Amphibious forces head for the beaches in Sattahip.
Patcharapol Panrak
The annual Cobra Gold naval exercise is underway again in Thailand with China
participating for the first time.
Royal Thai Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Adm. Narong Phipatanasai opened the
amphibious-assault training exercises on the Hat Yao training field in Samae San
Feb. 14. Joining co-hosts Thailand and the United States this year are
Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and, for the first time, the
People’s Republic of China.
Cobra Gold is the largest training exercise in Southeast Asia
and is being held for the 33rd time. In addition to marine and ground-based
exercises staged throughout the kingdom, Cobra Gold also includes humanitarian
events such as construction projects and medical projects to strengthen
relationships between partner nations.
The war games hope to develop the capabilities of multinational strategies
against forces in low-level conflict crisis, national defense and application of
forces in various situations, such as fights against unrest and terrorism,
evacuations, disaster relief, and United Nations operations.
Rear Adm. Thanin Likhitwong, commander of the Thai Amphibious Fleet, is
directing Cobra Gold this year. The Feb. 14-16 drill consisted of amphibious
strategies, evacuation from disaster areas and training with live ammunition.
Thai ships participating in the exercise are the HTMS Angthong, Seechang, and
Matpon; minesweepers, naval special operations forces; a package-destruction
unit; four aircraft; medical units; and nuclear, biological and chemical-war
units.
The US complement consists of the USS Denver, 10 amphibious-assault vehicles,
U.S. Marines, one aircraft, two landing platform docks, and five
explosive-ordnance units. South Korea sent a landing platform dock and one
battalion of marines and a SEAL team.
