Logisticians and transporters from the 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command began offloading more than 1000 equipment items at the port in Gdansk, Poland, July 5, 2021. The equipment belongs to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division who are deploying from Fort Riley, Kansas, during July 2021 in support of Atlantic Resolve. The 1st ABCT will replace 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and will conduct multinational training in support of Atlantic Resolve.
The 1st ABCT is deploying with approximately 3,800 Soldiers, 80 tanks, 120 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 10 Bradley (Variant) Fire Support Team vehicles, 15 Paladins, 500 tracked vehicles, 850 trailers, and 1500 wheeled vehicles and other pieces of equipment. The unit previously deployed in support of Atlantic Resolve for nine months in January 2019. For the upcoming rotation, they will join 1 ID’s Combat Aviation Brigade, and a 1 ID mission command element at Division Forward, as a cornerstone of the rotational forces in support of Atlantic Resolve.
For the 598th SDDC and 21st TSC this provides an opportunity to showcase the team’s increasing capabilities to bring equipment into the port of Gdansk. Moreover, the vessel discharge and onward movement operations in support of this Atlantic Resolve iteration reflect the Army’s ability to use strategically located seaports throughout Europe and transport equipment rapidly across the theater. In addition to the operation in Gdansk, 1st ABCT, 1ID equipment will arrive at ports in Gdynia, Poland; Klaipeda, Lithuania and Alexandroupoli, Greece.
After receiving the equipment off the vessel, the 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command is responsible for its onward movement. Port Operations like any new operation has presented unique challenges but also unique opportunities both for the organization and the individuals involved in downloading the vessel. Atlantic Resolve rotation is coming into four different ports across Europe – nearly simultaneously. The equipment will move by rail and commercial line haul to its final destination at locations throughout Poland.
