130610-N-IY633-153

130610-N-IY633-153 GULF OF THAILAND (Jun. 10, 2013) — Amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) exit the well deck of the forward-deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) in preparation for a joint amphibious assault exercise with the Royal Thai Navy as a part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise Thailand 2013. U.S. Navy ships participating in the exercise include the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11), the amphibious dock landing ships USS Tortuga (LSD 46) with embarked U.S. Marine Corps landing force, diving and salvage vessel USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) with embarked Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54). CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Amanda S. Kitchner/Released)