F-80 frigate ‘Santa María’ concludes anti-submarine Exercise ‘Dynamic Manta 2019’.

Frigate ‘Santa María’, as of mid-February integrated into the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG-2), joined the anti-submarine Exercise ‘Dynamic Manta 19’ where more than 3,000 servicemen from other navies participated in these large manoeuvers.

The following nations took part in this NATO-organized exercise: Germany, Canada, Spain, United States, France, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Turkey. Participating units included five submarines (the Spanish ‘Tramontana’ among them), nine surface units (including the F-100 ‘Blas de Lezo’ and F-80 ‘Santa María’) eleven helicopters (like the F-80’s SH-60B) and six maritime patrol aircraft, among them a Spanish Air Force P-3M.

The manoeuvers included several drill related to anti-submarine warfare, replenishments at sea, advanced evolutions, firing and other surface warfare exercises.

After nearly two weeks of intense activities, the ships proceeded towards the port of Catania to analyze the results of the exercise and crew rest. The ‘Santa María’ then set sail once again for her third surveillance patrol in the central and eastern Mediterranean before calling at the Turkish port of Aksaz.