Closing Ceremony of Joint Exercise Hanuman Guardian 2023 Thai-U.S. Army

24 Juli 2023

Exercise Hanuman Guardian 2023 officially concluded in Lop Buri. For two weeks, USA & THAI allies worked together to ensure our safety and prepare for the security threats of tomorro (all photos : AAG)

Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX: Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise) at the Closing Ceremony of Hanuman Guardian 2023 between the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and the United States Army (US Army) on July 20, 2023 at the Army Tactical Training Center, Ban Dee Lang, Phatthana Nikhom District Lopburi Province.

This includes joint training between units using the Stryker 8x8 Thai-US wheeled armored vehicle. For the Thai Army, this is the third joint training with the US Army. And it was the first training as a battalion-level unit by Stryker RTA ICV (Infantry Carrier Vehicle) 8x8 from the 1st 112th Infantry Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Division, 1st Army Area, of the Royal Thai Army.

The U.S. Army also brought an Armored Combat Engineer Vehicle, based on the M113 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier), to participate in training for the first time. To practice destroying obstacles and minefields in the training grounds.

The Stryker RTA ICV 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle is still equipped with a .93 M2 .50cal heavy machine gun, maneuvered by a sniper in fire support, sending infantry from the vehicle to attack the target. However, it is said that the next batch of vehicles to be delivered will be equipped with a Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS).

25th CAB: 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, of the United States Army Together with the Aviation Regiment, the Army Aviation Center of, the Royal Thai Army has also organized its own helicopters to participate in training.

Including the US Army's Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. and attack helicopters, Bell AH-1F Cobra, 3rd Aviation Battalion of the Royal Thai Army, practice using weapons to attack targets.

Airborne Company, Lieutenant Sor Sor from the 3rd Infantry Battalion 31st Infantry Regiment King's Guard , 1st Division King's Guard practiced parachute jumping with Static Line for the first time.

From a general purpose helicopter, Sikorsky UH-60M Balck Hawk, 9th Aviation Battalion of the Royal Thai Army and the US Army, in the Hanuman Guardian 2023 exercise held between 10-22 July 2023 also participated in the exchange of food culture and tourism in Thailand for the US Army personnel as well.

(AAG)