U.S. Army Vessel Wilson Wharf: American Warship Spotted Near Northern Cuban Coast After Leaving Guantánamo Bay

The U.S. Army vessel, Wilson Wharf, set sail from the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base on Saturday and was observed cruising along the northern coast of Cuba heading westward. This information was confirmed by the automatic identification system (AIS) data shared by the maritime tracker @FlconEYES on X.

The sighting occurred at 1:14 AM, with the vessel positioned at coordinates 21°11.340 N / 75°10.590 W. It was traveling at speeds between 9.7 and 10 knots on a northwesterly course at approximately 296-304 degrees.

The USAV Wilson Wharf is a U.S. Army landing craft classified as a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel, equipped with a bow ramp. This ship is engineered to carry heavy military vehicles, containers, and general cargo during coastal and amphibious operations.

Part of the LCU 2000 class, also known as the Runnymede class, it bears the designation LCU-2011. The vessel measures 53 meters in length and 12 meters in beam, displacing around 575 tons. It can reach speeds of up to 12 knots when empty and 10 knots when loaded, with a range of 4,500 nautical miles. The craft is assigned to the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.

AIS records reveal that the Wilson Wharf entered Guantánamo Bay on October 4, 2025, exited on the 13th, and re-entered the same day, with no subsequent departure recorded until this recent sighting. This suggests the vessel remained at the base for over five months.

Increased U.S. Military Presence in the Caribbean

The ship's movement coincides with a notable rise in U.S. military activity in the Caribbean region. In January 2026, the USS Iwo Jima and USS San Antonio, both amphibious ships, were repositioned near Cuba's northern coast. By February, at least three military vessels were detected within eight nautical miles of the same area.

Operation Southern Spear, launched in September 2025, aims to bolster surveillance efforts against drug trafficking and smuggling linked to Cuba and Venezuela. The operation's estimated cost has reached nearly $3 billion as of February 2026.

Wilson Wharf's High-Profile Missions

The Wilson Wharf is no stranger to high-stakes missions. In March 2024, it took part in the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) operation to Gaza, setting sail from Fort Eustis to the Eastern Mediterranean alongside the LSV-6 USAV SP/4 James A. Loux and other Army vessels.

General Francis L. Donovan, head of the Southern Command, stated in March 2026 that the United States has contingency plans in place to address potential mass migrations and humanitarian crises in Cuba.