Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan | Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st...... read more read more
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When you need about 100 hard-charging soldiers call Bravo Company Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. When you need them and several armored vehicles and all their equipment there the day after tomorrow 670 miles away on time and on target call the United States Naval Vessel Carson City.
The team's Soldiers redeployed via sealift from the port of Poti, Georgia after deployment to Noble Partner 18, a Georgian Armed Forces and U.S. Army Europe cooperatively-led event improving readiness and interoperability of Georgia, U.S. and participating nations, returning to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Aug. 20, 2018.
The sealift redeployment is a unique mission for the Black Sea Region.
"This is the first time we have done this in theater," said Army Lt. Col. John Hotek, the Commander of the 839th Transportation Battalion, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.
As a rule, the 136,000 pound, 32-foot-long, 1,500 horsepower M1A2 TYPE tank makes everything in sight look smaller, the 337-foot-long Expeditionary Fast Transport Vessel Carson City is the exception.
The team and their tank, M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle, several M2A3 Bradleys and various support vehicles arrive early at Poti, Aug. 18, 2018. They are soon met by the Carson City sailing into the port.
"It is a big deal getting the Soldier and cargo from point A to point B," said Hotek.
As tugs maneuver the ship to the dock, the unit's noncommissioned officers assign Soldiers to drive and guide the vehicles aboard.
The work went quickly since the vehicles are driven up a broad retractable ramp into the huge bay rather than lifted by crane like a traditional vessel. The Soldiers carefully steered the vehicles aboard parking them tightly with inches to spare on each side. Ship's crew chained them into place along the 20,000 square-foot deck.
"It is a lot faster and easier on the equipment," said Hotek.
Cargo and Soldiers secure, the ship got underway for the trip back to Romania. Soldiers lined the upper deck and helipad took photos of the rolling sea, played hacky sack as some got a tan but all relaxed after weeks of hard, tough training.
"It's faster and the hospitality was the best we've had in Europe, the food, entertainment, everything," Army Pfc. Angel Beyerlin Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
In about 36 hours the Carson City pulled into Constanta, Romania. The process was reversed as Soldiers drove the unit's armor and other vehicles to a marshaling area at the port for railload for future training missions in the region.
"We would like to see more of this next year," said Hotek.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.05.2018 02:53 |
| Story ID: | 290113 |
| Location: | CONSTANTA, RO |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, U.S. Soldiers Redeploy to Romania from Georgia by Sea Lift, by SFC Robert Jordan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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