American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) loaded AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Blackhawk, and CH-47 Chinook Helicopters from the Fort Hood-based 1st Air Cavalry Brigade on board M/Vs Endurance and ARC Independence. The strategic sealift provided by ARC supports an upcoming rotational deployment to support NATO allies and Operation Atlantic Resolve.

ARC Moves 1st Air Cavalry in Support of Atlantic Resolve Exercise
Caption: Vehicles Carrier Endurance - Image courtesy of Aart van Bezooijen

U.S. Army Europe has led the Department of Defense’s Atlantic Resolve land efforts by rotating units based in the U.S. to and from Europe since 2014. There are four types of U.S. Army Atlantic Resolve rotations: armored, aviation, sustainment task force, and division headquarters. Rotational units conduct bilateral, joint, and multinational training events across more than a dozen European countries.

The M/Vs Endurance and ARC Independence are two of the most capable and flexible vessels in the global fleet: Endurance has a main deck height of 6.25 meters (20.50 feet) and the ARC Independence has a main deck height of 6.50 meters (21.32 feet) – these capabilities enable the carriage of CH-47s (and V-22 Ospreys) in sealift configuration, and various other high-and-heavy and breakbulk equipment.