Welcome to the Bold Monarch

2011 Homepage

At the end of May this year NATO will carry out a 12 day submarine rescue exercise. The exercise, which is code-named Exercise Bold Monarch 11, is held every three years and is the world’s largest submarine rescue exercise, involving submarines, ships and aircraft from both NATO and non-NATO countries, including Russia. This will be the first time a Russian submarine has participated in any NATO exercise. Bold Monarch 11 will be conducted off the coast of Spain, near Cartagena, between 30 May - 10 June 2011. Approximately two thousand military and non military personnel will attend from over twenty countries. The exercise is designed to maximise international cooperation in submarine rescue operations – something that has always been very important to NATO and all the submarine-operating nations. . During the exercise submarines from Portugal, Russia, Spain and Turkey will be ‘bottomed’ in a sea area just off the coast of Spain, NE of Cartagena. Rescue forces equipped with a range of sophisticated debris clearance, diver assisted gear and submarine rescue vehicles from Italy, the USA, Russia and Sweden, together with a jointly owned rescue system from France, Norway and the UK, will engage in a serialized programme to ‘rescue’ the stricken submariners. Specialist divers and hyperbaric medical teams from France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK will work from support ships and be tasked to deal with complex medical problems in what is a very demanding maritime environment. Air units will also deploy from Italy, the UK and US to assist in locating the distressed submariners and to deploy parachutists to provide first reaction assistance. Exercise Bold Monarch 2011 will culminate with a 48 hour coordinated rescue and evacuation of 150 survivors, including many casualties, from a ‘disabled’ submarine. Emphasis will be placed on the command and control of such an incident under internationally agreed NATO procedures. The compatibility between the rescue assets, standardization of procedures and coordination and cooperation between ALL national elements, both military and civilian, will be demonstrated in Bold Monarch 2011. With over 40 nations operating submarines worldwide, interest in this exercise is expected to extend to the entire global submarine community including Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Peru and S. Korea and many nations are sending representatives to observe what is an extremely realistic exercise.

Exercise Bold Monarch 2011 Leaflet

You can follow the operation on our facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bold-Monarch-2011/133372500071195

14 June 11

NATO TV / video on BM11: http://www.natochannel.tv/?uri=channels/381662/1360229

10 June 11

Russian Submarine Works with U.S. Sub Rescue System for First Time

Earlier this week, during exercise Bold Monarch 2011, for the first time a Russian submarine mated with a U.S. submarine rescue system, the Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS), demonstrating they could work together and reach a milestone of international cooperation and interoperability.“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). News Release More pictures

08 June 11

Russians Join Nato Submarine Rescue Drill during Media Day BM 11

For the first time ever, a Russian submarine is taking part in the exercise, carrying out test dockings with Nato rescue vehicles. Both the BFN and The BBC were given rare access to an American rescue module on a journey to the bottom of the sea and the Russian submarine, the Alrosa.

Link to BFN web page: http://www.bfbs.com/news/top-story/exclusive-glimpse-life-russian-submarine-during-exercise-48392.html

link to BBC webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13692299

07 June 11

Russian Federation Navy Fully Integrated in NATO Submarine Rescue Exercise Bold Monarch

Russian Federation Navy Submarine ALROSA from the Black Sea Fleet based in Sevastapol is pictured on the surface during Exercise Bold Monarch 2011 in waters off the coast of Murcia, Southern Spain. This remarkable sight marks the groundbreaking progress being made in international cooperation and coordination between submarine operating Navies worldwide. The rescue exercise marks the first time a Russian submarine has ever performed a fully integrated role in a NATO led exercise. Surfacing amidst a fleet of NATO and non-NATO warships, salvage and diving support vessels, she is a daunting sight to any surface fleet officer regardless of their nation. At Bold Monarch she is a most welcome participant and key player in the numerous rescue scenarios and serials planned. Press Release More pictures

05 June 11

NATO Submarine Rescue Exercise Improves International Cooperation for Saving Human Lives

A demonstration of submarine rescue operations, in the framework of Exercise Bold Monarch 2011, took place today at the presence of Admiral Giampaolo di Paola, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee (CMC), Gen Nikolay Makárov, Chief of Joint Staff of Russian Federation Armed Forces and Admiral General Manuel Rebollo Garcia, Chief of the Spanish Navy, along with other NATO Officials. The exercise Bold Monarch is the world’s largest event of this kind, bringing together every three years submarines, ships and aircraft from both NATO and non-NATO countries. The 2011 edition includes the participation of Russia, marking it as the first time a Russian submarine participates in any NATO exercise. Rescue forces equipped with a range of sophisticated debris clearance, diver-assisted gear and submarine rescue vehicles from Italy, USA, Russia and Sweden, together with a jointly-owned rescue system from France, Norway and United Kingdom engaged in a series of rescue operations for the “sunken” submarines. The exercise will conclude in the next days with a 48-hour coordinated rescue and evacuation operation for some 150 survivors, including many simulated casualties, from a ‘disabled’ submarine. Full Text More pictures

03 June 11

Russian Submarine Participates in NATO Submarine Rescue Exercise for The First Time

Yesterday, for the first time, a Russian submarine mated with a NATO submarine rescue system, specifically with the Italian submarine rescue bell, demonstrating they could work together and reach the milestone of international cooperation and interoperability during exercise Bold Monarch 2011. News Release More pictures

02 June 11

Interview with Captain Dave Dittmer (US Navy) DCOM COMSUBNORTH

Link from Russian TV:

http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=459652

01 June 11

Diving activity with ESPS Neptuno

Aptly named after the Roman God of the Sea, Neptune, the Spanish Dive support vessel Neptuno is playing an integral role hosting a raft of international divers during Exercise Bold Monarch in the warm clear waters off the coast of Murcia Southern Spain.

On board are Fleet diving teams from Canada, Spain and The Netherlands conducting a series of exercises designed to improve cooperation and understanding of procedures in the event of a serious incident which may cause a submarine to become trapped on the bottom of the sea. Under these conditions, the submarine is classified as a DISSUB (Distressed Submarine). News Release

More pictures.

31 May 11

International Submarine Rescue Exercise Launched

From all corners of the globe, submarine rescue specialists, parachuting diving teams, engineers and military doctors have gathered in Spain to prove rescue systems and procedures that have been developed to rescue submariners from the worst case scenarios. Imagine being trapped at the bottom of a deep, bitterly cold ocean in a steel hull with limited air supply….hoping that help is on its way. Fear not … for the next ten days the world’s experts in these operations will be concentrated off the Spanish coast near Murcia in the Mediterranean to improve their response capability.

Russian submarine Alrosa and support vessel

In the next few days, not just one, but FOUR diesel powered submarines will simulate the unthinkable - they will disappear from their last known reported positions and go missing. Fortunately for these submarine crews, this carefully planned event has been choreographed as part of the ambitious NATO - led Bold Monarch exercise, the largest multi-national exercise in this field which will coordinate and demonstrate the operational, diving, medical and engineering expertise involved in saving lives in one of the most challenging environments on the planet...in the ocean depths.

News Release More pictures

16 May 11

Exercise Bold Monarch 2011

This picture shows the NATO MC HQ ‘EXCON’ staff, led by Captain Dave Dittmer, USN (front, 4th from left) that will be on board the Spanish Command Ship, ESPS GALICIA for Exercise BOLD MONARCH 2011 (BMH11). Planning has been conducted, in the long term, by Commander Charlie Neve, GBR(N) (front, 3rd from left) but assisted latterly by Commander Olav Dahle RNoN (front, 5th from left), Commander Leszek Dziadek POL(N)(rear, centre) and Commander Luis Mancha ESP(N)(front, 2nd from left). Support from the CSN communications branch, Lt Nige Williams GBR(N) (Front, right) and Lt Cdr Andrew Mills GBR(N) (front left) from Royal Navy Media Operations, complete the BMH11 EXCON staff.