• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

US Forces Order of Battle - 28 October

This is a "best available" order-of-battle of forces deployed in CENTCOM's part of Southwest Asia, as well as EUCOM forces in Turkey participating in Operation Northern Watch. Over time, the amount of publicly available information concerning aircraft types and specific units has diminished to the point that it is no longer possible to provide a high fidelity profile of current deployments. There are evidently significant gaps in unit identifications, as well as non-trivial uncertainties as to numbers of specific types of aircraft. The presence of significant numbers of civilian contractor personnel at various facilities in the region further complicates accounting for total personnel numbers.

Excluding forces deployed in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom, there are probably about 48,000 military personnel in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, including about 400 aircraft of all types. The number of troops deployed in the area fluctuates on a daily basis, and has averaged between 20,000 and 25,000 in recent years, with typically about 200 aircraft in the region. Forces in the region include a mix of special operations forces deployed in support of US Central Command operations. To enhance force protection throughout the region, additional military security personnel are also deployed.

Ground forces include a variety of units that are normally deployed in the region, which total about 3,700 troops. Forces in the region include a Patriot missile task force with two batteries deployed in Saudi Arabia and two in Kuwait. The Army Intrinsic Action / Desert Spring training exercises routinely deploy 1,500 to 5,000 troops for rotations of several months. As of late-September 2002 a brigade rotation was in progress having just begun, ultimately this will involve as many as 10,000 soldiers in Kuwait. In addition to the 3,700 soldiers normally in the region, this troop rotation, once completed, could bring the total Army presence to nearly 14,000 soldiers. However it is possible that the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division will return to the United States. As of late-October there were roughly 10,000 soldiers based in the region, with some 6,000 in Kuwait. On 24 September 2002 it was reported that the 82nd Airborne Division had been notified to be prepared to deploy to the Gulf within two weeks.

The EUCOM Area of Responsibility includes approximately 1,700 Air Force personnel at Incrilik AB Turkey, flying Operation Northern Watch patrols. Prior to Operation Enduring Freedom, approximately 6,200 Air Force personnel were normally stationed in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. As many as 17,500 Air Force personnel may be currently stationed in the CENTCOM and EUCOM areas responsible for operations against Iraq, operating a total of about 280 aircraft of all types.

Naval units include a headquarters and shore-based units comprised of about 1,200 people at Manama in Bahrain. Nearly a thousand civilian mariners are associated with Military Sealift Command ships at Diego Garcia. During the 1990s overal Naval force personnel levels in the CENTCOM AOR typically varied between 8,000 and 15,000. Each Carrier Battlegroup, with its associated Carrier Air Wing, has approximately 11,000 sailors embarked. Each Amphibious Group has about 1,700 sailors, 1,500 Marines, and 700 Marine aviators embarked. As of late-September 2002 there was one carrier battle group in the area, and one amphibious group, for a total of slightly less than 20,000 naval personnel. These units included about 128 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. A total of about 400 Vertical Launch System cells are available for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which is roughly twice the average number typically deployed in recent years. Based on estimates of prior deployments, perhaps as many as 150 Tomahawks are actually deployed. The cruise missile force can be augmented significantly within days.

Currently, there are about 370 combatant and direct support aircraft in the Iraq [CENTCOM and EUCOM] Area of Responsibility, which total includes air to air, air to ground, dual role, direct support, and attack helicopters.

Recent Developments

The Nassau Amphibious Ready Group including the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit transited the Suez on or before October 28 and is currently under the operational control of CENTCOM. The units 2,200 Marines and 1,700 sailors are reported to be heading for Kuwait for exercises.

A report in the Sunday Telegraph, dated October 27, 2002, indicates that up to 20,000 troops of a British armoured division will arrive in Kuwait sometime in November. The purpose of the deployment was not disclosed though it could be part of a larger exercise that is taking place in Kuwait between the US and Kuwaiti forces.

In a story in the October 23, 2002 edition of Stars and Stripes, it was reported that the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, an element ov V Corps 1st Infantry Division, has had its previous orders to deploy to Kosovo cancelled. This deployment to Kosovo was part of a routine brigade rotation and the absence of the 1-4th Cavalry is highly unusual. While it is not clear that the unit or its M1 Abrams, M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, M113s or OH-58D(I) are being tapped to go to Kuwait, the possibility should be taken into account.

A report in the The Virginian-Pilot, dated October 24, 2002, indicates that two Military Sealift Command roll-on/roll-off ships had been activated and sent to pick up POL and non-heavy equipment. The ships were activated around mid-October and if they have already retrieved their cargo and departed for Southwest Asia could arrive there by mid-November.

Relatedly, an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune (October 24, 2002) states that the Bellatrix, another Military Sealift Command vessel, is in San Diego loading trucks, construction equipment, Humvees, and bridging gear all of which are set to be sent to the Middle East shortly. This is a significant development as bridging equipment will play a vital role in an invasion of Iraq.

The 186th Fighter Squadron was identified as being the unit that flies F-16 C/D's at Prince Sultan Air Base. This unit is part of the Montana Air National Guard. It appears as if this unit has been rotating pilots in and out of Prince Sultan for some time. 80 members of the unit rotated back to the US on or around October 25 after a forty-five day deployment and some 40+ members of the unit rotated out to PSAB on around October 5. Prior editions of the Iraq Orbat have been edited to reflect this development.

The Arkansas Air National Guard's 184th Fighter Squadron deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base on October 24, 2002. 6 of the 16 F-16s assigned to the 184th's parent unit the 188th Fighter Wing are deploying with roughly 100 airmen.

VP-1, a P-3 Squadron, was identified as being located in Bahrain.

The USS Constellation and her Battle Group are scheduled to deploy on Saturday, November 2, for a Western Pacific deployment. The Constellation is deploying with Carrier Air Wing 2, CG 50 Valley Forge, CG 52 Bunker Hill, DDG 69 Milius, DDG 76 Higgins, DD 965 Kinkaid, FFG 43 Thach, SSN 771 Columbia, and AOE-7 Rainer. Her time of arrival in the North Arabian Sea depends on whether or not she heads directly for the region or if she makes ports of call along the way. If she heads directly to the Persian Gulf, she should arrive aroun 1 December, if she makes ports of call that date would be pushed back roughly two weeks to mid-December.

The USS Harry S Truman and its Battle Group begin its JTFEX on October 28 and is scheduled to complete the exercise on November 6. The exercise is taking place a couple of days sooner than what had been previously planned and is ending much sooner than what would otherwise be expected. This could be an indication that the Truman is deploying sooner than originally planned. The Truman Battle Group is comprised of Carrier Air Wing 3, CG 56 San Jacinto, DDG 57 Mitscher, DDG 75 Donald Cook, DDG 79 Oscar Austin, DD 977 Briscoe, DD 989 Deyo, FFG 53 Hawes, SSN 720 Pittsburg, T AO 196 Kanawha and T AE 34 Mount Baker.

Finally, the USS Kitty Hawk and elements of its Carrier Battle Group departed Yokosuka on October 25. While the Navy has reported that the Kitty Hawk's deployment is a regularly scheduled underway period, the Navy has not been forthcoming about where the Kitty Hawk is headed or what exercises she will be taking part in.