* C-SB GALAXY. The Air Force devel- initially relied on support and provisions from oped a new version of the C-S airlifter Marine Corps supplies. They were quickly and doubled the size of the C-S fleet, followed by two MPS MEBs, which provided greatly increasing the capacity to move additionalfirepowerandgreatersustainability. outsized cargo via air. The heavy Army forces essential for modern mechanized warfare followed in turn - first * FAST SEALIFT SHIPS (FSS). The the 24th Mechanized Division, primarily via Navy purchased and modified eight fast sealift, and subsequently the 101st Air SL-7fast sealift ships capable of making Assault Division, the 3rd Armored Cavalry over 30 Knots for rapid deployment of Regiment, the 1st Armored Cavalry Division, Army equipment. The SL-7s are main- and associated corps command element, also tained in 96 hour readiness status in via sealift. peacetime. Two large hospital ships (one on each coast) are maintained in a Strategic sealift was crucial to deploy- similar status. ing Army forces. Although the soldiers were flown to the Gulf, the bulk of the equipment * READY RESERVE FORCE (RRF). In and supplies was too large to transport by air. the late 1'970s, theNavy began purchas- The main exception is the 82nd Airborne Divi- ing militarily useful ships to bolster the sion, which is lighter than other Army divi- aging :mothballed fleet of World War 11 sions, has-less organiesustainability, and is the era cargo ships. Over the next ten years, lead Army division for rapid deployment. the RRF grew to 96 ships - mostly roll- Otherwise, most Army unit equipment and on/roll-off ships, barge carriers, resupply moved by sea. breakbulk ships, and small tankers. These ships are maintained at various Prior to the late 1970s, sealiftwas heavily U.S. porb~ by the Maritime Administra- dependent on the U.S. flag fleet and the Na- tion in an inactive status, without crews. tional Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) of The RRF program was designed to al- mothballed World War 11-era ships. The pro- low activation of ships in 5, 10, or 20 curement of APS, FSS, and RRF ships in the days depending on readiness status. 1980s offset the decline in availability of mili- Upon receipt of an activation order, tarily useful commercial shipping and the de- RRF ships are towed to a shipyard for teriorating condition of the NDRF. Sealift mechanical preparation to sail. Crews forces were sized for a global war growing out are draw~ from available U.S. civilian of a conflict in the Persian Gulf in which the merchant mariners. initial Army deployment in the Gulf would be supported entirely by U.S. shipping. The eight Those strategic lift assets were designed SL-7 fast sealift ships were designed for rapid to support a rapid buildup in combat power deployment of a heavy division. Deployment based on the concept of joint force sequencing. of succeeding divisions would depend on ac- The first ground-combat forces on scene for tivation of the RRF, use of U.S. flag ships in the DESER~ SHIELD/STORM were two brigades Sealift Readiness Program, charter of commer- of the 82nd Airborne Division, which arrived cial vessels, and, if necessary, requisition of via airlift to provide both initial presence and additional U.S. flag ships. security for airbases and ports. These forces - 14 -
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