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Naval Coastal Warfare Reservists Return From Middle East

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030908-02

Release Date: 9/8/2003 9:36:00 AM

By Lt.Cmdr. John Garofolo, Naval Coastal Warfare Group 1 Public Affairs

ASH SHUAYBAH, Kuwait (NNS) -- Naval Coastal Warfare (NCW) Reserve forces recalled to active duty and deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, returned home when their eight-month deployment ended Aug. 23.

Harbor Defense Command Unit (HDCU) 114 from Los Angeles, Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit (MIUWU) 106 based in San Diego, and Inshore Boat Unit (IBU) 15 from Corpus Christi, Texas, will all return home early September, after providing anti-terrorism and force protection assets for U.S. and coalition maritime forces in the Persian Gulf.

"These units provided all of the port security and harbor defense for ships carrying more than 90 percent of the tanks, trucks, helicopters, ammunition and supplies for the forces that went to Iraq," said Capt. Mike Shatynski, commanding officer of HDCU 114 and Force security officer for the Port of Ash Shuaybah in Kuwait. "They did a remarkable job of protecting hundreds of ships and ensuring that not one life or piece of equipment was lost to hostile action."

The Port of Ash Shuaybah, the principal seaport of debarkation for coalition forces, is where the majority of these NCW forces were based. MIUWU 106 provided seaward surveillance capability and provided tactical control of the boat units operating in the port, which included IBU 15 and IBU 17 from San Diego, and U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit 309 from Port Clinton, Ohio.

Prior to the beginning of hostilities in March, the amount of supplies and equipment off-loaded at Ash Shuaybah exceeded the amount of war material brought into the region during the entire duration of Operation Desert Storm in 1990-91. Total military off-loads at the port included more than 150,000 trucks, tanks, helicopters and containers weighing in excess of 1 billion pounds.

"When we arrived in Kuwait, we hit the ground running," said Cmdr. Patrick Cooley, commanding officer of MIUWU 106. "The NCW operations tempo was unprecedented, and our people rose to the challenge."

During the war, the three units operated under command of Commander, Naval Coastal Warfare Group 1, who was designated Commander, Task Group 51.9, and augmented by HDCU 114 and MIUWU 106 personnel. "The NCW forces operating in our second detachment provided a tremendous amount of talent and versatility," noted Capt. Allen Painter, commodore of the NCW forces operating in Southwest Asia.

While Sailors from MIUWU 106 and IBU 15 protected the Port of Ash Shuaybah for the duration of their eight-month deployment, HDCU 114 also provided security for Mohammad Al Ahmad Kuwait Naval Base.

Operating at Camp Patriot, HDCU 114 personnel were responsible for both seaward and landward security operations for the off-load of the largest amphibious force assembled since the Inchon landing during the Korean War. Personnel from HDCU 114 also participated in a two-month NCW mission to the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, during the major combat operations phase of the war.

HDCU 114 provided planning for the protection of the Iraqi gas and oil platforms (GOPLATS), while vital communications relays between forces on the platforms, ships in the area and all Task Group operating locations were provided by HDCU 114 and MIUWU 106 personnel operating at both Ash Shuaybah and Kuwaiti Naval Base.

During the course of Operation Iraqi Freedom, these three units worked with Navy explosive ordnance disposal units, U.S. Coast Guard port security units, Kuwaiti Coast Guard and Navy ships, as well as U.S. Army troops, National Guard units, Marines, Naval Special Warfare units, Kuwaiti Ministers of Interior and Defense and civilian Port Authorities. The NCW force protection mission in Kuwait is expected to continue through 2004, so the three units' last official mission was the training of their replacements.

"When we deployed last December as Naval Coastal Warfare Group 1, Detachment 2 and first arrived at Camp Arifjan, we really had no idea that our units would end up participating in every major NCW operation of the war," said Shatynski. "It really is a testament to each of the units and their outstanding personnel that they were able to demonstrate their dedication, versatility and resourcefulness to get the job done."