1st ID CAB deploys to Europe

1st Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade deploys to Europe by Marijn van der Burgt

The whole operation for the next US Army Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) rotation for Atlantic Resolve started about a year ago with various readiness trainings. In September 2023 the Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) based at Marshall Army Airfield, Fort Riley (KS) flew more than 80 helicopters to the port of Beaumont (TX). Here the helicopters and other equipment and vehicles were loaded onto two ro-ro ships.

The first ship to depart was the MV Cape Vincent that transported about 35 helicopters to Thessaloniki in Greece. From here these helicopters will fly out to Forward Operating Bases (FOB) at Mihail Kogălniceanu in Romania and the Novo Selo Training area near Yambol in Bulgaria.

The second ship to be loaded in Texas was the ARC Endurance which arrived in the port of Vlissingen-Oost on 17 October 2023. The ship will bring 1.260 vehicles, including 49 helicopters (27 Black Hawks, 16 Apaches and 6 Chinooks) to northern Europe.

From 6 October to 24 December a Temporary Military Zone was set up at the property of Verbrugge Zeeland terminals B.V. to support the Host Nation Support operation by the Dutch armed forces. The Task Force Host Nation Support plans and coordinates all involved parties, like the air force fire department, air traffic control, navy/marines and army reserves for security, police, stevedore company, local municipalities, civil suppliers, etc.

All preparations take about three months. Port operations are conducted by about 350 personnel of which 250 US soldiers. On 18 October, the first Black Hawks departed to Woensdrecht air base. From here all helicopters will depart to their FOBs in northern Europe: Powidz air base in Poland, Lielvārde in Latvia and Illesheim/Storck Barracks in Germany. It is expected that all helicopters will have left the Netherlands by 27 October.

The second part of the Host Nation Support runs from 20 November to 15 December 2023 and will see the 3rd Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade (3rd ID CAB) returning to Eindhoven air base and from there on to the port Vlissingen-Oost for their re-deployment to the USA. The Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Steward (GA) unit will approximately relocate 55 helicopters through the Netherlands, again Blackhawks, Chinooks and Apaches.

Credit photos: Marijn van de Burgt