UK, US Discuss Amphibious Interoperability

Commodore Paddy McAlpine, Commander United Kingdom Task Group, met his US Navy counterpart, Captain Malcolm Potts, Commander Amphibious Squadron One, in the waters off Djibouti to discuss continuing amphibious interoperability between the two allies.

Captain Potts, based on board USS Boxer, and Colonel Taylor USMC, Commanding Officer 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, visited HMS Bulwark, Flagship to Commodore McAlpine, to discuss the sustainability and maintenance of their respective amphibious Task Groups.

The sailors and Royal Marines of HMS Bulwark also took the opportunity to visit each other’s ships.

The US Marines who visited were impressed with the layout of HMS Bulwark’s Assault Route; purposely wide to accommodate the free movement of fully equipped Royal Marines prior to an assault.

Cdre McAlpine reflected on the visit: “This is the second time in as many weeks that a ship from my Cougar 13 Task Group has interacted with the USS Boxer and her Marine Expeditionary Unit; it is always very useful to take every opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences and strengthen our existing close relationship with out American counter-parts.”

The Cougar 13 deployment will operate in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, the Gulf, and Horn of Africa.

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Press Release, November 21, 2013; Image: Royal Navy