HAT YAO BEACH, RAYONG PROVINCE, THAILAND -- Royal Thai, Republic of Korea, and United States Marines loaded into air and surface connectors aboard amphibious ships off of Hat Yao Beach in Rayong province, Kingdom of Thailand, to take part in an amphibious assault during Exercise Cobra Gold, March 1.
The trilateral, multi-wave amphibious assault synchronized combined-joint all domain operations (CJADO) which integrates command and control platforms, weapons, and sensors across services and nations. Mobility from ship-to-shore provided by Royal Thai and ROK Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles, U.S. Navy landing craft, air cushion, and U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallions. Surveillance obtained via U.S. Navy P-8 and unmanned aircraft systems, U.S. Air Force HC-130 Hercules, and an inserted U.S. Marine Corps Reconnaissance team. Close Air Support provided by U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcons and U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches.
“Today’s amphibious assault demonstration portrayed the capabilities realized through a shared commitment to integrated training and partnership,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Chris Stone, commander of Task Force 76/3 and Expeditionary Strike Group 7. “Cobra Gold and other regional exercises enhance our interoperability with our partners and our commitment to peace and prosperity in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Cobra Gold 24: AMPHIBEX
Photo by Cpl. Cesar Ronaldo Alarcon
Republic of Korea Marines insert via combat rubber raiding craft during an amphibious assault demonstration for Cobra Gold 24 at Hat Yao Beach in Rayong province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 1, 2024. Exercise Cobra Gold is the largest joint exercise in mainland Asia and a concrete example of the strong alliance and strategic relationship between Thailand and the United States. This year is the 43rd iteration of the multilateral exercise and occurs between Feb. 27 to March 8, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cesar Ronaldo Alarcon)
Hundreds of service members from the combined and joint forces contributed to the success of the amphibious assault exercise. The dynamic training scenario in this year’s demonstration offered a mission set that included a maritime strike on an objective, landing of combined forces onto a beachhead, and an airfield seizure to set conditions for the facilitation of non-combatant evacuation operations.
“We train as we operate and amphibious operations as a combined force remains one of our most challenging, but critical mission sets. This exercise continues to grow in participation and develop in complexity, but what remains constant is the hospitality we receive and our commitment to our allies and partners.” U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The amphibious assault exercise was the first of three CJADO training iterations at Exercise Cobra Gold 2024. Still to come will be a non-combatant evacuation operation and a combined arms live-fire exercise.
Joint Exercise Cobra Gold is the largest joint exercise in mainland Asia and a concrete example of the strong alliance and strategic relationship between Thailand and the United States, as well as an example of the strong cooperative relationship with the other allies and partners participating in the exercise.
BLT 1/5 Conduct Airfield Seizure during Cobra Gold
Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Antonio Campbell
U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallions assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, extract Marines assigned to Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th MEU from an airfield seizure at Exercise Cobra Gold at Utapao International Airport, Rayong province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 1, 2024. Participating nations conducted operations simultaneously across multiple locations to refine combined command and control processes. Cobra Gold, now in its 43rd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the longstanding friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Gunnery Sgt. Antonio Campbell)
For more information, photos and stories about Joint Exercise Cobra Gold, including past iterations, visit the Joint Exercise Cobra Gold public web page: www.dvidshub.net/feature/CobraGold, follow on Twitter @ExerciseCG, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ExerciseCobraGold. Additional photos and videos are available at www.dvidshub.net/units/15thMEUpa.
Media queries can be directed to the Cobra Gold 2024 Combined Joint Information Bureau at cobragold.uspao@gmail.com