NavWarning: UK troops land in South Brittany

Roberto

Roberto

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More than 2,000 military personnel from both sides of the Channel – including destroyer HMS Dragon, amphibious ship RFA Lyme Bay, minehunter HMS Chiddingfold, Royal Marines from 45 Commando, raiding craft from 539 Assault Squadron and RAF Chinooks – are involved in the fortnight-long exercise Catamaran 18.

Hornblower readers, look away.

Played out along a 130-mile stretch of the French coast between Quiberon Bay to La Rochelle and involving 14 warships and support vessels, the exercise is the latest in a series this decade which have tested the combined amphibious forces of Britain and France to work hand-in-hand.

According to the Royal Navy, the goal is to create a real-word Combined Joint Expeditionary Force, able to respond to global events – conflict or humanitarian – should Paris and London decide intervention is needed, from 2020 onwards.

“As a big stepping stone to that goal, the French-led exercise allows personnel to share ideas, tactics and capabilities, test joint planning and communications, thus ensuring the success of any future Anglo-French amphibious task force and strengthening the strong bonds that already exist between the UK and France.”

“It has been a good experience working with the French Marines, they are a professional force. The only problem we have encountered has been the language barrier, but we are working around that,” said Marine Scuneman from X Company.
 
capnsensible said:
“It has been a good experience working with the French Marines, they are a professional force. The only problem we have encountered has been the language barrier, but we are working around that,” said Marine Scuneman from X Company.
Click to expand...

Much the same as working with the Army then.

Cheers dits
 
I posted a link to the meeting of the Chinese spy ship and HMAS Adelaide (we have another identical vessel) and I wondered if anyone would comment on it.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-09/chinese-spy-ship-docks-next-to-hmas-adelaide-in-fiji/9852748

They sat in Sydney harbour for some months during commissioning so were objects of interest. They are described as some sort of helicopter/assault craft vessel (useful for natural disasters in our area) - I have wondered why they have a ski jump on the flight deck, at the bow. Any ideas?

Just as fascinating is why we have them in the first place, along with the 12 submarines being, or to be, built. The potential enemy has never been declared - presumably as one might guess its our largest trading partner this makes any definition slightly difficult.

Jonathan
 
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