BEAUMONT, Texas— The U.S. Military Sealift Command large, medium speed roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306) departed Beaumont, Texas, following the extensive equipment on-load evolution of DEFENDER- Europe 20, February 24.
DEFENDER-Europe 20 is an exercise, during which Military Sealift Command and two U.S. flagged merchant vessels, vehicle carriers MV Resolve and MV Patriot, will transport approximately 1.3 million square feet of U.S. Army equipment from southern continental United States to Europe.
“By exercising the protection of merchant shipping, the strategic sealift fleet can develop a better understanding of the tactical maritime picture,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Stephanie Mantz, Military Sealift Command Atlantic operations officer.
DEFENDER-Europe 20 is the largest deployment of U.S. based forces to Europe for an exercise in more than 25 years.
“Strategic Sealift Officers and the U.S. Merchant Marine are a critical part of our national defense,” said Mantz. “Operationalizing them to conduct trans-Atlantic convoy operations alongside combatant Navy vessels is a skill that has not been practiced for decades.”
DEFENDER- Europe 20 is designed to increase strategic readiness and interoperability by exercising the U.S. military’s ability to rapidly move a large combat force of Soldiers and equipment from the continental United States to Europe. Alongside allies and partners this exercise prepares the U.S. for a quick response to a potential crisis.
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2020 13:29 |
| Story ID: | 363937 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 201 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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