"During Bold Monarch thirteen countries worked together to exercise rescuing submariners from the depths of the sea,” said NATO’s Deputy Commander Submarines Capt. David Dittmer (USN), who is in tactical command of the units involved in this exercise.

 

Bold Monarch 2011 is a NATO exercise supported by both the Submarine Escape and Rescue Working Group (SMERWG) and the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO).

 

Submarine escape and rescue is an international humanitarian aid effort that requires cooperation across national and alliance boundaries. ISMERLO was established 7 years ago, and is the international coordinating hub for global submarine rescue procedure, systems, equipment and support ships. It also ensures at least one of the world’s rescue systems is available to be deployed immediately should an emergency occur.

 

This exercise took place off the coast of Spain, and included submarines from Spain, Russia, Portugal and Turkey. All submarine rescue systems from the U.S., Russia, Italy and NATO were proven compatible with every submarine.

 

"We enjoyed this chance to work together. It was a demonstration of good will from all participants and an excellent demonstration of the compatibility of our systems,” said Russian Federation Navy Capt. George Shelest, from the Russian Federation Navy liaison office. "I think that it provides confidence of a positive rescue if something goes wrong.”  (photo: Ricardo J. Reyes/US Navy)