Photo By Staff Sgt. Salvador Moreno | The last of three waves of amphibious assault vehicles from 3rd Assault Amphibian...... read more read more
Subscribe
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The Marines flexed their amphibious muscle when they deployed 30 amphibious assault vehicles from the USS Rushmore to the Camp Pendleton shore, Sept. 30.
The beach landing was part of Exercise Dawn Blitz, training conducted by Navy and Marine Corps units serving under 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
At dawn, Marines from 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion stormed the beach with the tracked vehicles out of USS Rushmore’s belly.
The vehicles moved 1,000 meters to shore, and within minutes, the first track landed on the beach, demonstrating a quick force in readiness to any scenario worldwide.
From peaceful humanitarian assistance to full-blown major combat operations, employment from the sea has afforded the U.S. flexibility, freedom of maneuver, power projection and security in ways that fixed land forces cannot deliver.
“The flexibility of having forces ashore that can operate from a sea base is essential to our national security,” said Lt. Col. Howard Hall, the commanding officer of 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion. “Once the AAVs arrive ashore, they can move to objectives inland.”
Hall said there wasn’t a specific scenario on land per the mission, however the purpose was to deploy the tracks with notional combat-ready Marines or tons of cargo and supplies and move them to shore in one launch, hastily and proficiently, to avoid exposing USS Rushmore’s broad side more than once.
“Everything we did today is going to reflect in reality,” said 2nd Lt. Robert Busalacchi, the commander for Mobility and Counter Mobility Platoon, 3rd AABn., who landed with the AAVs.
Hall said the exercise shows that the MEB can engage with the country’s partner nations and can respond to crises overseas and at home.
“By rehearsing, training and refining ship-to-shore skills, I think we do a tremendous service to [our country] by providing the confidence and security that the Marines can do what we’re chartered to do: defend the constitution, defend against our enemy – foreign and domestic – and in some cases, natural,” Hall said.
The battalion continued training once ashore on Camp Pendleton’s training grounds. An element of the track’s landing team moved inland to train in combat operations, while support elements from 1st MEB set up a defensive position on the beach.
Navy personnel aboard USS Rushmore played a vital role in receiving, housing and facilitating the deployment of the 30 tracks from their vessel. The Marine Corps relies on their Navy brethren to get to the fight quickly and for the unique amphibious capabilities.
“It’s been very challenging, but a rewarding experience working with everyone involved,” Busalacchi said.
Hall said the synergy of the Marines and sailors while aboard USS Rushmore and the coordination between the two services were key to the success of the exercise.
“Those same steps are essential to the success of the mission. We just exercised that. And one step further, we just did that with 30 AAVs in the water in one continues launch.”
The landing force, as well as most Marines and sailors who took part in Exercise Dawn Blitz, are scheduled to make another landing on the West Coast Oct. 5. However, this landing will be done in dress uniforms at Fleet Week San Francisco.
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2011 13:49 |
| Story ID: | 78003 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marines strengthen amphibious capabilities during Exercise Dawn Blitz, by SSgt Salvador Moreno, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT