v.1.0 October 11, 2001
Michael Crawford Milnet-USA, via AFI
(For security reasons, while indicative of the forces in region, this is only a partial list)
There are some 200 ground attack aircraft (bombers, fighter-bombers, etc.), 182 air-to-air aircraft (some of which may be able to launch ground attack missiles), 72 support aircraft such as tankers, combat search and rescue, helo transports, ELINT/SIGINT recon aircraft, EW&C, AWACS, and others. Naval forces include 3 carrier battle groups with a total of 4 aircraft carriers (U.S.S. Carl Vinson, U.S.S. Enterprise, U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, and the U.S.S Kitty Hawk (sans normal aircraft load) at least 18 other surface combatants (many of which carry and launch tomahawk cruise missiles on land targets), and 2 or more attack submarines also capable of launching tomahawks via their torpedo tubes or vertical launch cells.
Each of the 3 U.S. aircraft carriers (Kitty Hawk is acting as a troop and helicopter carrier and is not counted) carrys a minimum of 24 F-14 and 24 F-18 aircraft. U.S. carriers also carry numerous support aircraft, notably the E-2C Early Warning and Control (EW&C) aircraft which operate in a similar fashion to the E-2 Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft already stationed in the region. These two types of aircraft are part of a network of command and control aircraft with mounted airborne radomes that allow controllers to see all aircraft in the area, and vector air-to-air aircraft to airborne targets. This assures full control of the air assuming there are enough air-to-air forces to respond.
During the Gulf War, U-2 and the E-8A JSTARS aircraft (a Boeing 707 derivative with a special down looking radar mounted underneath the fuselage) were also able to transmit realtime battlefield target information, thus performing a similar function on the ground as the AWACS and EW&C aircraft perform in the air.
In support of the forces in theatre, the U.S. has also embarked several Amphibious Warfare Groups, which consist of support ships and one or more LHD which features helicopter (both support and gunships), and U.S. Marines in one or more Marine Expeditionary Units to provide a flexible ground force if needed.
Example of U.S. Forces in the Gulf(will be updated as information becomes available and does not endanger operations)
|
Type |
U.S.Forces (Based at) |
Total |
|
Fighters |
Bahrain: F-15 -
12 |
120 |
|
Attack |
Bahrain: F-16 -
18 |
172 |
|
Bombers |
Diego : B-1B - 8
|
24+ |
|
Special Purpose |
Bahrain: KC-135
- 2 |
72 |
|
Carrier Battle Groups * |
U.S.S. Carl
Vinson |
4 |
* Note: U.S. Aircraft Carriers (expect Kitty Hawk in this deployment) each carry approximately 54 combat aircraft which include F-14 Tomcat, and F-18 Hornet which are capable of attacking ground and air targets (dual role). The U.S. carriers also carry helicopters, anti-submaine warfare, Air-to-Air refueling, and E-2C Hawkeye EW&C aircraft. Also, each carrier battle group includes replenishment ships (fuel and arms) and possibly submarine tender(s). All U.S. cruisers are assumed to have large loads of Tomahawk cruise missiles, typically in vertical launch tubes which can be launched quite rapidly to create salvos of ground attack vehicles without risk of human pilots. Note that the carrier battle group alone is more than adequate to wage a devastating air campaign.
A new modification thought to be used in the region is the F-14D Bombcat, an upgraded version of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, that provides the backseater the task as a ground attack officer. This version of the F-14 allows the U.S. Navy to deploy additional ground attack aircraft when necessary, loading bombs on the center pylons of the Tomcat.