Features, News

Forward posture enables 140-ton joint airlift

June 25, 2015
Story and photos by Senior Airman Nicole Sikorski
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
A truck carrying M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank is parked on the flightline June 20 on Ramstein. The tank was the second to be transported to the Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria to participate in multinational training in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
A truck carrying M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank is parked on the flightline June 20 on Ramstein. The tank was the second to be transported to the Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria to participate in multinational training in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

U.S. Airmen and Soldiers worked together here to transport two M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks to the Novo Selo Training area in Bulgaria June 20 and 22.

The joint team moved the two 70-ton tanks within 15 minutes into the back of a C-17 Globemaster III to aid in the multinational, U.S. Army Europe-led “Speed and Power” exercise which is a part of the overarching Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Senior Airman Matthew Boheler, 721st Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, directs a truck carrying an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank June 20 on Ramstein. Airmen and Soldiers worked together to transport two tanks to Bulgaria to aid the U.S. Army Europe-led training in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Senior Airman Matthew Boheler, 721st Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, directs a truck carrying an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank June 20 on Ramstein. Airmen and Soldiers worked together to transport two tanks to Bulgaria to aid the U.S. Army Europe-led training in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

“I was amazed because I’ve never seen 70 tons fly,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Frank Wood, 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment from Fort Stewart, Georgia. “It’s a great honor to be a part of a mission like this because it is the first time an American tank has ever shot in Bulgaria. Being able to prove that we can take these 70-ton ‘monsters’ and move them from Germany to Bulgaria so quickly shows our adversaries that we can rapidly move large weaponry as well as highlight U.S. and NATO capabilities.”

Staff Sgt. Adam Hart, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electrical and environmental systems specialist, disconnects a refueling pump from a C-17 Globemaster III before a flight to Bulgaria June 20 on Ramstein.
Staff Sgt. Adam Hart, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electrical and environmental systems specialist, disconnects a refueling pump from a C-17 Globemaster III before a flight to Bulgaria June 20 on Ramstein.

This movement is the first time these tanks have been transported since 2003, when Ramstein Airmen aided in sending approximately 28 tanks in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Not only is this mission historically significant but also one which will be remembered by all the Airmen that made this movement happen. The strategic access that has been established throughout U.S. European Command provides unsurpassed capability in a strategically vital forward location.

Airmen and Soldiers worked together to load two M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks onto the aircraft over a span of two days.
Airmen and Soldiers worked together to load two M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks onto the aircraft over a span of two days.

“It is great to be a part of this mission and to be here supporting the NATO efforts in Bulgaria,” said Capt. Cohan Lammerding, 4th Airlift Squadron aircraft commander, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. “This will actually be my first mission as an aircraft commander so I am especially excited for this.”

The tanks will serve in Bulgaria to improve U.S. and Bulgarian soldiers’ knowledge and train them on operability. This event will also give them a chance to train in a live-fire environment to get a glimpse of what it would be like to take these tanks into battle.

Staff Sgt. Adam Hart, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electrical and environmental systems specialist, refuels a C-17 Globemaster III before a flight to Bulgaria June 20 on Ramstein. Airmen and Soldiers worked together to load two M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks onto the aircraft.
Staff Sgt. Adam Hart, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electrical and environmental systems specialist, refuels a C-17 Globemaster III before a flight to Bulgaria June 20 on Ramstein. Airmen and Soldiers worked together to load two M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks onto the aircraft.

Moving these tanks quickly and efficiently is just one example of Ramstein’s ability to offer forward-based, worldwide airlift capabilities at a
moment’s notice.

Airman 1st Class Kenneth Whitler, 7th Airlift Squadron aircraft loadmaster from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, directs an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank onto a C-17 Globemaster III June 20 on Ramstein. Airmen and Soldiers from across the U.S. European Command theater worked together to transport two tanks weighing 140 tons total to Bulgaria to participate in multinational training in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Airman 1st Class Kenneth Whitler, 7th Airlift Squadron aircraft loadmaster from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, directs an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank onto a C-17 Globemaster III June 20 on Ramstein. Airmen and Soldiers from across the U.S. European Command theater worked together to transport two tanks weighing 140 tons total to Bulgaria to participate in multinational training in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
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