74                              IIt)MANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORThIERN IRAQ, 1991:


    A shortage of national intelligence assets in northern Iraq and the lack of
organic tactical reconnaissance aircraft led Colonel Jones to request further
intelligence gathering capabilities. His request was granted. On 2 May, an
experimental unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit that used 1,off the shelf"
technology was ordered to Turkey. Captain Wayne 0. Ouzts, the S-3 Alpha for
the 2d Surveillance Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group was designated the
officer in charge of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Detachment, 2d Remotely
Piloted Vehicle Company, from Camp Lejeune. The detachment mustered SIX
personnel and had 15 unmanned aerial vehicles. Members of the detachment had
just finished six grueling months in the desert during Operations Desert Shield
and Desert Storm. Most Marines had been back in the United States for about
three weeks, but Captain Ouzts had been home only three days before being
ordered to Turkey. The detachment arrived in Turkey on 7 May, but it took eight
days to clear customs. From Incirlik the UAVs and their ancillary equipment
took three days to get to Silopi and another day to get to the forward operating
base at Muqbal.     The UAV Detachment used an abandoned Iraqi artillery
position.
    The uni~anned aerial vehicle (UAV) selected for use was the Exdrone, a
disposable unmanned aircrafl with a fixed camera. About the size of a large
model airplane, its delta shape made it look like a miniature Stealth bomber. It
was hoped these Exdrones could fill the gap between ground reconnaissance and
high altitude photographs. The UAVs gave Colonel Jones and Major Raftery
timely video coverage of choke points and areas of interest. They provided a
cost-efficient,  long-range,  unmanned  aerial vehicle intelligence gathering
platform, and flew approximately 40 kilometers south of Dohuk to photograph
Iraqi rear echelon areas and assembly positions.
    The UAV Detachment prepared its equipment the previous night. The UAVs
launched around 0930, flew to Dohuk, then traced the main supply route south
into the heart of Iraq. When the drones overfiew choke points or Iraqi positions,
they swooped low to reveal a video panorama of the target area.
    The UAVs made 22 flights in 12 days, often flying two missions per day.
Air space coordination was difficult because there were so many different aircraft
in the area. Pilots were apprehensive about flying with unmanned aerial vehicles
in the air because they were hard to see in the crowded sky. A compromise was
made. The UAVs were sent aloft only at specified times during daylight hours.
There were three crashes during experimental operations and three crashes during
flight operations. The detachment departed Zakho on 28 May 1991 and returned
to Camp Lejeune on 1 June.     During Operation Provide Comfort the UAVs
                                                                  "90
       probably saved two years on the developmental process . .
    Marine air and naval gunfire liaison companies (ANGLICO) provide air and
naval gunfire support to non-Marine U.S. and allied forces. The Marines of an
ANGLICO firepower control team (FCT) are specially trained to observe, direct,
and coordinate supporting arms. Marine units possess organic capabilities to
control supporting arms, so ANGLICO firepower control teams are tasked to
provide such services for attached or allied units working with the Marines.