THE SOUTH Pembrokeshire coast has been a hive of military activity recently as British and French forces have undertaken a a joint military exercise.

Codenamed 'Griffin Strike', the joint exercise involves 3,500 UK personnel, 2,000 French personnel, five UK ships, five French ships, 11 UK aircraft and 10 French aircraft.

Beach landing exercises have been undertaken on Freshwater West and Lydstep beach whilst Templeton airfield is a base for around 500 personnel and more than a dozen helicopters including Chinooks, Apaches, Merlins and Wildcats.

The flagship of 'Griffin Strike' is HMS Bulwark, an amphibious assault ship. It has been the operational headquarters of the amphibious assault on South Pembrokeshire beaches.

On board HMS Bulwark is Petty Officer Mike Setterfield, from Steynton, Milford Haven. The 36 year-old is a physical trainer on board the ship and joined the Royal Navy in 1999.

Captain James Parkin, HMS Bulwark's captain, whose grandfather Peter Lewis-Smith lives in Newport, said: "Griffin Strike is an excellent training opportunity and will build on our existing strong links with our French allies.

"From a personal point of view, this is the highlight of my career.

"I joined the navy 18 years ago and everything I've done thus far has been leading up to this point.

"It's a tremendous honour to not only be in command of this ship, but also ithe 400 ships company, its out of this world.

"My mother is very proud."

'Griffin Strike' is designed to validate the Anglo-French 'Combined Joint Expeditionary Force' or CJEF.