Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 Departs Taranto, Italy, Starts Mare Aperto 22-2

SNMG2 departed Taranto with its flagship, U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and Spanish Navy Alvaro de Bazan-class guided-missile frigate ESPS Cristobal Colon (F 105). SNMG2 will join Italian Navy flagship ITS Cavour (C 550) at sea along with other ships and aircraft during the exercise.

Mare Aperto offers us yet another opportunity with our Allies to hone our ability to integrate, strengthen our posture, and enhance our situational awareness.

"The ability to train and fight as interoperable and interchangeable units is one of the key elements of the task group’s success,” U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Scott Sciretta, SNMG2 commander said. “Mare Aperto offers us yet another opportunity with our Allies to hone our ability to integrate, strengthen our posture, and enhance our situational awareness. By doing this we are better positioned to deter and defend the Alliance against all threats in the maritime domain, uphold freedom of navigation, secure maritime trade routes, and protect the sea lines of communication.”

MA 22-2 is an advanced, maritime and amphibious exercise designed and hosted by Italian Navy, to strengthen and enhance the combat readiness of participating assets. Its aim is to train and test commands, staffs and crews during a series of activities at sea in a realistic, multi-dimensional scenario, specifically a NATO Article 5 collective defence operation. The exercise will run through serialized and free-play events with commanders at sea granted maximum freedom of decision-making authority. Training events will focus on the development of main maritime warfare activities and amphibious operations with the support of political and legal advisors and experts in public information. MA 22-2 will take place in the Mediterranean Sea and is scheduled to run Oct. 3 to 27.