US Soldiers Confirmed Dead After Recovery of Armored Recovery Vehicle in Lithuania

Three American soldiers are confirmed dead after their 70-ton M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle sank into a murky Lithuanian bog during a routine training exercise, while the desperate search for a fourth missing soldier continues amid challenging terrain.

Quick Takes

Three US soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division have been found deceased after their M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle sank in a Lithuanian bog; search continues for the fourth soldier.
The 70-ton vehicle, which was on a maintenance mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle, sank in approximately 15 feet of water and thick mud near Pabradė.
Recovery efforts involved massive international collaboration including US Navy divers, Lithuanian forces, and 150 personnel from the Polish Armed Forces.
The vehicle was successfully recovered after a complex six-day operation involving specialized equipment, including steel cables attached in zero visibility conditions.
The soldiers were deployed to Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, with the training site’s proximity to Belarus adding geopolitical sensitivity to the incident.

Difficult Recovery Operation in Challenging Terrain

The extensive recovery effort to retrieve the submerged M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle from a Lithuanian bog resulted in the grim discovery of three deceased US Army soldiers. The vehicle was pulled ashore at 4:40 a.m. after US Navy divers worked in zero visibility conditions to attach steel cables to the 70-ton vehicle that was submerged in approximately 15 feet of water. The difficult recovery operation, which took six days to complete, was complicated by the swamp-like terrain that military officials compared to conditions found in Alaska. The search for the fourth soldier involved is still ongoing.

Brigadier General John Lloyd described the extreme challenges faced during the recovery operation: “It is highly complex trying to get to the vehicle itself with the terrain out here and where the M88 is sitting in a bog swamp-like area, below the waterline. So not only are we dealing with the terrain, a lot of mud that is over top of the vehicle, but also the fact that it’s 70 tons that we’re trying to recover out of a swamp or bog.”

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3 American soldiers deceased after a US armored vehicle was pulled from a Lithuanian swamp. pic.twitter.com/WMnJ6j9GRE

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Mission Details

The soldiers, all from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, were reported missing last week. They were conducting a routine maintenance mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle when the incident occurred. The US Army deployed significant resources for the recovery operation, including military helicopters, aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and heavy construction equipment. Additionally, a large capacity slurry pump, cranes, and gravel were utilized to aid in the recovery.

International Response and Condolences

The tragedy has elicited an outpouring of support from both American and Lithuanian officials. Major General Christopher Norrie expressed the profound impact of the loss on the military community: “The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers – they were a part of our family. Our hearts are heavy with a sorrow that echoes across the whole Marne Division, both forward and at home. We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary ‘Dogface Soldiers’ during this unimaginable time.”

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda offered condolences, stating, “It is with deep sadness and sorrow that I received the news of the tragic loss of three U.S. soldiers during a US-led training exercise in Lithuania.” The incident occurred near Pabradė, close to the border with Belarus, a Russian ally, adding geopolitical sensitivity to the situation. The soldiers were deployed to Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the US military’s ongoing effort to support Eastern European allies following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Investigation Underway

The cause of the accident remains unknown and is currently under investigation by both Lithuanian Military Police and US investigators. Lithuanian officials have suggested that the vehicle may have driven “into the swamp” and gone “diagonally to the bottom.”

As the Army continues to gather information, officials are keeping the soldiers’ families updated on developments. A joint prayer and mass were organized in Lithuania for the soldiers, highlighting the tight-knit nature of military communities and the international bonds formed through joint military operations. The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division maintains its focus on supporting the families of the fallen soldiers while continuing the search for the remaining missing service member.