US Army’s 11th Airborne Division completes Arctic readiness mission
US Army soldiers assigned to the 11th Airborne Division have successfully completed a training mission in Kotzebue, Alaska, showcasing their preparedness to deploy and operate in remote Arctic conditions.
This exercise saw soldiers assigned to 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, operate Cold-Weather All-Terrain Vehicles (CATVs) in the Arctic Ocean near Kotzebue.
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The mission commenced with the deployment of troops and equipment, including CATVs, from Fort Wainwright to Kotzebue via two C-17 Globemaster II aircraft from the US Air Force.
Following their arrival, an air assault insertion was carried out by two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, known as “Sugar Bears,” positioning Bravo Troop to start their operations.
Prior to the CATV “swim”, the troop conducted reconnaissance missions through the tundra landscape characterised by “muskeg”, a terrain that can significantly hinder movement due to its wet and spongy nature.
The absence of solid ground and developed paths necessitated precise navigation and considerable physical effort from the soldiers, stated the US Army.
“The tundra is a tough and unforgiving place. It will test both an individual’s physical and mental toughness. The soldiers of B Troop demonstrated they have what it takes to not only survive in an extremely harsh environment, but to fight and win,” said B Troop leadership, 1st sergeant Austen Giles and captain Tanner Johnson in a joint statement.
The mission’s pivotal moment was the execution of a CATV swim in the saltwater lagoon along Kotzebue Sound, marking the first for these vehicles in Arctic waters.
The crews faced variable tides, wind-driven waves, and cold murky waters, providing a genuine assessment of the CATVs’ amphibious abilities.
