Nearly 70 years after the end of World War II, the United States plans to continue its military divestment from Europe - but this time, it will be mainly recreational sites.
The Defense Department said on Friday it would return 21 sites to the host countries, including 12 sites in Germany and the rest in Italy, Denmark, Greece, Britain and Belgium.
The sites include a golf course and hotel in Garmisch, Germany; a recreational site at the US Army garrison in Vicenza, Italy; and a barracks at the US Army garrison Benelux in Belgium.
The US has removed hundreds of thousands of troops from across Europe in the past 25 years. In 2012 there were 80,000 US troops based in Europe, with continued reductions to bring the number below 70,000.
The Pentagon said the 21 sites were "minor, non-operational" parts of US military infrastructure in Europe. Giving them up will save the US government about $US60 million ($A64.92 million) a year.
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"None of these adjustments affects existing force structure or military capabilities, and the efficiencies will further enable US European Command to resource high-priority missions," Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said.
