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

The U33, a Germany 212 class submarine prepares for Operation Dynamic Mongoose near Bergen on Norway’s western coast, May 3, 2015. REUTERS/Balazs Koranyi

ABOARD THE USS VICKSBURG, North Sea (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 neighbours.

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.