Royal Netherlands Navy supports US troop transport

For around nine months, the 101st Airborne Division, one of two airborne divisions of the United States Army, reinforced the American armed forces in Eastern Europe. Now the 54 deployed helicopters are returning home to Kentucky. In addition to Black Hawks, Chinook transport helicopters, Apache attack helicopters and around 1,200 vehicles and containers are also part of the operation. The expanded presence is a reaction to the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.
The return transport takes place via Rotterdam, where the helicopters are loaded onto ships. The aircraft flying in via Germany and Eindhoven in the Netherlands gather in an area in the port of Rotterdam that has been declared a restricted military area for the duration of the operation. Soldiers from the Dutch army and dog teams from the Dutch air force are responsible for surveillance as part of Host Nation Support. The Royal Netherlands Navy is also involved in the activities: units ensure the safety of the transport ships and divers examine the pier for hidden explosives. The return transport of the Americans will take place between 15 March and 6 April.

Text: mb; Photo: Koninklijke Marine