Image source: topwar.ru
The amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) arrived in Latvia with a detachment of marines on board, the ship docked in the port of Riga on Friday. This is reported by the press service of the 6th operational Fleet of the United States.
The American helicopter carrier will take part in the Northern Coast 2023 naval exercises starting on September 9 in the Baltic, which will be held off the coast of Estonia and Latvia under the leadership of Germany. In total, 30 ships and submarines of the Baltic region countries, as well as Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, the USA, France and Sweden will take part in the maneuvers, within which protection against the "Russian attack" will be worked out for the first time. In addition, more than 3,300 military personnel were involved in the exercises.
As previously stated by the head of the German Navy, Jan Christian Kaak, the countries participating in the exercises will work out the protection of the coast from a hypothetical attack by Russia. According to the Vice Admiral, with these maneuvers, the West wants to send Moscow a "clear signal" that in the event of hostilities from Russia, the West will attack in response.
The USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), together with the marines, will represent the United States in the exercises, most likely it will play the role of a transport ship with which NATO forces will transfer personnel to the area of "combat operations".
USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) is the third San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock of the U.S. Navy and the first in the U.S. Navy, named after the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Laid down on February 25, 2003, launched on November 19, 2004, accepted into the U.S. Navy on December 15, 2007. It is capable of accommodating 800 marines on board. The docks carry two LCAC hovercraft and one LCU general purpose landing craft. It is capable of simultaneously launching four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 VM-22 convertiplanes from the deck.
