Marines shows a Spanish landing on the East Coast of the United States

Last week, after crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the Expeditionary Combat Group 'Atlantic Deployment 26' arrived in the US.

A Spanish Navy assault on Vigo with support from Harrier II Plus fighters and helicopters
A Spanish Navy Harrier II fighter spraying water on people in Vigo

This Combat Group is made up of the amphibious aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61, the amphibious assault ship "Castilla" L-52, the frigate "Blas de Lezo" F-103, the frigate "Reina Sofía" F-84 and the combat supply ship "Patiño" A-14, in addition to 700 soldiers and 75 vehicles of the Tercio de Armada (TEAR), the expeditionary unit of the Spanish Marine Corps, as well as aircraft from the Spanish Navy and the Army and soldiers and vehicles from the Troupes de Marine, the naval infantry of the French National Navy.

This deployment is taking place within the framework of the multinational exercise Fleetex 250, organized by the United States Armed Forces and taking place at Naval Station Norfolk (Virginia), the largest naval base in the world, and at the United States Marine base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Here we can see two photos published by the Spanish Defence Staff (EMAD) on June 9, during this Combat Group's crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Above we see the five ships of this flotilla and below two helicopters: an H135 P3H Nival from the 12th Squadron of the Spanish Navy's Air Wing (FLOAN), on the left, and an AS-532 Cougar from the Spanish Army's Airmobile Forces (FAMET).

On June 12, the Spanish military force began an operation at Camp Lejeune with a reconnaissance of the beach by a reconnaissance team. The Spanish military landing took place on June 13, with air support from the FLOAN and FAMET. In recent days, the US Marines have published three series of photos (here, here and here) of this landing. Below you can see a selection of them.

A Spanish Navy LCM-1E landing craft, the L609, approaching the beaches of Camp Lejeune.

A Spanish MOWAG Piranha wheeled armored vehicle from the TEAR landing at Camp Lejeune.

Spanish soldiers from the TEAR disembarking from an LCM-1E. We see two VAMTAC ST5 tactical vehicles armed with 12.7mm Browning M-2 heavy machine guns aboard the landing craft.

A French VBMR Griffon armored vehicle of the Troupes de Marine preparing to disembark from an LCM-1E of the Spanish Navy.

A Spanish M-109A5E self-propelled howitzer from the TEAR, the 311, about to disembark from an LCM-1E.

A TEAR VAMTAC ST5, armed with a Browning M-2 machine gun, arriving at Camp Lejeune beach.

A USMC unit flag. In the background, we see a Spanish SH-60F Seahawk tactical transport helicopter from the 10th Squadron of the FLOAN.

A TEAR soldier signaling to an LCM-1E landing craft.

Spanish soldiers from the TEAR are already on the beach. In the background, we see two LCM-1E landing craft with their ramps open. On the right-hand boat, we see a VAMTAC ST5 and an Iveco M250.37WM truck from the TEAR.

Two Spanish helicopters, a Cougar from FAMET (left) and a Seahawk from FLOAN (right) flying over Camp Lejeune.

A Spanish SH-60F helicopter from the 10th Squadron preparing to land at Camp Lejeune.

The driver of a Spanish M-109A5E self-propelled howitzer from the TEAR talking to two US marines at Camp Lejeune.

A Spanish EC-665 Tiger attack helicopter from the 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion (BHELA I) of the FAMET flying over Camp Lejeune. The FAMET helicopters arrived in the US aboard the aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I" L-61.

A Spanish soldier from the TEAR observes an LCM-1E boat of the Spanish Navy as it leaves the coast of Camp Lejeune after the landing is completed.

A group of Spanish soldiers from the TEAR at Camp Lejeune, after the landing.

A Spanish SH-60F helicopter from the FLOAN flies over a group of TEAR vehicles at Camp Lejeune.

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Photos: Estado Mayor de la Defensa / U.S. Marine Corps.