The U.S. Navy has deployed four substantial ships from the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) to major Baltic ports and capitals following two weeks of bilateral training and exercise serials with Finnish units in the waters of the new NATO member.
Amphibious assault carrier USS Kearsarge (Wasp class). Photo: US Navy
Big visit
The USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault carrier of the Wasp class with a displacement of 42,000 tonnes, entered the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda on 20 August. At the same time, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport landing ship USS Arlington (25,000 tonnes) and the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (17,000 tonnes) made a stop in Riga, Latvia. And the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius Flight IIA (9,000 tonnes) visited the Estonian capital Tallinn. The US destroyer is stationed at the Spanish base in Rota for an extended rotation phase and is now operating in European waters under the command of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR, Naples). Tallinn is the first harbour of the current patrol.
Amphibious transport ship USS Arlington (San Antonio class). Photo: US Navy
Signalling effect
In the current phase of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine and so close to the Russian borders west of St Petersburg and within throwing distance of the exclave of Kaliningrad (Königsberg), this is a remarkable sign of unity and support both within the alliance and from the largest partner towards the smallest - and most exposed.
Dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (Whidbey Island class). Photo: US Navy
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