Gunston Corridor’s return to Harstad is a milestone within the coaching aims for Steadfast Defender, highlighting the ship’s potential to embark NATO forces and conduct Allied-integrated amphibious operations.
“Working within the Arctic has been extraordinarily precious for Gunston Corridor’s crew and the Allied troops she carried,” stated Cmdr. Christopher W. Van Loenen, Gunston Corridor’s commanding officer. “We’ve realized tips on how to overcome the cruel environmental elements whereas nonetheless admiring the great thing about the Nordic Fjords. I look ahead to our keep in Harstad, Norway, and displaying appreciation to our hosts and robust Allies.”
Throughout Steadfast Defender, Gunston Corridor operated alongside Italian Touchdown Assault Helicopter Ship Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian amphibious transport dock San Giorgio, and French Navy Aquitaine-class Frigate Normandie. Gunston Corridor carried out 5 amphibious workout routines and 19 nicely deck operations within the Excessive North with French and Finnish forces, in addition to NATO’s latest Ally, Sweden, all whereas beneath an Italian Amphibious Process Pressure, working in Norwegian waters.
Gunston Corridor’s integration with Allies and their presence in Harstad emphasizes NATO’s interoperability and readiness. It demonstrates the US Navy’s dedication to fostering worldwide partnerships.
Gunston Corridor is an amphibious vessel presently assigned to the U.S. 2nd Fleet based mostly in Norfolk, Virginia. It is likely one of the 50 NATO naval property, accompanied by 80 air platforms and 1,100 fight automobiles, collaborating in Steadfast Defender. 2024 yr marks the seventy fifth anniversary of the NATO Alliance, and this train is the most important NATO train in a long time, showcasing the alliance’s sheer power and dominance.
Steadfast Defender 24 is a multi-domain operational and tactical-level stay train that goals to quickly deploy forces from North America and different elements of the Alliance to strengthen Europe’s protection. In the course of the train, Allies demonstrated their potential to deploy some 90,000 forces from North America and different elements of the Alliance, transfer them to and throughout Europe, from the Arctic to the Jap flank of the Alliance, and conduct defensive operations.
The U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the altering world safety surroundings, develops and employs maritime forces able to struggle throughout a number of domains within the Atlantic and Arctic to make sure entry, deter aggression, and defend U.S., allied, and associate pursuits.
U.S. Navy pictures and b-roll can be found on DVIDS. For extra data, contact c2f_pao@us.navy.mil.
