Embassy News 2006
U.S.S. Wasp Completes Successful Visit to Reykavik
From 12-17 October, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp and its 1100-person crew visited Reykavik in support of the agreement by the governments of the Republic of Iceland and the United States to maintain and strengthen security cooperation in the wake of the closure of Naval Air Station Keflavik.
The Wasp conducted training and briefings with the Icelandic Coast Guard and Police to prepare the way for more extensive future training and exercises relevant to the 21st Century security environment. In the successful concluding exercise, one of the Wasp’s MH-53 helicopters transported a squad from the Icelandic Police special unit together with Icelandic Coast Guard bomb disposal specialists to the Police training center at Hvalfjordur, where they responded to a simulated terrorist incident.
The Wasp hosted numerous Icelandic visitors, including the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Minister of Justice, and Coast Guard Director General as well as students, academics, reporters, and other invited guests. Visitors toured the Wasp to learn about its military capabilities as well as its secondary function of responding to humanitarian crises such as hurricanes and earthquakes.
The visit wasn’t all work. The men and women of the Wasp also enjoyed liberty, relaxing in Reykjavik’s night spots on their first port call following a seven-week deployment to support the humanitarian evacuation from Lebanon. Some sailors visited the Icelandic countryside, relaxing in the Blue Lagoon and taking the traditional Golden Circle tour. A U.S. Navy jazz combo performed at a reception aboard ship and also played a concert for residents of the Hrafnista nursing home, and sailors visited the children’s ward at the National Hospital, dispensing gifts and cheer.
Other sailors engaged in friendly soccer and basketball exhibition matches with Ragnan, a local team comprised of well-known locals, such as city council member Gísli Marteinn Baldursson, lawyer Birgir Tjörvi Pétursson, Kristinn Vilbergsson, manager of bookstore Penninn, Stefán Hjartarson TV personality and Leó Hauksson, broker at KB Bank. At the invitation of the Wasp’s commanding officer, Captain Michael D. Hawley, renowned strongman Magnus Ver Magnusson visited the ship for a friendly display of Icelandic power.
To view photos from the visit, click here.
For more information on the U.S.S. WASP, please visit its website at http://www.wasp.navy.mil.