US Marines to Modernize Equipment Stored in Norwegian Prepositioning Caves

Photo By Chad McMeen | Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicles are staged inside one of the six Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway caves where they will remain until needed for a military operation, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief or training exercise. The equipment was transported by the Maritime Prepositioning ship the USNS Williams earlier in the month for scheduled equipment modernization. Outdated and unserviceable gear will be sent back on the ship to Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, Fla., as the final step in the operation. U.S. Marines from 2nd Marine Logistics Group out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., in coordination with their Norwegian counterparts, are modernizing some of the equipment by placing approximately 350 containers of gear and nearly 400 pieces of heavy rolling stock into the storage caves. Specific equipment, which will greatly increase the program's readiness, includes M1A1 Main Battle Tanks, Tank Retrievers, Armored Breaching Vehicles, Amphibious Assault Vehicles, Expanded Capacity Vehicle (ECV) Gun Trucks and several variants of the MTVR 7-1/2 ton trucks. Planning for this equipment refresh began in the spring of 2010. Marines and contractors from Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, Fla., and Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa are also in Norway to ensure the operation is conducted in a safe and timely manner.  

TRØNDELAG REGION, NORWAY

08.11.2014

Courtesy Story

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

TRØNDELAG REGION, Norway – U.S. Marines, in coordination with their Norwegian counterparts, are scheduled to conduct a pre-planned Single Ship Movement and offload of military equipment from a Maritime Prepositioning Force ship in the Trøndelag region of Norway mid-August.

This equipment will significantly enhance the readiness of the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway by placing approximately 350 containers of gear and nearly 400 pieces of heavy rolling stock into the storage caves.

Specific equipment which will greatly increase the program’s readiness includes M1A1 Main Battle Tanks, Tank Retrievers, Armored Breeching Vehicles, Amphibious Assault Vehicles, Expanded Capacity Vehicle (ECV) Gun Trucks and several variants of the MTVR 7 ½ ton trucks. Planning for this equipment refresh began in the fall of 2013.

This offload will be the first time a newly constructed pier in the region will be tested, providing an opportunity for Marines and their Norwegian counterparts to work an offload while increasing the operational readiness of the program significantly.

This routine equipment refresh also emphasizes the strong military bond between the U.S. and our Norwegian counterparts and sustains an already solid foundation for future cooperation. This Single Ship Initiative also improves interoperability between the nations, enhancing access to a key strategic region within the US European Command area-of-responsibility.

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POINTS OF CONTACT:
MSgt Chad McMeen at [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]

• Date Taken: 08.11.2014
• Date Posted: 08.11.2014 08:31
• Story ID: 138949
• Location: TRØNDELAG REGION, NO