First Osprey Vertical Assault Demos in Cobra Gold

12 Maret 2020

Cobra Gold 2020 exercise (all photos : TAF)

One of the tactical scenes that the United States Marine Corps trained in Cobra Gold this time. Previously, the emphasis was on training only on landings together in the area of ​​Long Beach in Chonburi Province which shows the importance of this program. In concrete Since the current US amphibious operations have defined a pattern of operations deeper in the target area than the beachhead by giving priority to the annihilation of the enemy command, while advancing troops on the beachhead.

By receiving the downed MV-22 Osprey type rotor aircraft, which is a modern aircraft that has the added features of the United States Marine Corps. with greater speed and operational flexibility than a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. The characteristic of Osprey is therefore applied to Vertical Tactical Assault effectively as a spearhead flight unit that will penetrate enemy defenses to direct marines to establish locations or parking areas for helicopters that will carry main force into the area.

First practice in Cobra Gold the hypothetical target area of ​​this strategy is a Navy CQB Training Building that is approximately 2 kilometers away from the familiar Long Beach area, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the combat coordination of the US military that will operate together with both the Marine and the US Army with the Navy and the Thai Air Force the operation scene of the beachhead combat operation and attacking deep space of the combined forces of 2 units then proceeded together. 

As soon as the AAV carrier began operating heading to the beachhead, the spearhead of the 3 MV-22 fleets protected by 2 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters will use the speed of the terrain to land in the parking area to release. Marine Corps, 24 units each distributed to the area around the floor to search and protect the parking area for the second wave of forces is to fly 3 UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters of the United States Army, which are protected by 2 AH-64 D Apache, to lead the army's troops.

The United States added 33 additional forces, then, the third wave came with the CH-54E heavy transport helicopter. 2 Super-Stallion that transport Thai Marines from the Royal Ang Thong ship into the parking area. This front part is the last set, before intercourse
capturing the target building, successfully then withdrawing to adjust to join the main combat unit that can seize the beachhead area. During this operation, both the United States and Thai fighters, the F-35B and the F-16A/B, always protected the top flight.

This demonstration in Vertical Assault Tactical demonstrates the capability of joint military operations of the US military and is a good opportunity for the Thai side to learn closely the effective combat operations procedures.

(TAF)