Kakinada (AP), Apr 13 (UNI) In a dramatic culmination of the sea phase of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025, Indian and US armed forces executed a high-intensity amphibious assault off the coast of Kakinada, successfully breaching simulated enemy defences through a powerful joint deployment from INS Jalashwa and USS Comstock.
The complex manoeuvre, which formed the centrepiece of the exercise’s final phase held between April 8 and 13, saw Indian Army Infantry Combat Vehicles (BMPs) and US Marine Corps Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) launched ashore via Landing Craft Mechanised (LCMs) and Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCACs).
The vehicles advanced in coordinated waves to seize beachheads and establish a secure perimeter — a textbook example of interoperability in action.
Designed to simulate a real-world Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) contingency amid hostile conditions, the scenario required seamless coordination between the two militaries across land, air and sea domains.
The amphibious assault was preceded by tactical land operations carried out by the Indian Army’s 4/8 Gorkha Rifles Infantry Battalion Group and the US Army’s 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment from the 11th Arctic Airborne Division.
Troops cleared key axes through Mobile Vehicle Check Posts, Room Intervention and Road Opening Patrols, paving the way for the mechanised assault.
Adding to the layered assault was the integration of heliborne operations. Indian Navy MARCOS, US Special Operations Forces, and the Ghatak platoon of the Gorkha Rifles were inserted behind simulated enemy lines, demonstrating swift aerial deployment and precision targeting — vital in high-risk amphibious campaigns.
The Distinguished Visitors (DV) Day held during the exercise was attended by Rear Admiral Satish Shenai, FOTNA, Rear Admiral Gregory D Newkirk, Commander, CTF 70, Brig Maheshwar Singh, Deputy GOC of the Bison Division, Brig Anurag Upadhyaya, Commander Amphibious Brigade, and US Consul General Ms Jennifer Larson. Dignitaries were given an operational overview at the Joint Control and Operations Centre (JCOC), with detailed briefings on mission planning, execution, and joint decision-making.
A vital component of the exercise was the HADR module. An Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp was established by the Indian Army near the landing zone, equipped with medical, relief and sanitation facilities. The module demonstrated the Indian Armed Forces’ preparedness for disaster response scenarios and drew commendation from both Indian and US observers.
Spanning from April 1 to 13, Tiger Triumph 2025 marks yet another milestone in Indo-US defence collaboration. The successful execution of the high-intensity amphibious assault underscores the growing synergy, mutual trust, and capability to conduct joint operations in complex environments — reinforcing both nations' shared commitment to peace, stability, and rapid humanitarian response in the Indo-Pacific.
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