US Marines and M’sian forces hold war games
In-coming: Troops observing as a hovercraft makes it way to shore in the exercise on amphibious assault and landing.
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KOTA KINABALU: Several hovercraft filled with military personnel and equipment landed on a remote part of the Sabah east coast beach during a war game with the Malaysian Armed Forces.
The troops from the US 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are taking part in a nine-day joint Malaysian-American Amphibious Exercise 2014 (Malux Amphex 14) at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu.
MEU commanding officer Col Mathew Trollinger said the exercise, which included an amphibious assault and landing, was an opportunity for the marines and Malaysian soldiers to learn and cooperate with each other during military missions.
“The US and Malaysia Armed Forces have shared a long-standing military relationship, and we are grateful to build upon that tradition by improving participating forces’ amphibious training, readiness and inter-operability,” he said in a report on marines.mil, the official website of the United States Marine Corps.A statement from the US Embassy said the US military and Malaysian Armed Forces had partnered in counter-terrorism operations since 1985 and participated in numerous exercises over the years.
The exercise is scheduled to end today, which will be attended by Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan. During the exercise, about 500 US Marines and sailors from the 11th MEU joined forces with the personnel from the Seventh and 22nd Royal Malay Regiments.
