Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

“Wham!”

At 9:55 a.m. on a sunny day, March 30, on the coast in Dokseok-ri, Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. A virtual Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) dropped from an F-15K fighter created a huge column of water with a deep, earthshaking rumble. The U.S. Marines’ Harrier fighter and Super Cobra helicopter also engaged in close air support and the guns of a warship also belched fire, aiming at a major enemy target.

The conditions for critical behavior, the main highlight of this amphibious operation, were all perfectly set. When an enemy’s coastal line of defense was incapacitated, KAAVs (Korea Amphibious Assault Vehicles) rushed out from LPH (Landing Platform Helicopter) Dokdo Ham and LST (Landing Ship Tank).

A Marine assault group divided into three waves charged toward the enemy’s coast. The sea was full of a smokescreen that they created. The group landed on the coast in an instant while a smoke bomb blocked the enemy’s view, and started to advance deeper inland to obtain the target point.

The aerial attack and assault by airborne troops were on the move at the same time. The U.S. Marines’ Osprey helicopters, MV-22, stormed upward from the deck of Dokdo Ham, backed up by Cobra attack helicopters. Mobile helicopters with our landing forces on board took off each launch base and carried out an aerial rush into the enemy’s deep objective. Korean Marines on board the C-130 transport plane reached the target point safe and perfectly by parachute.

The airborne assault unit that landed on the rear striking point dashed into linkup operations with the Marine assault group while blocking an increase of the enemy’s fighting force.

When the Marine and aerial assault groups secured the beachhead, follow-up forces like the LST successfully landed one after another and developed the following assault operations landing equipment and supplies. 

Korea-U.S. Navies and Marines showed off their combined mission capability as smooth as water flowing at 2015 the Ssangyong Training conducted as part of Foal Eagle training exercise.

Both Armies’ critical behavior was the grand finale of the landing operation. Around 7,600 soldiers including 3,500 landing forces and 30 vessels such as Aegis destroyer(DDG) took part in the training since the 23rd day of March. And three-dimensional forces such as 80 airplanes and 40 KAAVs were engaged as well.

Admiral Jung Ho-seob, the Navy Chief of Staff, and Vice Admiral Lee Young-joo, Commander of Marine Corps, visited the very site of critical behavior and the Task Force Operation Center(TFOC) of Dokdo Ham to praise sailors’ hard work and supervise the operations.

There was also transshipment training in parallel with six private vessels, adding meaning to the training. The Navy and the Marine Corps have verified vessel mobilizing procedures through transshipment and landing training, shifting combat equipment from an equipment carrier to barge, river crossing supporting ship and finally onto the landing coast. 

After the critical behavior, Korea-U.S. combined forces are going to continue maritime surveillance and rescue, emergency aerial delivery for landing forces, patients and massive casualty evacuation, withdrawal loading, etc. The training will conclude on the first day of next month.

Brigadier General-to-be Lee Yong-hun, the landing forces commander, said, “Korean forces led the training and achieved the results of planning the combined and joint landing operations and mastering the force employment procedures. The Korean and U.S. Marine Corps are especially well-prepared with the ability and posture to win a victory for freedom and justice.”

By Byeong-No, Yun <trylover@dema.mil.kr>

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