Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wyatt | U.S. Soldiers guide a Lithuanian palletized load system onto a M-1000 Heavy Equipment...... read more read more
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By 1st Lt. Max Saurwein
RUKLA, Lithuania – A team from Task Force Stilwell, comprised of transporters from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 16th Sustainment Brigade, demonstrated allied interoperability as they assisted heavy equipment movement as part of international training conducted during October in Lithuania.
Among the most moving triumphs was the transport of a Lithuanian “Iron Wolf” Mechanized Brigade palletized load system truck from Rukla to Kaunas in mid-October, showing impressive recovery interoperability between Lithuanian and U.S. Army assets.
“TF Stilwell Soldiers from multiple sections and Lithuanian elements closely coordinated to quickly and efficiently execute this move,” said Capt. Charles Walton, TF Stilwell commander.
Key technical advisers described the training and vehicle movements as a significant achievement reflective of growing collaborative capability.
“Demonstrating operability of equipment through the completion of missions enables our partnership to continue to grow and significantly increases the capabilities and freedom of movement within Atlantic Resolve,” said Sgt. Benjamin Weller, a distribution squad leader with TF Stilwell.
The Lithuanian truck is similar to the U.S. Army M1120 Load Handling System, commonly referred to as an “LHS.” Using a combination of American and Lithuania army equipment, Soldiers loaded the vehicle onto a Heavy Equipment Transport System, or HET.
TF Stilwell Soldiers used the two 50-ton winches on the back of the HET to pull the equipment directly onto the trailer. From Rukla, the joint U.S. and Lithuanian transported the equipment, along with a Lithuanian military police escort, to a maintenance facility 70 kilometers away.
HETs are the largest ground transportation vehicle within the U.S. Army fleet. Designed and built specifically to transport the M-1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, its versatility has made it into a multi-role transportation vehicle ideally suited for the recovery and movement of equipment.
The 16th SB HETs currently in Lithuania play a key role in the deployment of M-1A2s and M-2A2 Bradly Infantry Fighting Vehicles among other systems essential to Atlantic Resolve. They serve as vital conduits of heavy systems from the European Activity Set to active exercises and operations.
Weighing in at over 50,000 pounds unloaded, the HET requires elaborate preparation and planning to employ on public roads. Since coordination is crucial, movement controllers from the 624th Transportation Detachment (Movement Control), 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th SB, also part of TF Stilwell, work with the Lithuanian National Movement Control Center to secure appropriate credentials and escorts for movements.
The palletized load system truck movement also highlighted the growing partnership between Logistika Pergalea and Task Force Stilwell personnel.
“This was another great building block to a strong partnership with our host nation logistics units,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens, the TF Stillwell truck master.
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2015 08:41 |
| Story ID: | 180958 |
| Location: | RUKLA, LT |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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