The beaches of the Long Beach Peninsula looked a little like a war-zone early this morning when the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy used them as a practice field for landing exercises.

Long Beach police warned the community via social media of the event Tuesday evening, advising that the beach in the area would be closed from midnight to 4 a.m. and residents may hear helicopter-like noises.

The Marines will be back to conclude their exercises tonight, March 20, at the same time.

A Marine hovercraft lands on the beaches of Long Beach just after midnight, near Claremont Ave. and Ocean Blvd., as Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Third Fleet conducted a beach landing training exercise. The training is designed to enhance the integration and collective capability of U.S. Marine Corps and Navy forces. Wednesday, Mar. 20, 2019. Photo by Stephen Carr
A hovercraft lands on the beaches of Long Beach just after midnight, near Claremont Ave. and Ocean Blvd. Photo by Stephen Carr.

The military declined to go into detail about what crews were doing, but Master Sgt. Christine Polvorosa said, “The training is designed to enhance the integration and collective capability of U.S. Marine Corps and Navy forces.”

Marines and Sailors from the I Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Third Fleet forces are doing training throughout the southwest United States during March, according to Polvorosa.

A Navy hovercraft with Marine forces off the beaches. Police warned residents they may hear noises like helicopters. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A hovercraft on the beaches of Long Beach just after midnight, near Claremont Ave. and Ocean Blvd. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Marines prepare to transport after their hovercraft laded and unloaded Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force and U.S. Third Fleet. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A Marine armored vehicle. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Marines prepare to transport, after their hovercraft laded and unloaded. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A caravan of Marine Humvees, after their hovercraft laded and unloaded. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A hovercraft departs. Photo by Stephen Carr.