28 March (continuing)Norfolk VA: USS BIDDLE (CG-34) conducted 36 boardings and diverted 8 merchant ships--the highest percentage of the Navy's maritime interceptions force--assisted by embarked Helicopter Detachment Qne's 375 anti- sub and anti-surface warfare sorties. The guided missile cruiser then assumed anti-aircraft defenses for the combined battle force in the Red Sea, coordinating 850+ aircraft interceptions with carrier-based combat air patrols. USS ThOMAS C. HART (FF-1092) conducted 43 boardings and over 300 interrogations of merchant vessels near the Gulf of Aqaba, in the Northern Red Sea. Her 131 days in the Red Sea made the ground offensive easier by choking off supplies to Saddam Hussein's war machine. USS SOUTh CAROUNA (CGN-37) spearheaded maritime interceptions in the Red Sea, boarding 26 merchant vessels before shifting to anti-air warfare commander for the Mediterranean Sea, protecting and identi- f~ring hundreds of coalition aircraft transiting to and from air strikes. Colts Neck NJ: USS DETROIT (AOE-4), a fast combat support ship, replenished 250+ ships, including USS JOHN F. KENNEDY, USS SARATOGA and USS AMERICA battle groups and 52 coalition ships, with 70 million gallons of diesel and jet fuel, and thousands of tons of ammunition and general stores by the end of deployment. USS WISCONSIN (BB-64), the first battleship to return to CONUS, arrived at Norfolk VA liomeport. Braving mine fields and enemy fire in the Arabian Gulf, USS WISCONSIN fired her 16-inch guns 324 times during 34 naval gunfire support missions, accounting for some 874,800 pounds of high explosives on enemy targets including command posts, infantry bunkers, missile and artillery sites and communication bun- kers in occupied Kuwait. The battleship's barrages were so deadly, hundreds of Iraqis surrendered to the Remotely Piloted Vehicle -- the unmanned drone aircraft -- that was the spoiter for the guns, a first in history. Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 130 of Carrier Air Wing 3 (embarked on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY) arrives at Whidbey Island WA home- port. Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 of Carrier Air Wing 17 (embarked on USS SARATOGA) arrives at Whidbey Island WA homeport. 29 March Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols, minesweep- ing and maritime interception operations. Marine ground forces hold defensive positions. USS FRANCIS HAMMOND (FF-1867), USS SHASTA (AE-33), USS NIAGRA FALLS (AFS-3) and coalition ships,. assists burning Sri Lankan merchant vessel MERCS-HORANA in Arabian Gulf. Status of LT Charles J. Turner, missing since 18 January downing of his A- 6, was changed to Killed in Action. A-57
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