NATO starts anti submarine exercise in North Sea as tension with Russia rise

[n2doc]

Source: Reuters

NATO launched one of its biggest-ever anti-submarine exercises in the North Sea on Monday, inviting non-member Sweden for the first time, amid increasing tensions between Russia and its northern neighbors.

More than a dozen vessels from 11 countries are participating in the "Dynamic Mongoose" exercise. NATO will simulate detecting and attacking submarines in one of the most hostile seas, with rugged but shallow underwater canyons, rapid currents and unusually high sound pollution from freshwater pouring in from Norway's fjords.

Tensions have run high since Russia annexed part of Ukraine last year, with the three small Baltic states, who also rely on the Nordics for defense, fearing they may be next as they are home to big Russian minorities.

Finland detected an unidentified submarine along its coast last week, firing depth charges at the vessel, while NATO-member Latvia, a former Soviet state, last month said it detected a Russian submarine near its waters.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/04/us-nato-submarine-idUSKBN0NP12820150504

[djean111]

1. Spoiling for a war.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. Possibly, but

one thing that Putie Put did do is to clean up the military.

their army finally FINALLY is issued socks to wear. Until the 1990s, they wore rags tied to their feet.

Their air force is something to be reckoned with. Their 4th gen fighters beat our 5th gen fighter in a test run by the US and Brits. Our military does not like to talk about that one bit. Plus given the multiple weaknesses of the F-35, no legs, lack of stealth, few weapons systems that actually work, software problems, helmets that do not work as advertised, super fast engine wear and tear, 20+ hours of maintenance for every hour of flight, and much more, that means that our F-35 will not match up well with their far more reliable existing systems.

Finally, their sub technology, especially the newest diesel-electric models can now spend weeks underwater, far more silently than their older nuke boats like that titanium speedster that they retired. They are extremely hard to detect.

My take? I'd prefer that we train, just because preparation is better than unpleasant surprises.

[hack89]

3. Anti-submarine warfare is defensive in nature

if Russia wants to be aggressive than it makes perfect sense.

[iandhr]

4. So it's okay for Russia to constantly put military assets near NATO...

… but not okay to respond?

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. Funny headline. As if NATO exercises had nothing to do with rising tensions.

Those rising tensions are just floating out there, and NATO is innocently going about its business.

Or maybe its only the Evil Poot who can make tensions rise. I dunno.

[Bossy Monkey]

6. All a cunning plot to invade Texas!