The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) and embarked Marines with the twenty second Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Rijeka, Croatia, July 4, 2022, to finish a scheduled upkeep availability and to strengthen relations with a key NATO ally.
The upkeep interval, termed a mid-deployment voyage restore (MDVR), permits the ship to finish corrective and preventative upkeep that can not be completed whereas at sea. This obligatory work permits the ship and her crew to proceed their mission within the U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) space of operations. The flexibility to conduct the MDVR in Croatia offers a wealth of advantages to the ship and crew.
“Croatia is an unbelievable ally and such a stupendous nation with an extended, fascinating historical past and tradition,” mentioned Capt. Eric Kellum, Arlington’s commanding officer. “Conducting our mid-deployment voyage restore offers a wonderful alternative to conduct a deliberate reset and refresh on our gear and for the Sailors and Marines. Our potential to work upkeep and resupply abroad with trusted allies and companions allows our sustained international presence.”
The ship’s arrival to Rijeka comes after almost 4 months of deployment to the NAVEUR space of operations. All through their time within the area, the ship’s crew and embarked Marines have participated in quite a lot of workout routines and operations with allies and companions. These workout routines have taken the ship up north to Iceland for train Northern Viking, all through the Mediterranean in assist of workout routines Alexander the Nice and EFES with Greece and Turkey, respectively, and off the coast of Tunisia in North Africa for train African Lion.
“This deployment has been an unbelievable expertise. We have now efficiently accomplished 4 main workout routines with over 30 NATO allies and companions,” mentioned Kellum. “The Navy-Marine Corps staff has carried out themselves with precision and excellence on time, each time!”
Sailors and Marines aboard Arlington can even have the chance to take part in leisure actions in Rijeka and surrounding areas to incorporate: a tour of Plitvice Lakes Nationwide Park, an opportunity to discover KRK Island and City of Moscience & Charming Opaija, a tour of Vrelo Cave and Lakeside Fuzine, and a tour of Pula and Rovinj, Croatia. All through their time in port, Sailors and Marines may have the chance to strengthen interpersonal bonds between america and Croatia.
The Kearsarge ARG and embarked twenty second MEU are below the command and management of Job Power 61/2. The ARG consists of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3); Arlington; and the Whidbey Island-class dock touchdown ship USS Gunston Corridor (LSD 44).
Embarked instructions with the Kearsarge ARG embody Amphibious Squadron SIX, twenty second MEU, Fleet Surgical Workforce 2, Fleet Surgical Workforce 4, Tactical Air Management Squadron 22, Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 22, Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 28, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4, Naval Seashore Group 2, and Seashore Grasp Unit 2.
Amphibious prepared teams and bigger amphibious process forces present army commanders a variety of versatile capabilities together with maritime safety operations, expeditionary energy projection, strike operations, ahead naval presence, disaster response, sea management, deterrence, counter-terrorism, info operations, safety cooperation and counter-proliferation, and humanitarian help and catastrophe reduction.
For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has solid strategic relationships with our Allies and Companions, leveraging a basis of shared values to protect safety and stability.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of duty. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces by means of the total spectrum of joint and naval operations.
