U.S. and French forces participate in contingency training

Photo By Staff Sgt. Wesley Timm | U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Feb. 6, 2018) U.S. military forces fast rope out of an U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk onto the deck of French amphibious assault ship LHD Tonnerre (L9014) during a bilateral training evolution. The Tonnerre, with embarked Marines and Sailors from Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade and US Special Operations Forces are conducting maritime security operations within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to ensure regional stability, freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce with regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Wesley Timm/Released)  

BAHRAIN, U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

02.28.2018

Courtesy Story

Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Feb. 28, 2018) – Naval Special Warfare forces and the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command conducted interoperability training with French amphibious assault ship LHD Tonnerre (L9014) and USNS John Lenthall (T-AO 189) in the Arabian Gulf, Feb. 6.

This was the first mission for a French Mistral class LHD as a platform for U.S. special operations. The training consisted of visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) rehearsals intended to enhance maritime interoperability between international partners and U.S. military assets in the region.

“Training together to improve our amphibious actions is essential,” said French Capt. Nicolas Vaujour, commander of France’s amphibious task group. “Exercises such as this one best prepare us for a bilateral or multilateral response to a contingency operation.”

The special operations teams launched MH-60 helicopters and combatant craft assault boats during a multidimensional VBSS rehearsal on a simulated vessel of interest. The exercise demonstrated Tonnerre Amphibious Task Group’s ability to command a control a complex helicopter and seaborne mission to interdict a vessel of interest.

TF 51/5 embarked approximately 150 U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard Tonnerre in November 2017 to conduct amphibious operations in the region. This was the sixth multilateral training evolution Tonnerre participated in during its deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

For more information about TF 51/5 visit our website www.TF515.marines.mil or subscribe to our DVIDS page https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/Tonnerre, contact TF 51/5 Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sandra Arnold at [e-mail], 973-1785-6965 or Marine Capt. Monica Witt at [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 02.28.2018
• Date Posted: 02.28.2018 02:08
• Story ID: 267445
• Location: BAHRAIN, U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY