Does the caption on a video on social media correctly state that the video shows NATO military equipment arriving in Europe? No, that's not true: These vehicles were preparing to leave Europe. The video shows U.S. Army vehicles from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division staged at the Port of Gdynia, Poland in preparation to being shipped back to the United States. As of March 10, 2023, they had been uploaded to the American roll-on roll-off carrier Endurance.
On March 5, 2023, the video was re-published by @realbengeller on Instagram with the caption:
Welcome to World War 3
This is how the video appeared on Instagram at the time of writing:
(Image source: Instagram screenshot taken on Fri Mar 10 16:57:04 2023 UTC)
That caption gets the facts backward. The original video, which appears to have been filmed from a drone, was posted on March 4, 2023, by the Twitter account Baltic Security. The caption with the video in @BalticSecurity's tweet is accurate:
Equipment belonging to the @USArmy 🇺🇸 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division staged at the Port of Gdynia, Poland 🇵🇱 in preparation for redeployment to the continental United States after serving in the Operation #AtlanticResolve, Feb. 22, 2023. #StrongerTogether
When re-posted by the realbengeller account, the video (pictured above) also has a white box in the margin displaying the text:
NATO equipment arriving in Europe
On March 5, 2023, Jack Posobiec had posted the video on Twitter with that same caption (archived here). That tweet was later deleted.
The video on Instagram bears a t.me/vorposte watermark. That Telegram account t.me/vorposte posted the video on March 4, 2023. The caption in Russian reads (translated by DeepL):
NATO military equipment in the port of Gdynia / Poland. The Alliance has seriously staffed up. Probably a small part is intended for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On March 8, 2023, the U.S. Fleet Forces Command posted a short clip of the video on Facebook (pictured below):
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Fri Mar 10 19:05:42 2023 UTC)
The caption on this reel reads:
Did you know the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command supplies ships that provide logistics support, moves military equipment, and strategically positions combat cargo worldwide
📍GYDNIA, POLAND - U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF) worked closely with representatives of the U.S. Army's 838th Transportation Battalion to move 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (3-1 CD ABCT) equipment from Poland to Texas. The approximately 1,600 pieces of Army gear needed to be cleaned and inspected prior to loading on the American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) Endurance, a ship on-hire to Military Sealift Command with the capability to provide transport of heavy vehicles. Earlier this year, 3-1 CD ABCT personnel flew back to Fort Hood, Texas, and their gear was transferred to a containment area at the Port of Gydnia, Poland, awaiting sea transport.
Troopers from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team 'Greywolf,' 1st Cavalry Division returned home to Fort Hood, Texas after deploying to the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command area of operations, Jan. 05. This deployment was on short notice following an order from the Secretary of Defense last May. Approximately, 4,100 Troopers deployed to Grafenwöhr, Germany alongside other U.S. units already in Europe supporting the NATO Response Force. During the deployment, Troopers took part in a range of exercises and training missions across Europe to build readiness and capacity and while also strengthening relationships with NATO allies and regional partners.
'Troopers we are incredibly proud of you and what you accomplished overseas in Europe,' Col. Chad C. Chalfont, deputy commander-sustainment, 1st Cavalry Division said. 'You built teams with our allies and partners. I thank you for what you have done for our nation and what you will continue to do for our Army.'
#usnavy #usarmy #militarysealiftcommand #gonavy #armedforces #usmilitary #jointforce #atlanticfleet #cargoship #nato #wearenato #wedeliver #instanavy #togetherwedeliver #strongertogether #navy #army #military
On March 10, 2023, the official Facebook page of the 838th Transportation Batallion posted several photos tagged from Gdynia, Poland (pictured below).
The post reads:
In Gdynia, Poland, the 'Gateway to Victory' Battalion completed upload operations on the ARC ENDURANCE in support of 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division's redeployment to the continental United States.
This operation marked the conclusion of the 'Greywolf' Brigade's rotational deployment to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
'Gateway to Victory'!
#598TransBde
#3bde1stcav
#transportationcorpscsm
#chiefoftransportation
#firstcavalrydivison
#21sttheatersustainmentcommand
#FirstInSupport
#SurfaceWarriors
#OnTimeOnTargetEveryTime
#USTRANSCOM
#armymaterialcommand
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Fri Mar 10 19:05:42 2023 UTC)
Lead Stories contacted the Pentagon's Defense Press Operations office, and will update this article if a response is received.
Additional Lead Stories fact checks of claims about NATO and Ukraine can be found here.
