Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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EASTERN MAVERICK Trails of dust and smoke tilled the coastal plains of the Arabian Gulf' s Al Ghariyah training area, Qatar, Dec. 15- 17, as approximately 150 Marines from Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, lst Marine Regiment attached to the 1 1th Marine Expeditionary Unit fSpecial Operations Capablej and 50 soldiers from the Qatar Amiri Land Forces gathered during exercise Eastern Maverick 97-2. Early Dec. 17, five LCACs approached the beach landing site. To simulate a combined amphibious landing, four Qatari VABs were loaded onto an LCAC and taken out to sea only to retum 20 minutes later to link up with other companies for an assault on an objective two miles away. Once reassembled, Marine and Qatari mechanized forces moved out to attack the enemy simulated by 50 Marines from Charlie Battery, lst Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment and 81mm mortar plt., BLT 311. Upon completion of the exercise, the Marines and Sailors loaded onto LCACS and reembarked aboard ESSEX Amphibious Task Group shipping comprised of the USS ESSEX CLHD-25, USS HARPERS FERRY CLSD-493 and USS CLEVELAND CLPD-71. For Eastem Maverick 97-2, the bilateral training evolution with the Qatari Amiri Land Forces combined tactical styles of an allied military force and sharpened amphibious warfare skills integral to a forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit. ALL PHOTOS: PH2 B. LEWIS . '1 f' ,x-. IEE 219

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