The fleet of US, Canada, Japan and New Zealand Naval Forces in Dawn Blitz 2013
United States Marines amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz
U.S. Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, and Naval Beach Group 1 conducted amphibious landings on Red Beach with Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAV) and both U.S. and Japanese Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs) as a part of exercise Dawn Blitz, June 24.
Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, and Naval Beach Group 1 conducted amphibious landings on Red Beach with Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAV) and both U.S. and Japanese Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs) as a part of exercise Dawn Blitz, June 24.
It was the culminating multinational, amphibious event during the month-long exercise Dawn Blitz. The raid on Red Beach tested U.S. and coalition forces’ ability to conduct operations together.
Japan LCAC lying ashore waiting for action
Dawn Blitz 2013 is an amphibious exercise testing U.S. and coalition forces in skills expected of a Navy and Marine Corps amphibious task force. It is a multinational exercise that promotes interoperability.
Participating countries include Canada, Japan, New Zealand and military observers from seven countries.Brig. Gen. John J. Broadmeadow, commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Rear Adm. John E. Jolliffe, deputy commander of U.S. 3rd Fleet, Lt. Gen Peter Delvin, Canadian Army, Air Vice-Marshal Kevin Short, commander of joint forces New Zealand, and Japans spoke at a press conference following the raid about the importance of a coalition effort and the success of Dawn Blitz.
“The amphibious landing is just one important aspect of what’s going on during exercise Dawn Blitz,” Broadmeadow said. “It’s a great example of what the Navy and the Marine Corps bring to our country and to our nation’s defense. The ability to use the sea as maneuver space, come across the beach and influence of events ashore.”
“I don’t know when where or what the next crisis in this world is going to be …. But I do know is that what we’re doing here during Dawn Blitz is helping not only the Navy and Marine Corps team hone it’s skills, but it’s also letting us understand our coalition partners so that when we do have to respond to whatever crisis is out there, we can do it effectively and together,” Broadmeadow said.
The Red Beach landing requires Marines to do a number of tasks as a team, but beyond the beach the Navy plays an important and vital role during any amphibious exercise.
“We spent the last dozen years fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, focused on land warfare and we’ve gotten away from our amphibious roots,” Jolliffe said. “Dawn Blitz is a tremendous success and we could do it without our coalition partners that are here working with us.”
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