thedrifter
02-10-09, 07:23 AM
Marines train with French navy
Comments 1 | Recommend 3
February 9, 2009 - 8:02 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
DAILY NEWS STAFF
From the wide hallways and spacious planning areas to the Perrier and freshly baked baguettes, the French Ship Tonnerre has a certain "je ne sais quoi" that sets it apart from U.S. vessels.
But the Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are learning that working from the ship and with the French can be as easy - or even easier - that conducting missions from their own ships.
The 22nd MEU is training with the Tonnerre during a monthlong exercise off the coast of Onslow Beach, developing interoperability and testing the ship's ability to host U.S. equipment like M1A1 Abrams tanks and various helicopters.
"The world is a joint battlefield," said Chief Warrant Officer Steve Dancer, liaison officer for the 22nd MEU. "There's never going to be U.S. alone; most likely we're going to be with our NATO counterparts, and we have to learn to work together. It's better to learn to work together now, during exercises such as this, so that we can be more efficient when it comes time to do the real thing."
Saturday was the first time anyone embarked tanks onto the ship at sea, and it "couldn't have gone any smoother," said 1st Lt. Matthew Luke, tank platoon commander.
"This ship is pretty amazing, compared to what we're used to," Luke said. "I think it's important in general for NATO forces, for allies of America, for us to work with each other, make sure that our gear sets, our weapons sets are compatible. And I think that's exactly what we're doing here. ... We're making history on this ship."
The ship, based in Toulon, France, is designed to deploy quickly, to be able to travel a long distance and lead operations at sea for a long period of time. It hosts a full-sized hospital, a flight deck for helicopters, a headquarters area that can accommodate up to 270 staff officers, and a well deck for landing ships or landing crafts. It also has a number of "creature comforts" American ships don't, which make life easier for those on board, Dancer said.
After the training exercise in North Carolina, the ship will deploy to the Gulf of Guinea.
Luke said the hospitality of the French crew was "amazing," and communication was not an issue because many of the sailors speak English.
"We would be able to embark our tanks and get our Marines ready for any mission with ease," he said. "Probably easier than other ships we've been on in the past."
Capt. Clark Carpenter, public affairs officer for the 22nd MEU, said the training is good for the unit because MEUs often work with other militaries while deployed. But they typically don't get a chance to train with allies, he said.
"Being able to do this now, to work with the French now, is definitely putting us ahead of the game," Carpenter said.
The MEU consists of a ground element - 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; an aviation element - Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263; a logistics element - Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and a command element. The unit is scheduled to deploy this spring on the ships of the Bataan Strike Group.
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467.
Ellie
Comments 1 | Recommend 3
February 9, 2009 - 8:02 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
DAILY NEWS STAFF
From the wide hallways and spacious planning areas to the Perrier and freshly baked baguettes, the French Ship Tonnerre has a certain "je ne sais quoi" that sets it apart from U.S. vessels.
But the Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are learning that working from the ship and with the French can be as easy - or even easier - that conducting missions from their own ships.
The 22nd MEU is training with the Tonnerre during a monthlong exercise off the coast of Onslow Beach, developing interoperability and testing the ship's ability to host U.S. equipment like M1A1 Abrams tanks and various helicopters.
"The world is a joint battlefield," said Chief Warrant Officer Steve Dancer, liaison officer for the 22nd MEU. "There's never going to be U.S. alone; most likely we're going to be with our NATO counterparts, and we have to learn to work together. It's better to learn to work together now, during exercises such as this, so that we can be more efficient when it comes time to do the real thing."
Saturday was the first time anyone embarked tanks onto the ship at sea, and it "couldn't have gone any smoother," said 1st Lt. Matthew Luke, tank platoon commander.
"This ship is pretty amazing, compared to what we're used to," Luke said. "I think it's important in general for NATO forces, for allies of America, for us to work with each other, make sure that our gear sets, our weapons sets are compatible. And I think that's exactly what we're doing here. ... We're making history on this ship."
The ship, based in Toulon, France, is designed to deploy quickly, to be able to travel a long distance and lead operations at sea for a long period of time. It hosts a full-sized hospital, a flight deck for helicopters, a headquarters area that can accommodate up to 270 staff officers, and a well deck for landing ships or landing crafts. It also has a number of "creature comforts" American ships don't, which make life easier for those on board, Dancer said.
After the training exercise in North Carolina, the ship will deploy to the Gulf of Guinea.
Luke said the hospitality of the French crew was "amazing," and communication was not an issue because many of the sailors speak English.
"We would be able to embark our tanks and get our Marines ready for any mission with ease," he said. "Probably easier than other ships we've been on in the past."
Capt. Clark Carpenter, public affairs officer for the 22nd MEU, said the training is good for the unit because MEUs often work with other militaries while deployed. But they typically don't get a chance to train with allies, he said.
"Being able to do this now, to work with the French now, is definitely putting us ahead of the game," Carpenter said.
The MEU consists of a ground element - 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; an aviation element - Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263; a logistics element - Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and a command element. The unit is scheduled to deploy this spring on the ships of the Bataan Strike Group.
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467.
Ellie