Interesting News. HMH-461 have been some busy, quiet boys.

via Navy Recognition.

Off the coast of Djibouti, a Sikorsky CH-53 "Sea Stallion" from United States Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) conducted several approaches and landings on the Dixmude, French Navy's newest LHD.

Dixmude is the third ship of Mistral Class and is curently used to form and train future French Navy's Officers. The French vessel's flight deck directors dubbed "yellow dogs" were present on the flight deck to assist the Marines crew of the Sea Stallion in his deck landing maneuvers. The CH-53 was able to perform all its TAG (Touch and Go), and obtain the landing qualification on this French type of LHD.

Marines mechanics disembarked from the CH-53 to spend some time on the Dixmude and watch the approach of their aircraft. It was an opportunity for sailors of both nations to exchange a few words, visit parts of the French ship and exchange their unit patches.

Thanks Navy Recognition!

Now we know the name of the unit operating those CH-53's at Camp Lemonnier.  We also know for a fact that the images of that base have indeed been frozen...indeed the images of the region have been frozen.

But even more telling is the fact that in addition to French Foreign Legion, French Airborne Marines and French Paratroopers (and not counting French Special Ops Forces) we also have a French Warship operating off the coast of Africa.

Interesting indeed.

UPDATE:  Bryaxis states that this is indeed a training cruise for the junior officers.  Wow.  I couldn't imagine the US Navy taking out a frontline warship and using it for a training cruise.  Different ways of doing business I guess.  BUT!  The Legion, Airborne Marines and Paratroopers from France are all running wild and wooly on the African Continent.