Ship with helicopters @ inland waterway - 2011 MIL

[jreijmer]

Gents,

I did some research in preparation for the deployment of KFOR 14. In December the troops of Arkansas ARNG were sent to Atterbury for their preparation. This time the mission is under leadership of the New Mexico ARNG who were on a orientation visit in Kosovo (Camp Bondsteel) Dec 13-17.

Further participants in this mission are:
Arkansas ARNG,
Nebraska ARNG, Co A/1-376th Aviation
Pennsylvania ARNG
West Virginia ARNG

Deployment to Germany and then on to Kosovo is planned for early 2011. So if anyone has some additional information on when and how, please share it with us.

Kind regards,
Jeroen

[Ecm]

The second UH-60 unit which will deploy is C-1/150 AVN, West Virginia ArNG.

They will leave for training (US+Germany) on January 6th.

I guess this means we can expect the helicopters early February in Europe.


Ecm

[jreijmer]

Just posted information regarding the transport of the 20 Ansbach UH-60's in December 2010 in the Coleman thread. Please note that the MS Vera sailed once more and arrived again yesterday evening near Worms (which could be Lampertheim). So it could be these were already the KFOR14 helicopters?

The information was compiled from various sources but a good source is the 598th Transportation Group/838th Transportation Battalion website that has a pdf with latest news regarding transports of material in Europe. http://www.ndta-benelux.org/News_letter ... tters.html

May 2008 issue has the KFOR10 deployment with 11 UH-60's being unloaded at Lampertheim.
January 2008 issue has some nice photo's of a Polish Mi-8 and Mi-24 (460) being ofloaded in Bremerhaven (returning from Iraq).

Rota:
But these transports in Antwerp are peanuts compared to the transports in Rota (Spain). In may 2009 100 different helicopters (including UH-60's, AH-64's, CH-47's) were ofloaded from ro-ro ships in the harbour or Rota. The US forces use this combined transport because air transport is to expensive. So seatransport to Spain and then roadtransport to the nearby airbase of Rota where they are checked and airlifted to Afghanistan and Iraq. February 2009, 60 Helicopters (including CH-47's, UH-60's and AH-64's) of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Campbell, KY returned from the Middle East also at Rota for onward seabound transport. Very nice picture taken near Rota at the bottom of this page: https://www.navsup.navy.mil/scnewslette ... artments12.
In December 2007 a total of 86 helicopters consisting of 12 CH-47's, 30 OH-58's, 24 AH-64's and 20 UH-60's were transfered from the harbour to Rota AB. The February 2008 issue has some nice overview pictures of all the equipment!

Anyway, back on topic: so it could be they have already passed. Lets wait and see what is at Coleman (besides the already large amount of helicopters).

BR,
Jeroen

[Ecm]

Jeroen,

Nice info on this Transport sqn.

Ms Vera is now in Ludwighafen, most probably to pick up some agricultural stuff. She did pass Worms/Lampertheim, but according to my information she did not stop... I think we have to wait again.

[jreijmer]

OK, thanks for the information. I've read that the handover to KFOR 14 will be March. So one month of training, so they should arrive late January.

BR,
Jeroen

[Sjoerd]

Hi Jeroen,

Thanks for the info. I know someone who is going to check Coleman tomorrow morning. I'll let u know if there have been any additions to to logging already above.

OT:
Very interesting to hear that bit of Rota! Never heard they arrived here by ship (although I did hear about the large amount of AMC helo support. Today I discovered indications that Rota might see another deployment of the 101st coming up! Found this on MSF:

By Clark Pierce, Jax Air News
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax)
provided a secure staging area Jan. 6-8, for 98 helicopters of the 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault) "Screaming Eagles" as they began a rotation
from
Fort Campbell, Ky., ultimately to Afghanistan.

Capt. Jonathan Carver of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne
Division is officer in charge of the logistics mission.

"Since space is limited at the piers on Blount Island, we stage our
helicopters at the secure infield of NAS Jax. When our people at the Port of
Jacksonville are ready for more, we fly aircraft down there two at a time by
following the St. Johns River. Army personnel at Blount Island then break
the aircraft down so they can roll onto the cargo ship. We hope our unusual
aerial activity doesn't disrupt traffic on the Dames Point Bridge," said
Carver.

The 101st Airborne Division is deploying four airframes: OH-58D Kiowa
Warrior; AH-64D Longbow Apache; CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk. The
aircraft and soldiers should be reunited in Afghanistan within 30 to 50 days.
......

For more news from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, visit
_www.navy.mil/local/nasjax_ (http://www.navy.mil/local/nasjax/) /
.
Credit : US Navy News


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[jreijmer]

Aha Sjoerd, after some digging: OH-58D 92-00541 is one of the 98 helicopters involved from the 101st. They are loaded aboard the Green Lake which is still in the port of Jacksonville one hour ago.

But back on topic: seveal people will visit Coleman today, so we have to wait and see what they report.

BR,
Jeroen

[Sjoerd]

Hi everyone,

Is there any news on the upcoming KFOR-det.? Have they arrived in Antwerp by now and awaiting the problems on the river Rhein to clear (sunk vessel near Lorelei since Jan-17th), or have they already departed and are they docked somewhere in que along the river?

MTIA,

[wamovements]

MS Green Lake just arrived at Hamburg Harbour from Jacksonville.

[Michiel]

03-02-2011

The Patriot is seen in harbour of Antwerp.
Three Blackhawks outside (sorry no serials).

Credit Remco N'gein

Regards,

Michiel

[michel N]

Does anyone have an idea what will happen with the choppers onboard the MS Green Lake? Since they are heading to Afghanistan, it seems not logical that the ship is in Hamburg now. Or is the ship perhaps loading more stuff, and continuing to Pakistan?

[jreijmer]

Does anyone have an idea what will happen with the choppers onboard the MS Green Lake? Since they are heading to Afghanistan, it seems not logical that the ship is in Hamburg now. Or is the ship perhaps loading more stuff, and continuing to Pakistan?

Michel, I noticed it when it departed from Jacksonville it destination was Rota where it should have arrived on the 25th of January. After that sailed towards Hamburg where it arrived today. So I think it has another load (of what?) for Hamburg.

BR,
Jeroen

[jreijmer]

03-02-2011

The Patriot is seen in harbour of Antwerp.
Three Blackhawks outside (sorry no serials).

Credit Remco N'gein

Regards,
Michiel

Vanmiddag nog even wezen inspecteren in de haven, maar in het Vrasenedok heb ik niets gezien. Ik denk dus tijdelijk naar binnen in de loods van de USArmy aldaar? Misschien kan Remco een update geven waar ie ze precies gezien heeft en in welke omstandigheden. De transporteur richting Coleman had nog geen opdracht voor vervoer (maar dat gebeurt wel vaker vlak van te voren).

groet,
Jeroen

[Sjoerd]

is there any update on those Blackies? I heared the river Rhein is also open again without any restrictions. I'm planning to go to ETAR and Coleman this weekend.

Thanks for sharing!

[jreijmer]

Both the Vera and Dynamica have made trips between Antwerp, Rotterdam and Germany. Non of these had Blackhawks on them.

The Dynamica is again en-route and just passed the Krekerraksluizen. Again no Blackhawks. So what happened to those seen in Antwerp? No idea.

Regarding Coleman. Last weekend quite some Blackhawks were gone.

BR,
Jeroen

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]