Joint Military Exercise: Cormorant Strike (III) 2012 PICS: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?226471-Cormorant-Strike-III-2012-Joint-Training-Exercise-Sri-Lanka Cormorant Strike Exercise III was successfully concluded on 25 September 2012 with the active participation of the tri forces service personnel including foreign participation. This concept of conducting a joint military exercise in Sri Lanka was a brainchild of Secretary Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa that will enable forces personnel to rehearse amphibious landing of infantry troops on a beachhead which is the most complex of all military manoeuvres. It is one of the most important methods of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy held terrain. In the main components of these chains of exercises intense surveillance, reconnaissance, airborne and seaborne operations, amphibious insertions into enemy strongholds, supported by para jumps were contained. In addition, hostage rescue missions, ambushes, search operations, counter terrorist actions, raids on boat yards, taking of high value targets, path-finding missions were also included in the operations. It is a timely and compulsory practice for the security forces personnel to keep in top form after the conclusion of the three decade long ruthless terrorist conflict. As well as these kinds of multinational military exercises would enhance the capacity and the dimensions of our troops when they mix and operate along with foreign forces. The undertaking requires an intricate coordination of numerous military specialties, including air power, naval gunfire, naval transport, logistical planning, specialized equipment, land warfare, tactics, and extensive training in the nuances of this manoeuvre for all personnel involved. The first exercise was conducted in year 2010 in the general area of Mannar with the participation of 2500 forces personnel for nine days. During this exercise 40 naval vessels and aircraft including SLNS Shakthi, Kafir aircraft, MI 24, Y12 and MI 17 helicopters were used. Sri Lanka Army Commandos and Special Forces were directly involved in ground battle and the amphibious landing was jointly coordinated by senior security officials of the tri-forces. In the exercise, troops had to regain the entire territory that had been declared as an enemy land. Exercise Cormorant Strike II, 2011 was a three week long exercise which saw the participation of about 4000 of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel, largely headed by Commandos and Special Forces as a strategic force. In addition, a large contingent of I Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) and 20 Gajaba Regiment (GR) were took part in the exercise. Defence Attaches from US, Russia, Japan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh and other senior tri-service officers witnessed the exercise conducted in Trincomalee. Exercise Cormorant Strike III, 2012 was a sixteen day long joint exercise conducted on an amphibious setting on the eastern region of the country with the same objective as with the previous operations. In this third exercise almost 2000 tri-service personnel of Sri Lankan armed forces along with 40 foreign military representatives from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and India (observers) took part in successfully completing the operations. Nearly 400 sailors of Sri Lanka Navy and 150 Air Force personnel threw their full weight behind the success of the entire event. Sri Lanka Air Force helicopters, including Y12 fixed wing aircraft and navy's Amphibious Task Force with the involvement of SLN's landing ship tanks and inshore patrol craft were tasked with the key amphibious landings. Military exercises of this nature are immensely important to ascertain the achievements and draw backs in operational capabilities and planning. It helps to ascertain and decide the correct course of action and necessary precautions to be adopted during operational requirements in the future.

• published: 22 Aug 2013
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