TS17 - Ashland launches 31st MEU

CORAL SEA (July 8, 2017) Marines attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), launch amphibious assault vehicles from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a beach raid training exercise for Talisman Saber 17. Ashland, part of a combined U.S.-Australia-New Zealand expeditionary strike group, is undergoing a series of scenarios that will increase naval proficiencies in operating against blue-water adversarial threats and in its primary mission of launching Marine forces ashore in the littorals. Talisman Saber is a biennial U.S.-Australia bilateral exercise held off the coast of Australia meant to achieve interoperability and strengthen the U.S.-Australia alliance. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Alexandra Seeley/Released)