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: Posted On Friday, 19 October 2012 11:04

Corsican Lion
Amphibious Exercise
Picture & Video gallery

"Corsican Lion" is a Franco-British amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean starting October 18 and ending October 26, 2012. This exercise is an implementation of the Franco-British defense treaty signed November 2, 2010 (Treaty of Lancaster House). It is a large scale naval, aerial and amphibious maneuver involving 5,000 men and 13 warships near the Island of Corsica.

Corsican Lion facts:

What is Corsican Lion?
"Corsican Lion" is a Franco-British amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean starting October 18 and ending October 26, 2012. This exercise is an implementation of the Franco-British defense treaty signed November 2, 2010 (Treaty of Lancaster House). It is a large scale naval, aerial and amphibious maneuver involving 5,000 men and 13 warships near the Island of Corsica.

What kind of operations will be conducted?
"Corsican Lion" is an important step along the road towards forging the CJEF (Combined Joint Expeditionary Force), a fully-operational Franco-British force, by 2016 as per the Treat of Lancaster House. "Corsican Lion" exercise will culminate with the amphibious forces simulating a landing operation on an hostile coast, with air support from jets and helicopters.

"The first day of operations at sea has allowed the integration of our respective capacities and was completed by the gathering of all units, thus contributing to the development a Corsican Lion team spirit. Starting today, French and British military are one and the same force" said Contre-Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis, commander of Task Group 473 formed around the nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. "I expect a lot of Corsican Lion because it is the first step in realizing this future Franco-British expeditionary force with for the occasion, the commitment of Charles de Gaulle aircraft in support of amphibious operations conducted by the British Task Group. "

"This is a historic new chapter for our navies and land forces. We are very much looking forward to working together on this new chapter of interoperability with our French allies" declared Commodore Paddy McAlpine, Commander of the British Amphibious Forces.

Who is participating in Corsican Lion?
The exercise includes Navy, Marines and Army units and personnel from France and the United Kingdom.

French Navy:
Charles de Gaulle (R91), Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier
Chevalier Paul (D621), Forbin-class Anti-Air Destroyer
Mistral (L9013) LHD, Amphibious Assault Ship, Force Projection & Command Vessel
Jean de Vienne (D643),Georges Leygues-class Anti-Submarine Destroye r
Meuse (A607), Durance-class Replenishment Oiler

Royal Navy:
HMS Illustrious (R06), Invincible-class Light Aircraft Carrier
HMS Bulwark (L15), Albion-class Landing Platform Dock
HMS Northumberland (F238), Duke-class Type 23 Frigate
HMS Montrose (F236), Duke-class Type 23 Frigate
RFA Mounts Bay (L3008), Bay-class Auxiliary Landing Ship Dock
Hartland Point, Ro-ro cargo

French Navy pictures

Royal Navy Picures

HMS Illustrious is pictured during Exercise Cougar 12 in the Mediterranean Sea. The Royal Navy vessel is taking part in Cougar, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom’s Response Force Task Group, exercising with key allies. Exercises will include Corsican Lion, which will test the maritime element of the UK-French Combined Joined Expeditionary Force (CJEF), and exercise Albanian Lion which will provide superb faculties for the Lead Commando Group to train with Albanian forces, consolidating our relationship. The other vessels in the group are HMS Bulwark, RFA Mounts Bay, HMS Montrose, HMS Northumberland and Merchant Vessel Hartland Point.
Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose is pictured at speed in the Mediterranean Sea during Exercise Cougar 12. The Duke Class ship is taking part in Cougar, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom’s Response Force Task Group, exercising with key allies. Exercises will include Corsican Lion, which will test the maritime element of the UK-French Combined Joined Expeditionary Force (CJEF), and exercise Albanian Lion which will provide superb faculties for the Lead Commando Group to train with Albanian forces, consolidating our relationship. The other vessels in the group are HMS Illustrious, RFA Mounts Bay, HMS Bulwark, HMS Northumberland and Merchant Vessel Hartland Point.
Picture shows Merchant Vessel Hartland Point carrying military equipment in support of Cougar 12 in the Mediterranean Sea. The ship is taking part in Cougar, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom’s Response Force Task Group, exercising with key allies. Exercises will include Corsican Lion, which will test the maritime element of the UK-French Combined Joined Expeditionary Force (CJEF), and exercise Albanian Lion which will provide superb faculties for the Lead Commando Group to train with Albanian forces, consolidating our relationship. The other vessels in the group are HMS Illustrious, RFA Mounts Bay, HMS Montrose, HMS Northumberland and HMS Bulwark. Photograph by LA(Phot) Joel Rouse HMS Bulwark http://www.facebook.com/royalnavy http://www.pinterest.com/royalnavy http://www.youtube.com/royalnavyofficial http://www.youtube.com/twosixtv
HMS Bulwark is taking part in Cougar, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom’s Response Force Task Group, exercising with key allies. Exercises will include Corsican Lion, which will test the maritime element of the UK-French Combined Joined Expeditionary Force (CJEF), and exercise Albanian Lion which will provide superb faculties for the Lead Commando Group to train with Albanian forces, consolidating our relationship. Photographs taken during a photex of the British - French task group. Picture shows HMS Montrose with the French nuclear powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle.HMS Montrose weights 4,900 tonnes, has a length of 133 metres and a top speed of 28 knots. The Charles de Gaulle weighs a staggering 42,000 tonnes with a length of 261 metres, top speed of 27 knots and can carry up to 40 aircraft including the Rafale fighter jet. Photograph by LA(Phot) Joel Rouse HMS Bulwark http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk http://www.facebook.com/royalnavy http://www.pinterest.com/royalnavy http://www.youtube.com/royalnavyofficial
A Royal Navy gunner opens up on a target with a minigun during a night live firing serial. HMS Illustrious was taking part in Cougar, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom’s Response Force Task Group, exercising with key allies. Exercises included Corsican Lion to test the maritime element of the UK-French Joined Expeditionary Force, and Exercise Albanian Lion which provided superb faculties for the Lead commando group to train with Albanian forces, consolidating our relationship.
HMS Bulwark takes the lead of the Exercise Cougar 12 Task Force Group in the Mediterranean Sea. From the left, the other vessels in the group are RFA Mounts Bay, Merchant Vessel Hartland Point, HMS Illustrious and HMS Montrose. HMS Bulwark is taking part in Cougar, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom’s Response Force Task Group, exercising with key allies. Exercises will include Corsican Lion, which will test the maritime element of the UK-French Combined Joined Expeditionary Force (CJEF), and exercise Albanian Lion which will provide superb faculties for the Lead Commando Group to train with Albanian forces, consolidating our relationship.

AdmirorGallery 5.0.0, author/s Vasiljevski & Kekeljevic.