, the spy ship Kildin and the corvette Merkury, highlighting once again how the Russian “threat” in the Mediterranean is almost negligible.
#Russia's naval deployment in the #Mediterranean on the morning of Feb-24 as reported by #OSINT.
— Frederik Van Lokeren (@KaptainLOMA) February 24, 2024
Observations over the past weeks show the task force keeps at least one surface vessel operational in the Eastern Mediterranean.https://t.co/XfZ1IU2LoS pic.twitter.com/A4hHkEiUEA
Tecnici e piloti provenienti da tutti i reparti “Eurofighter” dell’Aeronautica Militare si addestreranno presso il 36/o Stormo Caccia di Gioia del Colle, in provincia di Bari, nell’ambito dell’esercitazione annuale ‘Typhoon Flag 2024′ che si terrà dall’ 11 al 29 marzo. Lo annuncia in una nota l’Aeronautica militare.
La base in Puglia
In particolare nell’aeroporto militare barese si schiereranno “un’aliquota di personale ed assetti aerei provenienti dai vari reparti dell’Aeronautica dotati di velivolo F2000 (4° Stormo di Grosseto, 37/o Stormo di Trapani e 51/o Stormo di Istrana)”. L’attività che avrà come base l’aeroporto pugliese è funzionale anche in preparazione dell’esercitazione ‘Red Flag’ che si svolgerà in Alaska nei prossimi mesi di aprile e maggio.