It has been a long time since there were so many American ships in the Baltic Sea in such a short time as after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Wasp, an American amphibious assault ship, attracts the most attention, and it is visiting our region for the second time in three months. He first appeared in the Baltic Sea in May to take part in the “Baltops 22” exercises, among others. In August, together with a large task force, he returned to the Baltic waters, where he continues a series of trainings with allied countries and cares for stability and security in the region – also in Finland and Sweden, which are at the final stage of joining the North Atlantic Alliance.
The first Baltic visit
In mid-May, the Kearsarge Rapid Reaction Landing Group (ARG) crossed the Danish Straits and entered the waters of the Baltic Sea. It included USS Kearsage, the group’s flagship, the Whidbey Island class USS Guston Hall (LSD 44) and the San Antonio class USS Arlington (LPD 24). The cover was provided by the USS Gravely missile destroyer (DDG 107). Earlier, the ships went to Norway, among others. At that time, the LHD 3 had an air group consisting of, inter alia, AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and MV-22 Osprey and AV-8B Harrier II airplanes. In addition to the air group, the 22nd Sea Infantry Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was embarked on the vessels.
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The ships took part in the May “Siil 22” maneuvers, conducted by Estonia, and the annual international “Baltops” exercises, which took place in June. The “Siil 22” maneuvers lasted from May 16 to June 3. The exercises are held every three or four years and are the largest military maneuvers in Estonia. About 15,000 Estonian soldiers and soldiers from ten allied countries participated in this year’s edition.
– “Siil 22” maneuvers are a fantastic opportunity for our sailors and marines to train together and learn with our Estonian allies – said Colonel Robert J. Hallett, commander of the reconnaissance task force 61 / 2.4 (RXR).
MV-22 Osprey takes off from Kearsarge.
(US Marine Corps / Cpl. Yvonna Guyette)
The exercise scenario assumed carrying out, inter alia, a landing by sea. The training in the Baltic states was an excellent opportunity to integrate the US Marine Corps forces not only within the ARG-MEU task force, but also with the allied forces. The exercises took place around the island of Saaremaa, the city of Parnu on the west coast of Estonia, and Võru, approximately twenty-five kilometers from the border with the Russian Federation. After the Estonian maneuvers, the ARG-MEU ships visited Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn, among others.
From 5 to 17 June, the group together with USS Kearsarge participated in the 51st edition of the “Baltops” exercise, which began in Stockholm. Later, the USS Mount Whitney command ship (LCC 20) joined the group.
“Baltops has tested our collective readiness and adaptability, while emphasizing the strength of our alliance and our determination to provide free access to the basin for all,” said Vice Admiral Gene Black, Commander of the US 6th Fleet. Forty-seven ships, eighty-nine aircraft and 7,000 soldiers from allied countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Poland, the United States, Sweden, Turkey took part in the thirteen-day exercises. and Great Britain.
The # BALTOPS22 international exercise is underway in the Baltic Sea. About 7,000 sailors and soldiers, 45 ships and 75 aircraft from fourteen #NATO countries as well as Sweden 🇸🇪 and Finland 🇫🇮, partner countries that have signed up to join the North Atlantic Alliance, are participating in them. pic.twitter.com/RP315a5uIy
– General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces (@SztabGenWP) June 7, 2022
During the maneuvers, the air wing from the USS Kearsarge was trained several times. Additionally, the exercise included rescue scenarios, including underwater rescue. A sea landing was also carried out. At sea, the ships perfected their tactics, practiced fighting submarines, replenishing supplies at sea and anti-mine protection, and conducted shooting. The maneuvers ended in Kiel, Germany.
Return to the Baltic Sea
After the visit to the Baltic Sea in May, the ships underwent simultaneous ongoing repairs and maintenance in France, Croatia and Denmark. Making the necessary repairs allowed for the continuation of missions in the region and was a kind of great expression of trust for the allies. Recently, for the first time in history, an American ship was undergoing ongoing refurbishment in India, which was of great importance for India as a trusted ally. The same is the case here.
USS Gunston Hall and USNS Patuxent with the German frigate Sachsen (F219) and the tanker Berlin (A1411).
(US Navy)
Kearsarge is currently re-forming the Rapid Reaction Landing Group with USS Arlington and USS Gunston Hall. They are accompanied by the missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), the first of its kind. The group includes the already known 22nd MEU.
According to the message released in August by the 6th US Navy Fleet in the Baltic Sea, there are currently about 4,000 seamen and marines within the ARG-MEU group. The task of the team is to cooperate with allied and partner countries and to oversee security in the region. Joint actions alongside the allies in the Baltic Sea are a proof of the continued involvement of the United States in the region.
– Our experience in the Baltic States at the beginning of this year was extremely positive and we intend to expand the relations established at that time – said Colonel Paul Merida, commander of the 22nd MEU. He also added that the unit is ready not only to train and cooperate with allies, but also to respond to crises in the region, if necessary.
The second round in the Baltic Sea was an opportunity for further exercises with current and future NATO allies and further visits to ports. On August 20, Kearsarge entered Klaipeda, Arlington and Gunston Hall – to Riga, and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) – to Tallinn. Before that, the team had been training for two weeks together with the Finnish Navy in the Aland and Hanko Islands region. Exercises covered such issues as munitions neutralization, search and rescue operations for pilots and sharp firing. The interoperability of the American amphibious assault ship with Finnish Jehu-type landing boats was also demonstrated.
The Finnish Air Force will participate in @Navyfi exercise activity with the #USSKearsarge on 9‒19 August 2022. The air activity will involve 🇫🇮 F / A-18 Hornets and 🇺🇸 @USMC AV-8B Harrier II fighters operating from the USS Kearsarge. #StrongerTogether #ilmavoimat #merivoimat pic.twitter.com/pOppz1zFWY
– Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) August 8, 2022
The last element of the American amphibious assault team’s stay in the Baltic so far were weekly maneuvers in Sweden organized at the turn of August and September, including landing operations with the use of floating means and aviation, as well as raids to the rear of the enemy, including the capture of the airport. At sea, seamen from both fleets visited the ships of the allies and practiced maneuvering. Immediately after completing the exercises with the Swedes, the team went on to train with the 1st NATO Permanent Maritime Team (SNMG1), creating an extensive, multi-role team of ships with great capabilities in times of peace, crisis and war.
Currently, ships are still operating in the Baltic Sea. On Wednesday, September 7, Gunston Hall moored with the landing party in Gdynia at the French Quay. Earlier, in May and June, the destroyer Gravely moored in the port of Gdynia, and in June and July the tankers USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) and USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) arrived in Gdańsk and Gdynia. On September 13, the flagship Kearsarge is to enter the port in Gdynia, which will be a real treat for spotters. According to the available information, it is to appear after 9.00 p.m. and will be moored until September 19 around noon. The visit is primarily technical and logistical – it aims to supplement the supplies and rest for the crew. Kearsarge’s stay in the Baltic Sea also gave the opportunity to debut the UH-1V and AH-1Z helicopters at the MSPO in Kielce.
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US Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor Parker
