US sends Europe largest shipment of ammunition in 20 years

A container full of ammunition is offloaded from the U.S. Naval Ship Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat Oct. 29 at Nordenham, Germany. (US Army)

The United States, in an attempt to reassure its allies in Europe, last month sent its largest shipment of ammunition to the continent in more than two decades, the Army announced.

All told, more than 620 containers were shipped by train from a port in Nordenham, Germany, to Miesau Army Depot, which reportedly serves as the largest ammunition storage area outside the U.S. The ammunition will eventually be broken down and sent to different areas on the continent.

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The Army's report did not mention the kind of ammunition, but said at least some would be used in tanks.

“We could have 1,000 tanks over here, but if we didn't have the ammunition for them, they would not have any deterrent effect. It’s another example of the commitment of the United States to security and stability in Europe,” Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, said.

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The Army thanked Germany’s cooperation.

“So it’s another way that Germany contributed to deterrence… by enabling the movement of ammunition and equipment inside Germany for the United States Army,” Hodges said.

Faced with an ever-more unpredictable Russia, NATO allies are advancing with plans to deploy thousands of troops and military equipment to the Baltics and Poland.

In recent weeks alone, Russia has moved battleships toward the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas, shifted nuclear-capable missile-launchers into its Kaliningrad enclave neighboring Poland and continued flying bombers down the western European coast.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.