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US Command Ship jouned Baltops 2026
On June 11, 2026, the USS 'Mount Whitney' joined the Baltops 2026 exercise fleet. Escorted by a German Navy frigate, the command ship arrived in the Baltic Sea. It passed Korsør on the afternoon en route to the east. This year's Baltops exercise was significantly different from the previous 54 years. The US has drastically reduced its involvement, while once again providing the floating command ship.. For the first time, however, no destroyer, landing ship, or supply vessel was present in the Baltic Sea. Fuel supplies for Baltops were provided by the German tanker 'Rhön.' Also for the first time, the protection of the 'Mount Whitney' was no longer being provided by an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. This role has been assumed by the German frigate 'Hamburg' during the transit into the Baltic Sea. The "Hamburg" belongs to the Type 124 class. A key focus of the Baltops naval exercise in 2026 was the sea area between Bornholm and off the island of Rügen. During the following week, the exercise was due to shift towards Fehmarn. The ships were scheduled to arrive in Kiel for Kiel Week on June 19. The "Mount Whitney" did not participate in the opening of the Baltops exercise on June 3 in Gdynia. It had interrupted its voyage from Italy in Devonport and set course for the Baltic Sea on June 9. This year's edition of the Baltops series, which has been running since 1972, has the smallest number of participants ever. After up to 50 ships and boats participated in previous years, this year there were just 25. The largest troop contributors to Baltops this year were Germany and Poland. Report with photo: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/flaggschiff-der-us-marine-zum-seemanoever-baltops-in-der-ostsee-YF6AREA5FJFUDC4SGWVJRUNQBU.html
Mount Whitney deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean
On Oct 18, 2023, the Pentagon has confirmed that it is sending the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and at least two amphibs to the Eastern Mediterranean in order to be ready for any possible crisis-response mission in Israel or Gaza, and also dispatching the U.S. 6th Fleet command ship, USS 'Mount Whitney', to join the growing flotilla off the Israeli coast, in order to support Israel’s defense through security assistance; second, send a clear message of deterrence to any actors considering involvement in the conflict; and to be vigilant against any threats to U.S. forces. The three amphibs and approximately 2,000 Marines of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) have been in the general region since summer. USS' Bataan' and USS 'Carter Hall' were on a separate mission near the Strait of Hormuz and now under way back towards Israel; the third ship in the ARG, USS 'Mesa Verde', has departed Spain and put to sea in the Mediterranean for unspecified purposes. The aircraft carrier USS 'Gerald R. Ford' and her escorts are already stationed off the coast of Gaza, and the carrier USS 'Dwight D. Eisenhower' is under way to join the force. The USS 'Mount Whitney' will bring the capabilities of a Blue Ridge-class command ship to the growing fleet of warships off Israel's coast, seving as the flagship of U.S. 6th Fleet and as the afloat command platform for NATO's naval forces. The ship is can carry supplies to support a mass evacuation of up to 3,000 personnel, a useful capability in the event that American citizens have to be rescued from a conflict.
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