Featured Photos
Mistral Seen in Operation During the Exercise. Shot from a French Puma by Mureielle Delaporte, SLD
The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) prepares to pull along side the Military Sealift Command's Fleet Replenishment Oiler USNS Laramie (T-AO 203) to perform a replenishment-at-sea during Exercise Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
French vehicles landing and ashore during Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: Murielle Delaporte SLD
The amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill and the guided-missle cruiser USS Anzio operate in formation during Bold Alligator 2012. Credit; USN
French Pumas off of the Mistral supported the French Army ashore. Credit: Murielle Delaporte SLD
Riverine Command Boat 802, attached to Riverine Squadron 2, conducts a route reconnaissance mission during Exercise Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
French Gazelle Operating During the Exercise on the D Day Assault. Credit: Murielle Delaporte SLD
French Vehicles Getting Ready to Operate Ashore After Landing on D Day. Credit: Murielle Delaporte SLD
A CH-53E Super Stallion takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during the amphibious assault phase of Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
The Mistral is seen operating with French amphibious assault ships. The picture was shot from a French Puma. Credit: Murielle Delaporte SLD
U.S. Marines with, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Regimental Landing Team 2, prepare to depart the well deck of USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in amphibious assault vehicles part of a ship to shore movement during Exercise Bold Alligator, Feb. 6, 2012. Credit: 2D Marine Division Combat Camera
Sailors from the deck department of USS Wasp supervise the well deck as a French Landing Catamaran, or L-CAT, enters the amphibious assault ship. Wasp in engaged in Exercise Bold Alligator. Credit: USS Wasp
French Soldiers lead a convoy during the amphibious assault phase of Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit depart an MV-22 Osprey at Fort Pickett, Va., during an amphibious assault exercise as part of Bold Alligator 2012 Expeditionary Combat Camera.
Two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) prepare to land at Fort Pickett, Va., during an amphibious assault exercise as part of Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: Expeditionary Combat Camera
French Army Preparing Their Ground. Credit: SLD
French Pumas brought in the weaponry and the ground forces prepare to us it. Credit: SLD
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Adam Kerns assigned aboard Riverine Command Boat 803 attached to Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2 mans his watch station while conducting security escort operations for ships transiting out to sea through the inner coastal waterways of North Carolina, during Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, Credit Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
Gunner's Mate 1st Class Kekoa J. Cortez mans a Mk 38 25mm machine gun aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Elliot Shin, from Centerville, Va., assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 14, inspects the power plant of an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter during pre-flight checks during exercise Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
Scan Eagle, an unmanned aerial vehicle, sits on the flight deck after a successful test aboard the Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), during a certification exercise. USS Gunston Hall is underway participating in CERTEX, the final qualification for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, before their scheduled spring deployment. Credit USN
An MV-22 Osprey lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) to receive and transport troops during the amphibious assault phase of Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
Here the USMC is seen working with the French during the ground operational phase of BA-12. Credit: SLD
A Marine AV-8B Harrier from Marine Attack Squadron 542 utilizes its vertical landing capability to land aboard the USS Kearsarge Feb. 1 for Exercise Bold Alligator 2012. The Harrier is capable of vertical/short takeoff and landings which are important aboard amphibious assault ships due to the small flight deck and expands the seabasing advantages of the Navy and Marine Corps team. Credit: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Here a French sailor is seen aboard the Mistral scouring the horizon. Credit: SLD
Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Antonio Wright of Charlotte, N.C., directs the take-off of an AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
French landing ship (CTM) unloading combat vehicle.Credit: SLD
Here the Mistral is being tanked by a US supply ship. Credit: USN
The key helos operating off of the Mistral were the Pumas and Gazelles. The Pumas were part of a special Army group to support the insertion of the artillery for forward deployment. The Pumas either carry the artillery externally for rapid deployment or internally for assembly on the battlefield. The Gazelles are used for either reconnaissance or close air support. Both were involved in the Libyan operations as well. Credit: SLD
American helo operating during the exercise. Credit: USN
On the Mistral, French Navy prepares self defense weapon. Credit: SLD
An AV-8B Harrier prepares to take off during night time flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
French forces working with American forces ashore during the BA-12 exercise. Credit: SLD
An AV-8B Harrier from Marine Fighter Squadron 231 lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge during Bold Alligator 2012. Credit: USN
An artillery raid exercise involved the 3rd RAMA and was conducted on February 7th, 2012 in the context of bilateral training with the Americans nearby. The 300 kilos mortar are already a logistical challenge on its own and can be delivered fully mounted as sling loads or in several pieces inside a helicopter. This was the method selected for this exercise, two mortars being carried by two pumas in three major 100 kilos pieces. Credit: SLD
EDAR and 2 CTMs seen from the Mistral. French landing craft, the latest and the workhorse as seen through a portal on the BPC. Credit: SLD
A significant innovation during the exercise was the first ever landing of an MV-22 on a TAKE ship. We will be following up with interviews with the TAKE and Osprey team on this important development. Here the MV-22 is doing its first operational landing on the TAKE ship. Credit: USN
Onboard the Mistral, a French helo (Gazelle) takes off for a reconnaissance mission. The Gazelle was a workhorse in the Libyan operations. Credit: SLD
Sustainable Maneuver Warfare from the Sea Requires Effective Support for the Sea Base and the Insertion Forces. Pictured here is one of the replenishment ships involved in BA-12. Credit: USN
