US,UK Marines Conclude Exercise Blue Raptor

U.S. Marine Corps Osprey aircraft embarked on Royal Navy’s HMS Ocean transferred Royal and US Marines ashore Corsica during a simulated beach assault which rounded off Exercise Blue Raptor.

The soldiers from Arbroath-based 45 Commando Royal Marines have been working with their US colleagues for the past few months, training and improving their track record of joint operations.

To round off the training, Green Berets from Whiskey Company 45 Commando stormed ashore in Corsica with their US Marine Corps counterparts from the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (A).

They made use of USMC Osprey aircraft in the last movement of Exercise Blue Raptor which saw them re-taking a stronghold from an enemy force.

The assault group took off from the Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean, where the USMC aircraft and US Marines have been embarked for the past few weeks.

Exercise Blue Raptor represents the latest phase in the US Allied Maritime Basing Initiative which has sought to improve the integration of US forces with allies while operating in the Mediterranean.

The Osprey have been embarked on HMS Ocean for the past few weeks while the Royal Navy flagship is deployed on Cougar 15.

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Image: Royal Navy