Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Search Continues for Unaccounted For U.S. Army Soldiers in Lithuania
Efforts to locate four U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania persisted through the weekend, according to officials. The soldiers disappeared on Tuesday during drills with Lithuanian armed forces and law enforcement when their M88 Hercules armored vehicle became immersed in a peat bog. The vehicle was located submerged more than 16 feet underwater the following day.
Personnel and Resources Bolster Search Operation
The soldiers, who remain unnamed, are assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. On Saturday morning, additional personnel and equipment augmented the joint U.S. and Lithuanian search operation. Specialized divers from the U.S. Navy’s Commander Task Force 68 arrived from Spain to aid in the recovery effort. Their primary objective is to identify suitable lifting points on the submerged vehicle, as stated in a news release from U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
Underwater Assessment Underway
Senior Chief Master Diver Carlos Hernandez, from Underwater Construction Team 1, indicated that his team has coordinated with Lithuanian divers already involved in the operation. These divers have provided valuable insights into the site conditions.
“We’re going to begin by deploying our Defender submersible remotely operated vehicle into the water to generate a comprehensive visual assessment of the environment below, and employ our Artemis Handheld Sonar,” Hernandez explained.
International Collaboration Enhances Recovery Efforts
Over 50 Polish engineers and recovery specialists, along with Lithuanian geologists, also joined the search on Saturday. These specialists brought critical equipment, including:
- Four heavy trucks
- Three WZT-3 tracked recovery vehicles
- Man-portable sub-bottom sonar
This equipment will assist in mapping the bog area to facilitate the recovery operation.
Focus on Site Preparation
According to the Army press release, “Today’s focus is on ongoing operations to clear water and sediment from the site, reinforce the terrain surrounding the area to support heavy machinery, and prepare the site for upcoming dive operations.”
Aerial Support for Search and Recovery
Multiple helicopters are providing support to the search efforts. This includes two UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters for potential medical evacuation and three CH-47 Chinook helicopters for heavy lifting capabilities, the Army confirmed.