U.S., French Strengthen Interoperability During Exercise Chesapeake 2025
26 April 2025
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) left Naval Station Norfolk today, to participate in Exercise Chesapeake 2025 with the French Marine Nationale in the U.S. 2nd Fleet area of operations.
Exercise Chesapeake aims to enhance interoperability, strengthen the U.S./French bilateral defense partnership and increase the understanding of allied capabilities.
"As the U.S. Navy celebrates 250 years of warfighting excellence, it’s fitting that we conduct Exercise Chesapeake with the French navy," said Vice Adm. Doug Perry, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. “U.S. and France’s monumental military and diplomatic alliance helped to secure our nation’s independence in 1783, jumpstarting a strategic defense relationship that endures today.”
During Exercise Chesapeake, U.S. and French naval forces will conduct flight operations, landing craft air cushion certifications, amphibious operations, and personnel exchanges to enhance interoperability and further develop their ability to operate together effectively. Each event will see forces and assets from the historic allies working side by side, often interchangeably, to further prove the two nations’ ability to fight and win together. Ultimately, highlighting our shared commitment to global security which testifies to the special bond that we share across the Atlantic.
Participating units from the U.S. Navy include Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet; Amphibious Squadron 4; USS OAK HILL (LSD 51); and Naval Beach Group TWO to include Beachmaster Unit TWO (BMU 2) and Assault Craft Unit FOUR (ACU 4), and a detachment from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28.
“Exercise Chesapeake gives us a vital opportunity to sharpen our readiness and strengthen our relationship with a key NATO ally,” said Col. Ben Reid, commanding officer, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Alert Contingency MAGTF (SPMAGTF-ACM). “Training side by side with the French 13th Marine Infantry Brigade deepens our interoperability and ensures we’re ready to respond together anywhere, anytime.”
U.S. Marine Corps units include Marine Forces Command; II Marine Expeditionary Force, and the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Alert Contingency MAGTF (SPMAGTF-ACM) comprised of the 26 MEU Command Element; 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261; and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542.
Alongside U.S. forces, involved French units include the Mistral-class amphibious assault and command ship FS Mistral (L 9013) and La Fayette-class frigate FS Surcouf (F 711). The two French ships comprise the Jeanne d’Arc Task Group, which left from Toulon, France, for an annual five-month midshipmen deployment to the Atlantic and Arctic Circle region. Other participating French units include a detachment of the 6th Army Cavalry Brigade, composed by French Foreign Legion Units; a tactical staff, a command section, a cavalry platoon of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment, a 120 mm mortar support section convertible into an infantry combat section of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade, and a beach intervention unit of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment.
“One could not find a name more appropriate than Chesapeake, for it is a timeless reminder of our nations’ naval cooperation,” said Capt. Quentin Vieux-Rochas, commanding officer, FS Mistral (L 9013). “We are glad that our officers-in-training have the opportunity to embrace this enduring partnership early on in their career and look forward to showcasing our proven interoperability once more. The Jeanne d’Arc Task Group and all its components are proud of taking part in this ambitious exercise, pinnacle of our deployment and symbol of our friendship.”
U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime ready forces to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.
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