Norwegian Exercise Arctic Dolphin to start in Bergen with NATO countries.

According to information published by the Norwegian Armed Forces on February 3, 2023, the annual exercise Arctic Dolphin starts this weekend in Western Norway. Arctic Dolphin is planned and led by the Norwegian Navy in Bergen and has both national and international participation.
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Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup. (Picture source: NATO)

Arctic Dolphin is an annual military exercise focused on the annual submarine commander course. It involves the participation of Norwegian and allied military ships and aircraft and takes place in the North Sea off the coast of Bergen and in areas between Stord and Sognefjorden.

The exercise is important for the training of future submarine commanders and anti-submarine units such as frigates and maritime patrol aircraft. It will take place from February 6th to 17th and will involve Norwegian vessels such as the frigate KNM Otto Sverdrup and submarine KNM Utvær, as well as NATO vessels from Germany, Britain, and Poland, and aircraft from Germany, Britain, and Poland. The involvement of allies is crucial for improving allied cooperation and training.

About the Norwegian frigate

HNoMS Otto Sverdrup is a Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate of the Royal Norwegian Navy. She was ordered on June 23, 2000, and built by Navantia in Ferrol.

The Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate is a modern naval vessel with a displacement of 5,290 tons. She has a length of 134 meters, a beam of 16.8 meters, and a draft of 7.6 meters.

The frigate is powered by a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system, with two diesel engines for cruising and a gas turbine for high-speed running.

She also has a bow thruster, diesel generators, and two shafts with controllable pitch propellers. The frigate has a top speed of 27 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles. The crew complement is 120 men, with accommodations for 146.

The frigate is equipped with a range of advanced sensors and weapons, including a multifunction radar, air/sea surveillance radar, electro-optical director, hull-mounted sonar, towed sonar, fire-control radar, decoy launcher, and torpedo countermeasures.

The armament includes a VLS for ESSM missiles, naval strike missiles, torpedo tubes, depth charges, a 76mm gun, HMGs, and two LRAD long-range acoustic devices.