Exercise Saif Sareea 3

Joint UK-Omani all arms exercise. Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks of at least Cyclops Squadron, Royal Tank Regiment were shipped ahead to form the punch of the 1 Mercian Battle Group; in support, 4 REGT AAC provided at least 2 Apache AH.1 from 664 Sq. The UK contribution to the Amphibious Force which assaulted Ras Markaz consisted of 40 Commando RM and elements of 539 Assault Sq RM, 24 CDO Regt RE, 29 CDO Regt RA, 30 CDO RM and the CDO Logistic Regt RM. The RAF also contributed at least 3 Puma HC.2 and 3 Chinook.

For the UK, this was a large scale overseas deployment (held partly in parallel with Exercise Trident Juncture 18 in Norway) and much of the heavy lifting was carried out in advance by sea using mv Anvil Point and mv Hurst Point operating from SMC Marchwood to the Port of Duqm. Whilst many of the units deployed were more capable, it was nonetheless eclipsed by the UK numbers committed to Saif Sareea 2 in Oct 2001. By contrast, Oman provided 60,000 of its Armed Forces and most of the escort Frigates and Corvettes.