WITH MARINES IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT 21 Marine aviation, AH-iT Bell Sea Cobra gunships, frequently called "Snakes" because of their menacing appearance, narrow silhouettes, and long profiles. Sea Cobras were two-seat, twin-engine, single-main rotor, attack aircraft. They mounted a wide variety of ordnance, including a three-barrel 2Omm M197 chin- mounted rotating cannon, TOW antitank missiles, and sidewinder antiaircraft missiles. The three Ull-iNs and four AH-iTs assigned to the Black Knights came from HMLA-l67, stationed at New River, North Carolina. A detachment from MACG-28 gave the squadron and its associated amphibious task force the ability to command, control, and coordinate air operations. This unit provided vital air traffic control systems and personnel. MWSS-272 provided a detachment of aircraft specialists and ancillary equipment, including a Helicopter Expeditionary Refueling System (HERS). This refueling system was a collection of rubber bladders that looked like gigantic black waterbed mattresses. The associated hoses, pumps, connectors, and generators enabled the Marines to refuel rotary wing aircraft at a forward area rearming/refueling point (FARP). The HERS was fully transportable by air or ground mode and made the squadron a truly mobile expeditionary force. Air defense was furnished by a detachment from the 2d LAAD armed with hand-held Stinger missiles. The major drawback for HMM-264 was that it had no Harrier "jump jets" to provide fixed wing close air support attached. MSSG-24 MEU Service Support Group (MSSG) 24 provided the MEU's "beans, bullets, and band aids." This logistics unit was formed by uniting service Photograph by the author An AH-IT Bell Sea Cobra attack hehcooter was assigned to HMM-264. Four such t'vooilot, ~vin- engine, armed rotary wing aircraft provided close-in fire supportfr~r the 24th MEU in northern Iraq.First Page | Prev Page | Next Page | Src Image |