The U.S. Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), flagship of the Kearsarge Amphibious Prepared Group and twenty second Marine Expeditionary Unit, arrived in Klaipeda, Lithuania for a scheduled port go to, Aug. 20, 2022. The ship’s presence in Lithuania builds on the sturdy and enduring relationship the USA shares with the Baltic nation. Kearsarge’s go to to Klaip?da follows a earlier go to to the port metropolis by Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) in Might 2022. Whereas in port, ARG-MEU management will take part in a pier facet media engagement that includes Lithuanian army and civilian leaders. Kearsarge can even host a key chief engagement aboard the ship with Lithuanian and U.S. authorities, civilian and army officers to specific gratitude to Lithuania for the hospitality and welcome to the nation.
“The Kearsarge ARG/MEU workforce is privileged to have the chance to go to the historic and exquisite metropolis of Klaipeda, strengthening the bonds between the U.S. and the nations that decision the Baltic Sea residence,” mentioned Capt. Tom Foster, commanding officer of USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). “We’re extraordinarily grateful to our Lithuanian hosts for his or her half in preserving the readiness and responsiveness of our items and personnel.”
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Throughout their port go to, Sailors and Marines assigned to Kearsarge will discover the wealthy tradition Lithuania has to supply. They’ll have the chance go to the SOS Youngsters’s Village in Klaip?da, a non-profit group that goals to strengthen native households by providing entry to important training, dietary and well being companies. Sailors and Marines can even have the chance to take part in a basketball match with the Lithuanian Navy basketball workforce. The Kearsarge ARG and embarked twenty second MEU, beneath the command and management of Activity Drive 61/2, consists of Kearsarge, San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24), and Whidbey Island-class dock touchdown ship USS Gunston Corridor (LSD 44). Arlington and Gunston Corridor are scheduled to conduct a simultaneous port go to in Riga, Latvia, Aug. 20.
Embarked instructions with the Kearsarge ARG embody Amphibious Squadron SIX, twenty second MEU, Fleet Surgical Workforce 2, Fleet Surgical Workforce 4, Tactical Air Management Squadron 22, Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 28, Naval Seashore Group 2, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4, and Seashore Grasp Unit 2. For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has cast strategic relationships with our Allies and Companions, leveraging a basis of shared values to protect safety and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of accountability. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces by way of the total spectrum of joint and naval operations.
