Royal Navy mine experts join NATO allies to thwart subsea attacks in virtual exercise in Belgium

More than 140 mine warfare specialists were thrust into a virtual crisis as they battled to keep sea lanes clear at the Belgian Navy Academy in Ostende.

Allies are working together in the face of threats to subsea infrastructure and these biannual exercises – known as Dynamic Move – serve as a chance for NATO to work on tactics and procedures to allow the alliance to react rapidly against an attack. 

In attendance were the Royal Navy’s Mine Warfare Battlestaff, who can be deployed globally at a moment’s notice to plan and conduct operations – bringing expertise in engineering, logistics, meteorology, intelligence and mine warfare.

The UK is bolstering its efforts to counter subsea threats alongside allies to defend critical national infrastructure, including fibre optic data cables and pipelines.

Ultimately, Dynamic Move – organised by NATO’s Allied Maritime Command – keeps navies sharp and ready for operations to keep sea lines of communication safe.

Commander David Bryden, who heads up the Royal Navy battlestaff, said: “Effective co-ordination is crucial for the success of any mine counter-measures task.  

“The exercise has enabled us to thoroughly test our ability to cohere a large group of mine counter-measures forces for a challenging mission and practice our processes to make maritime areas safe from sea mines. 

“I would like to thank the Belgian Navy and NATO Maritime Command for hosting and delivering this exercise and I look forward to future collaborations."

Dynamic Move took place over ten days in Ostende on the North Sea coast and involved intensive interactive simulations that tested the teams and made them react quickly, with the scenario itself set hundreds of miles to the east in the Baltic. 

Several academics also attended the exercise, giving training and briefings in subjects related to mine counter-measures warfare, including mine warfare legal aspects, amphibious operations and media training.

Commodore Simon Kelly, Deputy Commander of the UK’s Strike Force said: "It has been incredibly valuable to work alongside our NATO partners here in Belgium Navy Academy and see our Mine Warfare Battlestaff applying their expertise in this challenging, realistic scenario. 

“The innovative use of simulation has brought the scenario to life and our teams have gained enormous benefit from the tempo and challenge it has offered."

Dynamic Move continues in the early autumn in La Spezia, Italy.