, Columnist
Sudan Rescue Mission Is Helping the US Navy Prepare for War
The ships in the Red Sea evacuation may look bizarre, but could someday be very important as combat-support vessels.
The Brunswick getting ready to take off.
Photographer: Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Fulton/US Navy
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As the security situation deteriorates in Sudan, and thousands of US citizens remain in the war-torn country, the Navy is undertaking a mission it has done many, many times over the years: evacuations of diplomats and other Americans needing to depart a combat zone.
This is more than a humanitarian mission. The Sudan operation is providing the Navy with a chance to put some seemingly bizarre, but in fact hugely valuable, combat-support ships through their paces in a real-life situation.