Thus, on C-day, 7 August - the day Fixed wing Navy and USAF combat aircraft that President Bush committed U.S. forces to were on scene the first day, and their number the protection of Saudi Arabia - naval pres- grew steadily, reaching a level of about 700 ence in the crisis area consisted of two carrier fighter and attack aircraft by the end of the first battle groups with more than 100 fighter and month. In addition to fixed wing aircraft, attack aircraft plus a surface action group and Marine and Army attack helicopters made a command ship in the Persian Gulf. Those major contribution to U.S. airpower in theater, forces were later reinforced by four additional particularly with regard to close air support carrier battle groups and two battleships. The and anti-armor missions. Navy also d~.~loyed the command ship USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19), a 31 ship amphibious The first combat aircraft on scene were task force, plus various support ships, combat- the air wings of IND-EPENDENC E and ants, mine warfare ships, and submarines. EISENHOWER, followed closely by two Air Force F-15C squadrons flight-ferried from the The Navy forces requested by U.S. directly to Saudi Arabia with the supp9rt CINCCENT were geared toward defense of of USAF tankers. The aircraft carriers pro- Saudi Arabia. Key elements of those forces vided more than 100 fighter and attack aircraft came from both Atlantic and Pacific fleets and plus airborne early-warning, electronic war- from units stationed ashore in CONUS. This fare, and surveillance aircraft. The carrier reinforcement was implemented quickly and aircraft were ready for sustained combat op- effectively because: erations on arrival. Each battle group carried a full combat loadout of fuel and ordnance for The Navy started from a forward its aircraft, plus a complete aircraft intermedi- deployed posture. ate maintenance facility with its associated spare parts, test equipment, and maintenance The Navy is structured to deploy personnel. The SARATOGA battle group ar- quickly and to be self-sustaining rived on 22 August to relieve EISENHOWER. while deployed. The KENNEDY battle group reported on sta- tion 7 September. C) The all-volunteer force was trained and ready to support the deploy- Additional land-based fixed wing air- ments. craft began arriving by 9 August. In theory, virtually all fixed-wing aircraft deployed to "Forward presence meant Red Sea MW operations the Gulf within the first month were capable of could begin almo~t immediately [following enactment of deploying within the first few days. Actual U.N. sanctions]. We were also ready to conduct interc~ tion operations in the Med, with particular emphasis on the deployment times were driven by the avail- Northern apprnaches to the canal..." ability of aerial refueling (and airlift) and the practical realities of establishing a support in- - Admiral J. T. Howe, USN, Commander- frastructure for sustained combat operations in-Chief U.S. Naval Forces Europe, - including ground support equipment and Quick Look - First Impressions Report, personnel, maintenance equipment and per- 20 ~4arch 1991 sonnel, spare parts, ordnance, ordnance stor- THE BUILDUP OF AIRPOWER. The buildup age and handling equipment, and general base of air power began immediately on 7 August. operating support. - 12 -
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