Asia-Pacific
US, Thai marines storm beaches for Cobra Gold
Stars and Stripes
February 10, 2011
Royal Thai Marines, along with infantry Marines with the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward (FWD) assault the beachhead in a mock amphibious assault raid Thursday during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve how the militaries work together. (Mark W. Stroud/Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps)
Royal Thai Marines, along with infantry Marines with the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward (FWD) assault the beachhead in a mock amphibious assault raid Thursday during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve how the militaries work together. (Mark W. Stroud/Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps)
Royal Thai Marines drive an amphibious assault vehicle onto the beachhead in a mock amphibious assault raid in Hat Yao, Thailand, on Thursday during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled multinational training exercise designed to improve how partner nation militaries work together. (Mark W. Stroud/Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps)
Royal Thail Marines, along with infantry Marines with the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward (FWD)drive an amphibious assault vehicle onto the beachhead in a mock amphibious assault raid Thursday during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. (Mark W. Stroud/Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps)
Cpl. Joff Carroll, firepower control team leader, 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward (FWD) provides security during a mock amphibious assault raid in Thailand on Thursday during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. (Mark W. Stroud/Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps)
Royal Thai Marines, along with infantry Marines with the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward (FWD) assault the beachhead in Hat Yao, Thailand, in a mock amphibious assault raid Thursday during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011. (Mark W. Stroud/Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps)
TOKYO -- Royal Thailand Marines and U.S. troops from Okinawa's 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit stormed the beaches Thursday in Hat Yao, Thailand, as part of the ongoing Cobra Gold exercise.
The amphibious assault raid is one of several live-fire demonstrations taking place during the 30th annual exercise that wraps up Feb. 18.
An estimated 11,220 people - including 7,200 U.S. servicemembers - are participating in Cobra Gold, which includes senior leader meetings and community assistance projects throughout Thailand. Participating countries include Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, along with hosts Thailand and the United States.
Among the Marine units participating are: Okinawa's 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment acting as its ground combat element; Marine Wing Support Squadron 172; Marine Aircraft Group 36; and Combat Logistics Regiments 35 and Combat Logistics Regiment 3.
The Sasebo, Japan-based USS Essex, USS Germantown and USS Denver also are participating.
From staff reports