• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

NATO Forces in Mediterranean for Annual Anti-Submarine Exercise

(United States, UK, Turkey, Spain, Italy, other countries to
participate) (450)
NATO forces from the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Spain,
Italy, Portugal, Canada, Greece, Germany and France will gather in the
Mediterranean Sea between February 20 and March 5 to conduct the
alliance's largest annual anti-submarine warfare exercise.
Exercise DOGFISH 03, which will take place in the Ionian Sea to the
east of Sicily, will demonstrate NATO's determination to maintain
proficiency in coordinated anti-submarine, anti-surface and coastal
surveillance operations using a multinational force of ships,
submarines and aircraft.
Following is a NATO press release:
(begin text)
Regional HQ
Allied Forces Southern Europe
AFSOUTH Press Releases
February 14, 2003 
NATO FORCES GATHER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN FOR THE NATO'S LARGEST ANNUAL
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE EXERCISE
From 20 February to 5 March 2003, ten NATO nations will provide nine
submarines, fourteen maritime patrol aircraft, eight surface ships and
personnel to take part in NATO's largest anti-submarine Warfare (ASW)
exercise, "DOGFISH 03". The exercise will take place in the Ionian Sea
to the east of Sicily. France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey
and the United States will provide the submarines participating in the
exercise. Each submarine will have the opportunity of being a hunter
as well as the hunted.
Four NATO surface ships from Standing Naval Force Mediterranean
(STANAVFORMED) will take part, as well as the US Destroyer USS Oscar
Austin, the Italian frigate ITS Euro and two Italian Corvettes, ITS
Chimera and ITS Fenice. The exercise will demonstrate NATO's
determination to maintain proficiency in coordinated anti-submarine,
anti-surface, and coastal surveillance operations using a
multinational force of ships, submarines and aircraft.
The Maritime Patrol Aircraft that will operate from Sigonella, Sicily,
are from Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the
United Kingdom and the United States. Italian shore-based ASW
helicopters from Fontanarossa, Sicily will also participate. Over 130
day and night air missions are planned. DOGFISH 03 will be controlled
from the co-located multinational NATO Headquarters of the Commander
Submarines, Allied Naval Forces South and the Commander, Maritime Air,
Allied Naval Forces South, Naples, Italy.
NOTE FOR THE EDITOR: From 19 February until 6 March 2003 a main Press
Information Centre (PIC) will be established in Naples, Italy.
Media questions prior to the establishment of the PIC should be
addressed to the Public Information Officer, ALLIED FORCES SOUTHERN
EUROPE - (AFSOUTH): Lt Cdr H L BURWIN, HQ AFSOUTH Public Information
Office, Naples, Italy; Telephone: --39 081 721 2239/2437. Email:
afspio@afsouth.nato.int.
Tel: 
(+39) (081) 721 2437
(+39) (081) 721 2235 
Public Information Office 
AFSOUTH 
Viale della Liberazione 80124 ITALY 
http://www.afsouth.nato.int
pio@afsouth.nato.int
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)