Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF)
Sealift Logitics Command Europe (SEALOGEUR)
Military Sealift Command Europe (MSCEUR)

The mission of Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF), as the US Navy's single at-sea logistics and strategic sealift provider in Europe and Africa, is to oversee the movement of fuel, food, spare parts, ammunition and combat equipment throughout the US European and Africa Command Theaters. This movement is in support of US and NATO forces engaged in the global war on terrorism, operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn and other efforts to promote peace and security on the sea and around the world.

MSCEURAF serves the US European and Africa Commands' areas of operations. These areas include more than 20 million square nautical miles of ocean, 104 countries and 67 percent of the world's coastlines. They cover roughly half of the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Pole to Antarctica, as well as the Adriatic, Baltic, Barents, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean and North Seas.

MSCEURAF's predecessor, the Military Sea Transportation Service Europe, was established in Bremerhaven, Germany, in 1951, 2 years after Military Sea Transportation Service, which subsequently became Military Sealift Command, was created as the Department of Defense's single ocean transportation provider.

In 1970, the organization was renamed Military Sealift Command Europe (MSCEUR). During the 1970s and 1980s, MSCEURAF supported Military Sealift Command's overall mission to aid DoD's efforts during the Cold War. In 1985, the Command relocated to London, England.

In 1990 and 1991, MSCEURAF supported the loading and movement of hundreds of thousands of tons of military equipment and supplies during the first Gulf War in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Following the Bosnian Civil War in the mid-90s, MSCEUR ships carried equipment and supplies for US and NATO forces involved in the peacekeeping mission. In 1997, the Command relocated to Naval Support Activity Naples in Naples, Italy. It also subsequently mainted a precense in Rota, Spain.

MSCEUR ships also delivered cargo, ammunition and fuel to NATO forces during the March-June 1999 bombing campaign against Serbian troops in Kosovo. They later moved heavy combat equipment and supplies for the US Army's 1st Infantry Division deployment to the US-controlled sector of Kosovo and otherwise supported peacekeeping efforts throughout the region.

By 2000, the day-to-day activities of Commander, Military Sealift Command Europe (COMSCEUR), focused heavily on Sealift issues in support of the Defense Transportation System and were similar to those of a commercial shipping company. Sealift assets were provided to support major operational commanders in the European theater and adjacent areas of responsibility such as Commander, Sixth Fleet (COMSIXTHFLT); Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT); and Commander in Chief, Central (CINCCENT) in the Persian Gulf area. On a normal day, over 20 ships in the area of responsibility could be directed, monitored, and repaired under COMSCEUR control. From containerized cargo, ammunition, and petroleum products, to Army and Marine Corps armor and helicopters, Military Sealift Command moved the "Bullets, Beans, and Black Oil in support of military forces deployed in the area of responsibility.

COMSCEUR supported Naval Fleet Auxiliary Ships, which supported combat ships with underway replenishment of fuel and supplies; operated Special Mission Ships that performed oceanographic and coastal surveys, and other unique naval operations; operated Prepositioning Ships, strategically-located ships laden with military equipment and supplies; and chartered and operated Sealift Ships, fleet tankers and dry cargo ships, which move cargo for the Department of Defense, and other US Government agencies. MSCEUR operated about 15 ships a day throughout the US European Command area of responsibility. COMSCEUR's headquarters was a state-of-the-art command and control facility at NSA Capodichino, Naples, Italy.

COMSCEUR was responsible for the following within its area of responsibility: Provide effective and economical sea transportation for Department of Defense (DoD) cargoes and personnel and for other government agencies when authorized; Provide strategic sealift in support of national security objectives.; Direct fleet support through the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force; Support ships assigned to special missions.

COMSCEUR's peacetime organization consisted of COMSCEUR Headquarters and staff at Naples, Italy, one Sub-Area Command located at Bahrain (this became a separate entity, Military Sealift Command Central in 1999), and contributory support at 2 MSC offices, London (Eastcote), England and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In peacetime, COMSCEUR employed approximately 95 civilian, military, and local National personnel at activities throughout the theater. Upon mobilization, COMSCEUR would undergo a major transition as the Military Sealift Command shipping base was increased. COMSCEUR's shore establishment would expand dramatically with more than 300 Selected Reservists who would man additional offices to support the increased force.

COMSCEUR's peacetime area of responsibility included coastal and land mass areas of Western Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia, and ocean areas of the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Black Sea, and Arabian Gulf. This area of responsibility could be modified during a contingency as required.

MSCEUR ships and personnel played a critical role in the build-up of forces prior to and throughout the execution of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, as the primary transit point for military equipment and supplies being delivered to the Persian Gulf. MSCEUR staff oversaw the loading and unloading of ships carrying US and coalition force cargo at more than 30 ports throughout Europe; facilitated the movement of hundreds of supply ships sailing through the Mediterranean; and coordinated the deployment of force protection teams aboard these ships as they transited through the Straits of Gibraltar and Suez Canal.

In September 2005, MSCEUR personnel organized the loading and delivery of nearly $2 million of equipment used to help rebuild the hurricane-ravaged US Gulf Coast.

In 2006, MSCEUR was renamed Sealift Logistics Command Europe (SEALOGEUR). SEALOGEUR ships and personnel responded to the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon in July 2006, delivering food, fuel and supplies to US and NATO troops acting as a stabilizing force in the region.

With the activation of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) in 2007, SEALOGEUR ships and personnel worked a number of initiatives under the mission of the new combatant commander, delivering equipment and supplies to US Navy construction battalions, known as Seabees, operating on the continent. Additionally, Military Sealift Command provided an African Partnership Station platform with SEALOGEUR giving administrative support while the ship worked on both the west and east coasts of Africa.

Oceanographic survey ship USNS Henson joined the search off the coast of England for Bonhomme Richard in 2010. The warship, captained by Revolutionary War hero John Paul Jones, sank off the coast of England in 1779 after battling HMS Serapis. While the expedition in mid-September 2010 was the fifth one coordinated by the Ocean Technology Foundation, it was the first one to use an MSC ship as the search platform.

In 2011, as part of another transformation effort, the command was renamed Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF).