Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VILNIUS367
2005-04-07 12:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vilnius
Cable title:  

LITHUANIA PROVIDES UPDATED REQUIREMENT LITH FOR

Tags:  MOPS MCAP MARR PREL PGOV LH AF 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VILNIUS 000367 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB, EUR/RPM (SWANDERSON),PM/PPA (SKWAK)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2015
TAGS: MOPS MCAP MARR PREL PGOV LH AF
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA PROVIDES UPDATED REQUIREMENT LITH FOR
ITS PRT

REF: A. VILNIUS 257

B. VILNIUS 198

C. VILNIUS 103

Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Alexander Titolo for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VILNIUS 000367

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB, EUR/RPM (SWANDERSON),PM/PPA (SKWAK)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2015
TAGS: MOPS MCAP MARR PREL PGOV LH AF
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA PROVIDES UPDATED REQUIREMENT LITH FOR
ITS PRT

REF: A. VILNIUS 257

B. VILNIUS 198

C. VILNIUS 103

Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Alexander Titolo for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) SUMMARY: The GOL updated and augmented its needs
assessment for the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction
Team (PRT) in the desolate Ghowr province of western
Afghanistan. Following the March 30 return from Afghanistan
of Lithuania's PRT reconnaissance team, the MFA advanced us a
copy of the revised list of requirements they will present to
SHAPE. The limited accessibility of Chaghcharan, airfield
maintenance issues, and harsh weather conditions prompted
addition of most new items. The new list consolidates
resources the GOL anticipates requiring to stand up the
150-person PRT. The GOL will be working through SHAPE to
help them fill the order. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) The new list is predicated on GOL assumptions that:

-- construction of the base camp will be complete before the
onset of winter (hence the demanding air lift schedule for
delivery of men and materials);

-- the full PRT complement of 140-150 individuals will deploy
by October;

-- the PRT will establish mobile units in each of Ghowr
province's seven districts (hence the large number of night
vision goggles);

-- the camp will operate year-round (hence the equipment to
keep the airfield operational); and

-- the PRT will construct a camp using local materials
(stone) and local labor that will be of use to the community
when the PRT completes its mission and withdraws.

--------------
The List of PRT Support Requirements
--------------


3. (U) The MFA provided the list below on April 2. MOD
authorities had, at that time, not yet signed off on the
document. MFA passed it on, therefore, as a notional text.
It is now an official, fully cleared GOL document, which the
Lithuanian Delegation presented on April 5 to the U.S.

Delegation (OSD, Joint Staff J5, EUCOM J5 and USDAO Vilnius)
at the US-LH Bilateral Working Group in Garmisch, Germany.
Lithuanian Delegation informed DATT that the Lithuanian NMR
also provided the list to SHAPE.

Begin list:

Strategic airlift for the deployment and sustainment of the
PRT:

-- Strategic airlift (12-15 sorties of C-17) is required from
SIAULIAI (ZOKNIAI) (Lithuania) to HERAT 06 -- 20 JUN 2005
Lithuania had to change planned PRT IOC dates because
HERAT FSB is planned to have IOC only on 1 JUN.

-- 1 sortie of strategic airlift a week or fortnightly to
sustain PRT from ZOKNIAI to HEART beyond 1 July 2005.
Using RAMSTEIN airbase is also possible.

Additional personnel, equipment and capabilities (footnote 1):

-- Airfield support capability in CHAGHCHARAN (Deployable
Operating Base):
-------------- Refueling for helicopters of at least 4000 LBS
-------------- Airfield support personnel
-------------- Fire-engine
-------------- All required equipment to keep the airfield operational
-------------- 1 Road Grader
-------------- 1 Drum Roller
-------------- 2 MHE, 3.5T and l0T Rough Terrain Fork lifts with man
basket to on/off load C-130 aircraft.
-------------- 2 Portable Light Sets
-------------- 1 Water truck for spreading water for dust control and
compaction
-------------- Air navigation equipment to keep airfield operational
in any weather conditions

Tactical Air Control Party

1 Counter intelligence officer (with Dari dialect skills).

General Project manager/engineer and Quality Assurance
Representative for the base engineering project supervision.

Support in designing the PRT camp and preparing technical
specifications.


Equipment for PRT and base camp operations:

--6 armed HMMWV M1114 with mounted machine guns (12,7 mm)
--8 ground-air radios (PRC-117F)
--10 external crypto devices for radio stations (HF/ VHF)
--GPS -- 21 pieces;
--Night vision goggles (PVS-14 (F6015) (III /IV generation)
87 pieces;
--Mobile thermo-vision binoculars -- 12 pieces
--Blue Force tracker -- 9 pieces;
--Storage tanks for:
-------------- Fuel for FOC -- 50,00--liter steel tanks -- 1--pieces
-------------- Fuel for IOC -- 10,000--liter bladders -- 7 pieces
-------------- Fresh water -- 1500--L plastic -- 2 pieces
-------------- Fresh water -- 3500--L plastic -- 1 piece
--Fuel testing kit -- 2 pieces
--8'/20' containers-refrigerators 4 chillers / 2 freezer
--8'/20' containers for dry storage -2
--8'/20' containers for ammunition -- 2
--8'/20' containers for personnel bunkers -- 10
--GP medium tents with environmental control unit for IOC --
20 pieces
--Base equipment:
-------------- 5 generators for IOC; 3 -- 30 KW primary and 2 -- 10 KW
for backup to medical and JOC bldgs.
--5 generators for FOC; 3 -- 500 KW primary
--HESCOS MIL 10-bastions for bunkers, fuel storage area and
entrance control -- 100 pieces (MIL 10-specifications -- 2.12
m. height: 1.52 m. width: 30.5 m. length)
--Concertina, barbed wire -- up to 10km;
--8'/20' containers, temperature controlled for water for IOC
--Containers for storage -- 15
--Stationary water purification station 15,000-L/day -- 1
--Gators -- rough terrain small cargo vehicles -- 6 pieces
--Bobcat with track and bucket loader, forks, post hole
digger, trenching attachment

--Medical equipment:
--Patient vital signs monitor (Propaq) -- 2
--Mobile X-Ray unit (with digital imaging system) -- 1
--Portable diagnostic ultrasound imaging system -- 1
--Chemical agent water testing kit -- 1
--Water testing kit-bacteriological -- 1
--Food chemical agent detector kit -1
--Multi colorimeter and test kit -- 1
--Thermostat/mini incubator -1
--Homogenizer -- 1
--Warm gear, full body- 5
--Serum against snakebite (the right for Afghanistan region,
ready to use) -- 3
--Morphine sulphate 10mg auto injector syringes with needle
-- 1500 pieces

Personnel training for PRT:

--HMMWV drivers and mechanics training conducted in Lithuania
at the end of April (and) beginning of May;

--HMMWV drivers training in theatre;

--IED specialist training conducted in Lithuania in May;

--Support in PRT HQ training and supervision of the PRT
training conducted in May in Lithuania;

Training of 10 Forward Air Controllers for the PRT. Might be
conducted in theatre.

(footnote 1) As of present CHAGHCHARAN airfield is in
unusable condition. To bring up and maintain airfield in a
serviceable
condition Lithuania would require substantial assistance with
reconstruction effort, additional personnel and special
equipment.

End list.

4. (U) We note that the GOL has already requested some items
in previous, non-PRT-related lists of anticipated needs; some
items are already in the pipeline; and some items may be in
the Lithuanian military's own warehouses.


5. (C) Comment: Whether or not Lithuania's determined
military leaders can meet their exacting timetable and
establish a fully operational 150-person team in Afghanistan
by next winter remains to be seen. Even if the goal slips to
2006, long lead times for military procurement mean that it's
time to equip the PRT now. Lithuania will look to NATO
allies to provide resources beyond its own limited means.
Mull