Submarines take turns to hunt and be hunted in Nato war games under the waves

Thousands of personnel from nine Nato nations have taken part in anti-submarine warfare exercises off the coast of Sicily.

Aiming to ensure crews are ready to respond to any threat below the surface, six submarines took it in turns to hunt and be hunted on Exercise Dynamic Manta which is running alongside Steadfast Defender, Nato's biggest exercise since the Cold War.

A Turkish helicopter was also on hand to conduct a winching exercise in the Mediterranean, with the helicopter needing to be able to land someone on or take someone off the vessel.

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The exercise also included an emergency surface, with a submarine breaking the surface at speed from 80 metres down.

This is only done in extreme circumstances, such as a fire or a damaged hull.