Arrival of supply ships in
Thailand
marks beginning of Cobra Gold exercise
By Fred Knapp, Stars and Stripes
The arrival
of two Military Sealift Command ships in Thailand marks the beginning of this year’s
Cobra Gold exercise.
About
14,000 U.S. military personnel, along with about 5,000 members of the Royal Thai Armed
Forces, will take part in the 20th annual exercise, which runs from May 15-29.
Troops will
train in the following areas:
- Joint land and air operations;
- Naval operations;
- Amphibious operations;
- Peacekeeping enforcement;
- Special operations.
Supplies
for the troops began arriving April 11 when the MV Kassil arrived about 20 miles south of
Pattaya in Chuk Samet, where the exercise will be held, said Dub Allen, spokesman for MSC
Far East.
The supply
mission continued with the arrival Tuesday of the MV Cape Hudson, Allen said. Items being
offloaded from the Cape Hudson include four CH-47 Chinook helicopters, five UH-60
Blackhawks, along with 21 containers of ammunition, said Lt. Cmdr. Jan Fietz of the MSC
reserve unit from Oklahoma City that is in Thailand for the operation.
The
ammunition ranges from small-caliber bullets to hand grenades and 105mm howitzer rounds,
Allen said. Other items being unloaded range from forklifts to stoves.
The Cape
Hudson left San Francisco on March 16 and stopped in Washington state, Alaska, Hawaii, and
Okinawa to pick up cargo.
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