Ukraine takes part in NATO submarine rescue exercise

Exercise Bold Monarch 2008, which took place off the coast of Kristiansand, Norway, was the largest-ever exercise of its kind. Fourteen countries – Canada, France, Greece, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States – deployed personnel and rescue assets.

Additionally, personnel from other submarine operating navies around the world observed the exercise in order to help prepare and coordinate potential submarine rescue operations for their submarine forces. The list of international participants invited to observe the exercise included Argentina, Australia, China, India, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and Spain.

The scenario involved the simulated sinking of a large submarine, the fictional HMS Serendipity, as a result of a collision with a merchant vessel. The submarine was resting at a depth of around 100 meters with up to 80 survivors. All submarine escape and rescue assets were employed on scene in a coordinated rescue and medical scenario.