NATO Article Day 3

In the Simpress NATO Newsletter (a simulated press exercise):

NATO forces to land in cover of darkness
By Denae D’Arcy
May 17 2007

NATO forces are packing up and moving to a new training location today. Spokesmen won’t comment on exactly where the mission will take place but it will be conducted in the dark. The night landing exercise will be somewhere in the Baltic Sea.

Marines are embarking on NATO ship Largs Bay and other landing ships and will conduct a full scale landing on the beach at night. Largs Bay will come close to shore, flood its internal dock on the underside of the ship, and open its rear door.

Marines are then able to move toward the beach by landing craft. Once the craft reaches shallow water, Marines will drive their vehicles onto the beach.

A NATO Spokesperson says “Landing under cover of darkness means there is an element of surprise and we can operate without people knowing what we’re doing. Coming in by day attracts opposition.”