U.S. Army deploys heavy military equipment to Poland to support NATO operations

By Defence Industry Europe

On 17 January, hundreds of U.S. Army personnel, federal civilian employees, contractors, and transportation staff worked through the night at the Port of Gdynia, Poland, to offload approximately 250 pieces of military equipment. The operation included howitzers, Humvees, and M1 Abrams tanks, delivered by the Logistics Naval Vessel Cape Texas as part of the Reception, Staging, and Onward Movement (RSOM) mission.

 

The offload is one of several port operations conducted annually across the Baltic, Black, and Mediterranean Seas to support U.S. Army missions in Europe. These operations facilitate the movement of vehicles and equipment essential for unit readiness and mission accomplishment.

“This mission is unique to us because not only do we have the rotational forces’ equipment needed for their deployment, but we also have foreign military sales vehicles that will go to the Polish Army,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin Van Fleet, mobility officer for the 839th Transportation Battalion. “The execution of this mission directly supports the NATO alliance and strengthens our partnership with our Polish allies.”

 

 

The RSOM process incorporates seaports, commercial ground transportation, and railways to deliver military resources where they are needed. The 21st Theater Sustainment Command, a key logistical element, has recently processed and moved more than 500,000 tons of equipment through Europe, equivalent to nine brigade combat teams.

Major Michelle Su, RSOM mission commander, noted the importance of such missions. “These missions serve as a critical first step in ensuring that units are equipped to accomplish their objectives while in the theater,” she said.

 

 

The ports of Gdynia and Gdansk are strategically located on the Baltic Sea in northern Poland and are important for military and commercial operations. Gdansk has been recognised as one of Europe’s top ten commercial ports and is the largest EU port on the Baltic Sea, according to the Port of Gdansk.

The deployment of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, is part of the U.S. Army’s rotational presence in Europe to support Operation Atlantic Resolve. This contingency operation aims to bolster NATO’s eastern flank and demonstrate commitment to the alliance amidst ongoing challenges in the region.

 

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