Composite Training Unit Exercises and Joint Task ... - Govsupport.us

COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEA Final Chapter 22.3.1.7 Amphibious (AMPHIB) OperationAn AMPHIB Operation involves the movement of Marine Corps combat and support forces from Navyships at-sea to an objective or an operations area ashore. AMPHIB operations may include shore assault,boat raid, airfield seizure, humanitarian assistance, andforce reconnaissance. AMPHIB Operations are theprincipal type of training conducted by an ESG duringan Expeditionary Fires (EF) Operation and may bepart of a COMPTUEX/JTFEX. The objective of theseoperations is to provide a realistic trainingenvironment for conducting amphibious assaults,amphibious raids, reconnaissance, hydrographicsurveys, and surf condition assessments. Navy andMarine Corps fighter and attack aircraft from the CSGand the ESG may provide Close Air Support (CAS) for the amphibious operation. Amphibious landingsare launched from Navy ships positioned out to 50 mi (80 km) offshore.For an assault on a beach, units come ashore in LCAC and in Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV).LCACs are high-speed vessels whose air cushion capability allows them to travel across the beach to thedesired location for discharging Marines, combat vehicles, and cargo. The AAVs are lightly armoredtracked vehicles capable of maneuvering through the water and driving on land to ferry Marines from shipto shore.Amphibious operations normally take place at MCB Camp Pendleton and the SCIRC. Additionally,smaller amphibious exercises have occurred on the southern beaches of the SSTC.The participants and assets in an AMPHIB Operation typically include:One-thousand five-hundred (1,500) Marines of Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)/AmphibiousSquadron (PHIBRON) ESG and their organic weapons and equipment including:o Rotary wing (CH-46, CH-53, UH-1, AH-1), fixed wing (FA-18C/D/E/F, AH-1, AV-8B),and tilt-wing (MV-22) aircrafto Amphibious vehicles, vessels, and boats (e.g., Landing Craft, Utility [LCU], CombatRubber Raiding Raft [CRRC], Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat [RHIB])Amphibious and other surface shipsOther surface ships2.3.1.8 Ship Mine Countermeasures (SMCM) OperationAn SMCM Operation is a training event for Mine Countermeasures (MCM) ships to locate and neutralizeinert mine shapes in shallow-water environments in support of the CSG and ESG. The MCM shipspresently are based in Corpus Christi, Texas. When available, their activities include the use of varioustypes of low-power, high-frequency active sonar, bottom-laid and underwater explosives, andminesweeping equipment. Between February 2007 and January 2009, C3F anticipates SMCMOperations in conjunction with up to three CSG COMPTUEX/JTFEXs and three ESGCOMPTUEX/JTFEXs, and two ESG/CSG COMPTUEXs. Each major range event will contain twoMCM ships per event, and eight SMCM Operations per range event. The training would take placeoffshore of the beaches at NB Coronado/Camp Pendleton, and in the nearshore waters off the westernside of SCI.2-15 February 2007