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Archipelago Endeavor 23 enters the next phase
A U.S. Marine with the 2nd Marine Division posts security while a coastal ranger with the Swedish Marines signals to a Swedish Combat Boat 90 during a live-fire training evolution as a part of Archipelago Endeavor 23 in Sweden on Sept. 7, 2023. Archipelago Endeavor is an integrated, Swedish Armed Forces-led exercise that increases operational capability and enhances strategic cooperation between the U.S. Marines and Swedish forces.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Emma Gray
Photo 2 of 4
Archipelago Endeavor 23 enters the next phase
A coastal ranger with the Swedish Marines signals to a Swedish Combat Boat 90 during a live-fire training evolution as a part of Archipelago Endeavor 23 in Sweden on Sept. 7, 2023. Archipelago Endeavor is an integrated, Swedish Armed Forces-led exercise that increases operational capability and enhances strategic cooperation between the U.S. Marines and Swedish forces.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Emma Gray
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U.S., Swedish Marines hone tactics in the Baltic Sea
Coastal rangers with the Swedish Marines engage targets with a M3E1 Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System during a live-fire training evolution during Archipelago Endeavor 23 in Sweden on Sept. 7, 2023. Archipelago Endeavor is an integrated, Swedish Armed Forces-led exercise that increases operational capability and enhances strategic cooperation between the U.S. Marines and Swedish forces.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Emma Gray
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U.S., Swedish Marines hone tactics in the Baltic Sea
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jaxson Caison, an infantryman with the 2nd Marine Division, posts security during a tactical training evolution as a part of Archipelago Endeavor 23 in Sweden on Sept. 11, 2023. Archipelago Endeavor is an integrated, Swedish Armed Forces-led exercise that increases operational capability and enhances strategic cooperation between the U.S. Marines and Swedish forces.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Emma Gray
**This article was translated from Swedish. Find the original article on the Swedish Armed Forces' website.
Since the first execution of the Archipelago Endeavor exercise five years ago, the setup has noticeably advanced with the Swedish 2nd Amphibious Battalion and elements of the U.S. Marine Corps' II Marine Expeditionary Force participating in the exercise.
"On two occasions, the companies will be assembled in a battalion context to accomplish the task, which in the exercise is to prevent the enemy's landing," says Captain Anton Söder, planning officer at the Stockholm Amphibious Regiment.
In the Swedish combat boats, both Swedish and American Marines sit side-by-side. It is the hottest week in Sweden in a long time, with the sun shining brightly over islands and islets at the entrance to Sandhamnsleden. At the same time, seriousness looms on the horizon, and the gravity of the exercise is within reach. The soldiers are determined and focused. Over a ten-day period, the bilaterally-composed company units will practice to jointly enhance their capability to operate in the Swedish archipelago environment.
"Stockholm's archipelago is no longer an entirely unknown environment for our American colleagues from the USMC, and the cooperation is very integrated. One of the new aspects this year has been an American unit tactically providing logistical support to Swedish helicopters," says Lt. Col. Marcus Appelgren, the exercise leader for Archipelago Endeavor 23 and commander of the 2nd Amphibious Battalion.
Focus on sea denial
At last year's exercise, efforts were made to integrate American detection capabilities with Swedish anti-ship missiles and mines.
"During this year's exercise, we are developing anti-ship combat by adding more elements, such as drones, and increasing the level of application," says Capt. Söder.
The overall objective of the exercise is to enhance the interoperability of the participating units. In other words, to increase their ability to operate together with units from other nations.
