Karo-Aviation visits the Rotterdam Waalhaven 2020.
Article and pictures by Ronald de Roij

3rd Combat Aviation Brigade transits via Rotterdam,

The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), 3rd Infantry Division, had been on a nine-month deployment to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Operation Atlantic Resolve provides units the ability to build readiness, increase interoperability and enhance the bond between allied and partnered militaries through multinational training events. The 3CAB is made up of four separate battalions. Each battalion has their own equipment unique to its function in the brigade.

During its deployment it participated in 12 multinational exercises including Combined Resolve, Hawk Strike, and DEFENDER-Europe 2020.

“Over the last nine months, this unit has executed over 10,000 flight hours under all the adverse conditions Europe has to offer,” said Col. Michael McFadden, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade commander.

He added the unit has executed over 900 hours of interoperability training with its NATO and coalition partners and Allies to include the United Kingdom, Greece, Macedonia, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Slovakia.

During its rotation, the 3rd CAB positioned approximately 80 aircraft, including Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks, Boeing AH-64 Apaches, and Boeing CH-47 Chinooks, between Germany, Poland, Romania and Turkey.

The assets allowed them to provide manoeuvrability to forces within Europe to participate in exercises, and for medical personnel and equipment to be moved across the continent to combat COVID-19.

After its nine month deployment to Europe, the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade returned home to Hunter AAF, Fort Stewart via Rotterdam harbour.

Most of the helicopters deployed to Romania and Poland started their return flights to Rotterdam via Illesheim Army Air Field.

In the timeframe of a few days, most of the helicopters, made their way to Illesheim AAF in the first step of preparation of the embarkation in Rotterdam harbour.

 
On 25 June 2020, all 77 helicopters (4x CH-47F, 8x UH-60L, 26x UH-60M, 15x HH-60M and 24x AH-64D) were present at Illesheim AAF by the end of the day.

The next day the first four helicopters made their way to Eindhoven air base, which was the first part of step two.

The third and final step was the movement of the helicopters to the Waalhaven in the port of Rotterdam.

This commenced on 1 July 2020, when a single AH-64D Apache was flown from Eindhoven to Rotterdam. The accompanying Black Hawk returned to Eindhoven the same day.

Compared to previous returns via the Netherlands, there were two major differences. First the entire helicopter inventory of the CAB departed Europe through Rotterdam.

In the past only the helicopters deployed to Poland and Germany did so, while the ones deployed to the Balkan departed through a port in Greece.

The helicopters flew in groups on July 2, 3 and 6 via Eindhoven or directly from Germany to a transhipment site at the Waalhaven in Rotterdam.

During the deployment some of the helicopters changed units reflecting in the fact that some AH-64D Apache used by 1-3rd AVN from Ansbach AHP were handed over to 3-17th CAV with the newer airframes staying in Europe. There were also some changes in the H-60 Blackhawk department.

In addition to the helicopters, the unit moved about 1,800 vehicles and containers back home. From here, the helicopters were being prepared for embarkation to the United States.