Nations unite UK and FRENCH ARMED FORCES ON EXERCISE GRIFFIN STRIKE
EIGHT warships put on a united front as an Anglo-French working relationship was put to the test.
Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean led Bulwark and Sutherland out of Devonport to join RFA Lyme Bay and the French vessels, frigates FS Cassard and La Motte-Picquet, helicopter carrier Dixmude and the tanker Var.
Lurking beneath the waves was the French nuclear attack submarine FS Perle.
For two weeks, Exercise Griffin Strike showed how UK and French maritime, land and air forces can work together for a wide range of operations and, if called upon, unite as part of a NATO, EU or UN coalition.
Royal Navy Fleet Flagship HMS Ocean takes part in Exercise Griffin Strike
The French helicopter assault ship FS Dixmude
FS Dixmude is flanked by HMS Bulwark and HMS Ocean
FS Dixmude in the foreground with HMS Ocean and the frigate FS La Motte-Picquet
From the Bristol Channel to the Solent, Griffin Strike featured Royal Marines attacking via sea and air, working with aircraft from all three Armed Forces. Once ashore they linked up with UK and French land forces to continue the exercise on land.
While Royal Marines came ashore at Gosport from Bulwark in their landing craft, the French Navy showed off their rather impressive catamaran landing craft, the EDA-R – Engin de débarquement amphibie rapide, or fast amphibious landing craft (30kts, three times faster than the Royal Marines’ workhorse LCUs – although it doesn’t have their range).
A landing craft leaves HMS Bulwark
The landing craft is unloaded at Browndown in Hampshire
The impressive French catamaran landing craft
Then Griffin Strike ramped up a gear in Cornwall, where the Royal Marines of Juliet and Lima Companies, 42 Commando, went into action around Wacker Quay and the nearby 19th Century fortifications of Scraesdon and Tregantle Forts.
Royal Marines of Lima Company, 42 Commando, at Tregantle Fort
A Royal Marine cams up ahead of a beach assault
As well as the nine ships, Griffin Strike featured 3,500 UK personnel, 2,000 French personnel, 11 UK aircraft – Wildcat from 847 Naval Air Squadron, Apache helicopters from the Army Air Corps and Chinook helicopters from 27 Squadron RAF – and ten French aircraft, including three maritime patrol Atlantique 2.
A Chinook delivers artillery for 29 Commando
Wildcat aircraft from 847 NAS prepare for take off
A Chinook helicopter prepares to leave the landing site at Browndown
Pictures: Leading Photographer Joel Rouse and Petty Officer Photographer Dave Gallagher, both of 3 Commando Brigade
For the full story and more photographs see the May edition of Navy News.