British and French troops stormed the beaches of North Devon this week as part of a milestone Franco-British amphibious warfare exercise, the first of its kind in seven years.
According to a news update published by the Royal Navy, Exercise Catamaran is taking place in two phases – first off the Devon coast and then in the Bay of Biscay – as both nations seek to sharpen their ability to operate together in complex warfighting scenarios.
Operating under the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a bi-national framework formed under the 2010 Lancaster House Treaty, a joint task group of 11 warships, 40 aircraft, and 3,000 troops from the UK, France, and Spain are conducting intensive training aimed at enhancing joint amphibious capabilities.
Support ships RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus are at the heart of the UK’s effort, enabling beach raids and air assaults by Royal Marines from 40 and 47 Commando and helicopter crews from 845 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons. According to the Royal Navy, “Royal Marines are leading the British involvement in a major exercise aimed at increasing the ability of UK and French forces to operate together effectively.”
Major General Rich Cantrill, Commander Operations for the Royal Navy, said in the update: “We’re delighted to participate in this ambitious French-led amphibious exercise and host its initial phase off the Devon coast. Amphibious operations are highly complex and so require regular practice.”
He added: “We must stand united as allies, echoing our history from WWII and maintaining our ability to project power from sea to land. As warfare evolves, as we’ve seen with Ukraine, we have to adapt, and the Royal Navy is significantly transforming its Commando Force and the way it delivers operations in the littoral.”
The timing of the drills, coinciding with the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings, was noted by defence officials as a powerful reminder of the enduring relevance of amphibious operations in modern conflict.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard MP commented: “The enduring alliance between the UK and France underscores our shared commitment to addressing evolving security threats. Keeping our joint amphibious force ready and trained through exercises such as this is crucial for protecting not just the UK’s security but also that of our NATO allies.”
The second phase of Exercise Catamaran, running from 7 to 15 June, will shift focus to the French Atlantic coast. During this phase, British helicopters will launch assaults from Royal Navy Air Station Yeovilton onto French beaches, while Royal Marines embark aboard French Navy vessels.
Commander Alex Knight, Commander of the Amphibious Task Force, said: “This is an incredible opportunity to demonstrate the full spectrum of amphibious capability held within the UK’s Littoral Response Group.”
“Catamaran provides the UK Commando Force the freedom to explore how we operate as an Advance Amphibious Force, working alongside CJEF and NATO partner nations in demonstrating our ability and readiness to deliver this powerful capability from the sea.”
Exercise Catamaran forms part of the broader French-led Polaris 25 training initiative, which brings together NATO allies to rehearse integrated operations across land, sea, and air. It is one of the most significant tests of UK-French amphibious readiness since the establishment of the CJEF and signals renewed momentum in the bilateral defence relationship ahead of a planned refresh of the Lancaster House Treaty later this year.
So the UK has a carrier strike group on the other side of the world while also deploying a littoral strike group in the Atlantic. 🧐
I’m sure someone will be along shortly to tell us how we are not a proper navy. 😀
We are a proper Navy, as any serious commentator knows.
We have QEC, F35s, SSN, SSBN, and things like S2087, Merlin, and T45s.
We also have professional people, experience, and oversees bases to support the logistical tail.
But come on, the comments from MG Cantrill, Commander Alex Knight, and Minister Pollard are beyond parody.
“maintaining our ability to project power from sea to land. As warfare evolves, as we’ve seen with Ukraine, we have to adapt, and the Royal Navy is significantly transforming its Commando Force and the way it delivers operations in the littoral.”
We are transforming all right, we’ve just degraded our capabilities, our C3, and our movement potential significantly.
“Keeping our joint amphibious force ready”
Apart from exercises with allies, having our own force resourced would have been good, but HMG cut its LPH and its LPDs, while buying some shiny new rifles, hand held drones, and uniforms in return.
Where are the new ship to shore connectors, extra firepower, and air lift?
Nowhere in sight.
“Commander Alex Knight, Commander of the Amphibious Task Force, said: “This is an incredible opportunity to demonstrate the full spectrum of amphibious capability held within the UK’s Littoral Response Group.”
A Gem, this. We did have 2 Response Groups, North and South. That seems to have vanished ( like much of our military ) and is now a sole Response Group. The two Groups were also meant to be joined in major crisis to form a Littoral STRIKE Group, but not much left to join, with only 3 RFA ships.
Full Spectrum? Is he joking.
LPDs gone.
LPH gone.
LCAC gone.
LCVP and LCU reduced, as 4,6,9 Landing Craft Squadrons RM ( For Albion, Bulwark, Ocean ) are homeless.
BARVs gone, or going.
Please tell us more about full spectrum, Commander, and how many LCU and LCVP a Bay can carry, compared to the LPD? I know the answer.
Our full spectrum capability is now reduced to raids from helis and RIBs, and stuff the SBS/SMG can do, which I hope is still relevant.
At least the QEC can carry the aviation side, using the new ER Chinooks.
And the Army 17 PMR RLC at least still has the Port role alongside the Points, and using Mexefloat. But those are follow up, not full spectrum amphibious capability.
I’ve been assured by many UKDJ commentators that all of that is not needed anyway as handheld drones and hypersonics on their own can do everything.
Have you listened to the Wargame podcast on Sky News ? Very interesting.
I have just looked, I can only see the first 2 minutes for some reason?
If you have Spotify or similar you can listen in full to the first 2 episodes. I have Sky as a mobile app and can listen on that. Episode 3 drops tomorrow I think. It’s very good so far.
only just seen how expensive the landing craft are it was an eye opener. no wonder that the albions are going. we can’t afford the craft!and we do have the mighty rivers too. remember.
it’s all spread very thinly though isn’t it?we are a proper navy, but only a little one. we should always be at least more powerful than France.
only just seen how expensive the landing craft are it was an eye opener. no wonder that the albions are going. we can’t afford the craft!
We must stand united as allies, echoing our history from WWII
but but half the french sided with the Germans???
What about opening a book or grow up ?
ooo we are a tetchy bunch today! let’s all take our medicine and calm down.
so by your logic, the US should never trust you since you were their colonial subjugators?
only just seen how expensive the landing craft are it was an eye opener. no wonder that the albions are going. we can’t afford the craft!
Ever heard of Vichy France sir?
Being forced into a puppet regime is hardly half the French siding with the Germans.
In case you haven’t noticed, Vichy stayed neutral (contrary to what you seem to « think ») and most vichy forces re-joined ally camp in 42 after the end of armistice. Always happy to teach.
Colin Brooks
17:20 (1 minute ago)
Jules
The vichy government of France was a bunch of NAZI sympathizing puppets, please do not trouble to teach me anything else.
I won’t: it’s obviously pointless to think you can learn.
👍
You only have to look at the attitude of France and Germany since we left the EU, allies? Joke!
lol you’re the ones crawling back
WE are not crawling back, Starmer is the one crawling.
of course theyre allies you halfwit, why wouldn’t they be?
0I have been tempted to respond to name calling here but so far have not done so.
I have a bit of paper from Mensa which tells me my IQ is 142 an I have spent 2 years in the RAF (pilot training) so why don’t you button it Andy?
Poor old Braunton Burrows, must be the most invaded part of the UK.
no Dover, that is where Boarder Force drop the other French amphibious assault off.
👍 the one that we apparently to be happening anything but.political posturing being done about it.
Its a great consolation that we have a such good friend and neighbour like France who lend us their LHDs to practise amphibious landings.
From the French side, we also have our own limitations. We were happy that UK provided us Help with the heavy helicopter we don’t have. I know everyone would like to have everything all the time, but you know what, I am very happy with the level of alliance and trust we have with UK.
British amphibious capability has been nearly scrapped.
scrapped by the same nodding dogs at the MOD that decided to get rid of ocean.
never trust a Frenchie, they’re an unpredictable bunch.
Hehehe😉 French people have the highest respect for the Anglo-French relationship. I know I may not convince you for you may have readily available discontent arguments, though when it comes to military matters, no one is more trusted from French side than our neighbours in UK. You where always by our side in the last 200 years and we cherish this in France. I wish you well. Respectfully, Math
thankyou for your kind reply. best wist wishes to you.