Eager Lion 12 starts with a splash

Photo By Sgt. Fenton Reese | The second of two Landing Craft Air Cushions emerges from the water and taxis to its designated parking place as Marines and Sailors of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to unload, May 10, 2012. The LCACs “splashed” as part of the 24th MEUs amphibious ship-to-shore transport demonstration in conjunction with Exercise Eager Lion 12. Eager Lion 12’s focus is to strengthen military-to-military relationships of partner nations through a joint, multinational approach, integrating all instruments of national power to meet current and future complex national security challenges.  

JORDAN

05.10.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Fenton Reese 

Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

AQABA, Jordan – The USS New York pulled into port at Aqaba, May 10, but not before the well deck opened and released two hovercrafts packed with amphibious reconnaissance vehicles and other gear.

The Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicles charged toward the shore and pulled up on the beach to unload their cargo.

An LCAC is an air-cushion vehicle, or hovercraft, used as a landing craft by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ Assault Craft Units.

The LCAC can support many of the amphibious operations that may arise because it is capable of crossing 70 percent of the world’s coastline as opposed to only 15 percent for conventional landing craft.

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit showcased this unique ship-to-shore capability as a part of Exercise Eager Lion 12.

Eager Lion 12 is an irregular warfare-themed exercise focusing on missions that our coalition partners might perform during operational deployments in support of global contingency operations.

Eager Lion 12 is being conducted in Jordan, May 7-28.

• Date Taken: 05.10.2012
• Date Posted: 05.24.2012 13:57
• Story ID: 88955
• Location: JO