Dawn Blitz 2013- Ground Assault “A Multi-National Military Exercise”
One of the longest and largest military exercises to take place in Southern California. Along with the US Navy and Marine Corps, Canada sent several Royal Canadian Naval vessels, as well as a Infantry unit from Quebec. New Zealand sent Infantry soldiers, while Japanese brought 3 Naval Vessels, along with their air units, and more infantry troops from it’s Self-Defense Forces to train along side the Marines.
The exercise lasted most of the month of June, and included Mine-sweeping operations, the Marines landing their MV-22B Osprey for the first time on a Japanese ship, an island raid on San Clemente Island, Tank lead assaults on towns with house to house combat training, an Air Assault of a battalion size unit from Camp Pendleton to Twenty-nine Palms out in the California desert., several live fire ranges using various weapons, and several amphibious landings. A total of over 5000 troops were used.
With tensions rising in the East China Sea over ownership of several small islands, and even Communist China requesting that the Exercise be canceled. This exercise was important in so many ways. It provided a greater understanding between these Pacific Rim allies. During the training, the US Marines would show the other nations forces, their way of doing things, and then it was up to the other commands on whether they would follow the Marines way, or do their own type of tactics.