The crew of the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) had just recently completed a Composite Training Exercise before participating in Large Scale Exercise 2023. It is expected to go on deployment later this year. (Breaking Defense/Justin Katz)
WASHINGTON — The Navy and Marine Corps last month invited Breaking Defense and other reporters to witness some of the first evolutions part of Large Scale Exercise 2023.
The global training event is focused exclusively on the sea services and tested whether the entire Department of the Navy is prepared to fight in unity during a global conflict. Norfolk, Va., home to US Fleet Forces Command was the central location for the exercise’s leadership and directors.
Here’s some of what we saw:
Live, virtual and constructive training was at the core of Large Scale Exercise 2023 and allowed dozens of ships and submarines to participate in the event despite being in remote locations. The aircraft carrier George HW Bush was docked in Norfolk at the time. (Justin Katz/ Breaking Defense.)The amphibious assault ship Wasp (LHD-1) docked at Norfolk, Va. Elsewhere along the east coast, the San Antonio-class ship New York (LPD-21) was underway and working with a Marine Corps regiment to send and receive aircraft for fueling and re-arming. (Justin Katz/ Breaking Defense.)
Inside the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), the ship’s namesake provides inspiration for any crew walking by. (Justin Katz/ Breaking Defense.)Adm. Daryl Caudle, the commander of US Fleet Forces, speaks to media ahead of Large Scale Exercise 2023. Caudle was the officer responsible to the chief of naval operations for the event’s success. (Photo courtesy of US Navy.)Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 2 watch as a CH-53E helicopter lands near their expeditionary base located several miles away from Cherry Point, N.C. (Justin Katz/ Breaking Defense.)
Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 2 refuel a CH-53E helicopter during an evolution at a “forward arming and refueling point.” (Justin Katz/ Breaking Defense.)Marines wait for a CH-53E helicopter to take off after being refueled. (Justin Katz/ Breaking Defense.)Retired admirals James Foggo (right) and Scott Swift (middle) participated in Large Scale Exercise 2023 as “graybeards.” One of their roles was to act as higher level officials, such as the defense secretary, whose decisions would necessarily impact the Navy and Marine Corps’ operations during a real conflict. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Theodore Green)
