U.S. Navy Dive Team Joins Recovery Efforts for Missing Soldiers in Lithuania

March 29, 2025

In a collaborative international effort, a specialized U.S. Navy dive team has joined the search for four missing U.S. Army soldiers in Lithuania whose armored vehicle sank in a peat bog during a training exercise on Tuesday. The U.S. team, part of Commander Task Force 68, arrived in Lithuania on Saturday after traveling through Rota, Spain.

The missing soldiers were last known to be inside an M88A2 Hercules heavy-equipment recovery vehicle, which was located submerged under at least 15 feet of water, mud, and silt. This vehicle was discovered on Wednesday, prompting the underwater search and recovery operations led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF).

U.S. Navy Senior Chief Master Diver Carlos Hernandez stated that the dive team has established communication with Lithuanian divers who conducted initial search operations. "We have a good site picture from them and the other boots on the ground," Hernandez remarked, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the recovery effort.

To aid in the recovery, the dive team plans to deploy a remotely operated submersible vehicle and use handheld sonar technology to assess conditions and pinpoint lift points on the sunken vehicle. This mission is supported by the arrival of 55 Polish engineers, who are recognized for their recovery expertise and brought a selection of 13 recovery vehicles to assist in the operation.

Major General Curtis Taylor of the 1st Armored Division expressed the commitment of the multinational team, saying, "We are going to use every resource available from all our countries to find our missing soldiers. We will not rest until our soldiers are found."

The Polish engineers reported they are equipped with armored recovery vehicles, engineering machines, and water pumps, and are on standby to assist as needed during the recovery operations. The U.S. Army's Combat Aviation Brigade has also deployed to the site with multiple helicopters, including CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters designated for medical evacuation and command support.

In addition to the dive team and engineers, Lithuanian geologists have joined the effort, bringing a portable sub-bottom profiler to help map the recovery area. This search operation is taking place within a military training area located near Pabrade, approximately six miles from the border with Belarus.

As the efforts continue, the U.S. military has not publicly identified the missing soldiers. However, they have notified the families of those involved and are keeping them informed of the progress in the recovery effort.

This multi-national operation highlights the collaboration among military forces in addressing emergencies and underscores the commitment of U.S. and allied personnel to ensure the safety and recovery of their comrades in the field.