The exercise involved military personnel from nine countries, including France, the UK, Brazil, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the US. The Royal Marines from 40 and 47 Commando led the British involvement in the exercise
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) recently facilitated a significant multi-national training exercise at Braunton Burrows Training Area, showcasing its pivotal role in supporting military capabilities. The exercise, known as Exercise Catamaran, was conducted from May 30 to June 7 and involved military personnel from nine countries, including France, the UK, Brazil, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the US. The Royal Marines from 40 and 47 Commando led the British involvement in the exercise.
Exercise Catamaran is notable for being the largest amphibious exercise of its scale conducted at Braunton Burrows since US troops used the area in 1943 to rehearse for the D-Day landings on Utah and Omaha beaches. The exercise was part of the broader French-led POLARIS 25 exercise, a month-long training initiative involving over 3,000 military personnel from allied nations working together to enhance their warfighting skills. The amphibious exercise included more than 20 surface ships and 40 aircraft operating in the Atlantic and the Channel, with landing exercises taking place on the beach at Braunton Burrows.
Braunton Burrows Training Area, home to one of the largest sand dune systems in the UK, offers a unique environment for military training. The DIO’s Overseas and Training team played a crucial role in planning and facilitating Exercise Catamaran. The Foreign Forces team acted as the liaison between the French exercise planners and the Ministry of Defence, providing expert advice on how the training area could be best utilized to meet the exercise’s objectives. This ensured that all participating nations were fully informed and engaged in the process.
The Deputy Training Safety Officer at Braunton Burrows led safety briefings for military personnel, flexibly supported training requirements, and ensured that the training area remained safe for both military activities and public access. This technical guidance was essential in developing realistic training scenarios that could not be replicated elsewhere in the UK.
Brigadier Gavin Hatcher CBE, DIO’s Head of Overseas and Training Region, emphasized the importance of the DIO’s role in providing a safe and high-quality environment for military training. He stated, “As custodians of the Defence Training Estate, DIO proudly provides a safe and high-quality environment for our Armed Forces and allies to train. While we enable and support important military training year-round, the scale and complexity of Exercise Catamaran have really showcased the versatility and diversity of what we can facilitate.”
Hatcher added, “My team has been working closely with the French military for some time to meticulously plan this phase of the exercise on Braunton Burrows Training Area. It has been great to see this collaboration brought to fruition this week with UK military personnel training alongside our allies as they prepare for potential deployments.”
Major Martyn Heenan of the Royal Marines highlighted the significance of Braunton Burrows and the amphibious training it allows. He said, “Braunton Burrows and the amphibious training it allows is so important as it is one of the most complex operations you can carry out and there’s very few places you can do it. It allows the allied nations involved in this exercise to get onto the same space in a challenging area and work together, which is very difficult to do anywhere else in the world.”
Heenan also praised the DIO’s involvement, noting, “It’s been a long planning process but DIO have been there all the way through, be it the Foreign Forces team, the Training Safety Officers or the regional commanders, they have really helped with the planning and delivering everything to make this a success.”
Maintaining public access to Braunton Burrows is a priority, and the site’s Deputy Training Safety Officer conducts careful planning and continuous monitoring alongside colleagues from industry partner Landmarc. This ensures that military activities can proceed safely without endangering personnel or members of the public.
Exercise Catamaran and the broader POLARIS 25 initiative underscore the importance of international cooperation and the shared commitment to enhancing military capabilities. The successful execution of these exercises demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative planning and the critical role of organizations like the DIO in supporting military training and readiness.
