NAPLES, Italy (USTCNS) --- Chartered sealift ship and Sao Tome-flagged M/V Conti Progress delivered heavy equipment and supplies for a bi-lateral military exercise in Tunisia last month.

The roll-on/roll-off ship carried 12,800 sq.ft. of cargo from Livorno, Italy to Bizerte Tunisia-including vehicles, trailers and containers-to support Atlas Drop 2000, a U.S. Army Southern European Task Force exercise.

Atlas Drop is "an annual U.S.-Tunisian exercise and included U.S. Army paratroopers and other U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Europe personnel," according to Jim Boyle, a spokesman for U.S. Army Europe, or USAREUR.

According to Boyle, the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade lead a task force of select elements of the 1st Battalion, 508th Airborne Battalion combat team, and Tunisian special forces soldiers in airborne operations, as well as live fire exercises. The exercise was held Oct. 20-30.

The Russian-built Conti Progress also performed a 'dual-mission' loading 6,500 sq.ft. of U.S. Army surplus 'war reserve' cargo in Livorno, transporting it to Umm Said, Qatar, according to MSC Europe deputy sealift director Dennis Debraggio.

Tunisian naval forces escorted Conti Progress through the channel entrance to Bizerte harbor on Oct. 17.

"At about 3:45 p.m., the ship was inched to the Tunisian naval pier. Once the ramp was lowered, the cargo took about four hours to off-load," Debraggio said. The ship wasted no time at the pier, pulling away at approx. 10:30 p.m.

"This [Atlas Drop] training exercise is designed to further cross train and promote interoperability between our two armies, as well as test the U.S. Army's quick deployment capabilities of the region," Boyle said. The exercise also provides training for U.S. Air Force aircrews in the conduct of paratroop operations. Four U.S. Air Forces C-130s participated.

"This exercise demonstrates Military Sealift Command is a key element in this vital theater, and to virtually all branches of the military, both ours and other nations," said Capt. Rob Collins, MSC Europe Commander.

After sailing for Umm Said, Qatar, and off-loading remaining U.S. Army cargo there, the 8,500-ton M/V Conti Progress went off-hire. Atlas Drop cargo will be re-deployed by MSC Europe sometime in November.

"We proved we can be diverse in our mission," said Cdr. Bob McPhail, MSC Europe operations director. "We performed two vital missions on one lift." (FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND-EUROPE NEWSWIRE).