USNS Spearhead Stops in Luanda, Angola

The Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) arrived in Luanda, Angola for a port visit to strengthen maritime capacity under Africa Partnership Station (APS), March 3, 2015.

Spearhead is deployed in the US 6th Fleet Area of Operations (AOO) to support APS, working alongside West African partners to increase interoperability maritime capacity in order to increase safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea and waters off West Africa.

Cmdr. Matthew Flemming, Africa Partnership mission commander, said:

With continuous engagements such as this, not only does the Global Network of Navies continue to grow, but so does the strength of partnership and maritime security in the region.

While in Angola, US, UK, Spanish Marines embarked on Spearhead will join with members of the Angolan Armed Forces to conduct training in the following mission areas: light infantry skills, classroom training, small unit leadership, day patrols, and marksmanship to increase overall infantry capacity of all participating forces.

This is the first time a US ship has visited Luanda since 2011.

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Image: US Navy