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US Forces Order of Battle - 10 February

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. Even prior to September 11, 2001, the amount of publicly available information concerning aircraft types and specific units had diminished to the point that it was 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 85,000 military personnel in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, including about 450 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. Virtually all of 3rd Infantry Division has been deployed to Kuwait, though it is possible that some battalions are still in the process of deploying. It is believed that the total Army presence in the region is nearly 25,000 soldiers.

The US Air Force's Expeditionary Air and Space Force (EAF) concept and organization sets a guideline for Air Force deployments to operational locations. The EAF is comprised of 10 Aerospace Expeditionary Forces (AEF) each with lead combat and support wings including on-call wings that could be deployed if required. Deployments for active duty units lasts roughly 90-days while Reserve and Guard units deploy typically for 30 - 60 days. Generally one AEF is assigned to Operation Southern Watch and one is assigned to Northern Watch. AEF 7 and AEF 8 units deployed beginning in late November and will remain until the end of February 2003.

The EUCOM Area of Responsibility includes approximately 1,700 Air Force personnel at Incrilik AB Turkey, flying Operation Northern Watch patrols (Though there are roughly 4,000 people at Incirlik in general). Prior to Operation Enduring Freedom, approximately 6,200 Air Force personnel were normally stationed in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. As many as 20,000 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. It should be noted that tracking personnel numbers for the Air Force is extremely difficult as the actual number of pilots is small compared to support elements. These numbers could be drastically incorrect.

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 overall 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 early February 2003 there were three carrier battle groups in the area, one amphibious task force, and one amphibious group, for a total of around 47,000 naval personnel. These units included about 325 helicopters and aircraft. A total of about 1236 Vertical Launch System cells are available for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which is roughly three times the average number typically deployed in recent years. Based on estimates of prior deployments, perhaps as many as 600 Tomahawks are actually deployed. The cruise missile force can be augmented significantly within days.

Note: While this listing is dated, one should keep in mind that the page is often edited numerous times during a particular edition, sometimes daily. One should visit the page often to get the most up-to-date listing of the situation.

Recent Developments

Sealift

• The unidentified Gordon / Bob Hope class LMSR previously located in San Diego departed on or about February 4, 2003. If it is headed to the Persian Gulf it will take it roughly 30 days to arrive in the region.
• A roll-on/roll-off car transporter named Tellus is due to arrive in Antwerp shortly. She will load additional helicopters belonging to V Corps and tanks and other equipment possibly belonging to the 1st Armored Division.
• The USNS Fisher began to upload equipment at Beaumont, Texas on Jan 30 according to the Beaumont Enterprise on Feb 1, 2003.
• MV Cape Vincent departed Beaumont on Jan 31 headed towards the Persian Gulf.
• The USNS Gordon was in Charleston loading military vehicles and containers. It is not clear when the unit will depart.
• According to the Wilmington Star, the USNS Watson will pull into Wilmington, North Carolina to load additional equipment.

Airlift

• There has been a lot of activity at Rhein-Main Air Base. It appears that a significant surge of equipment and cargo has been lifted out of Frankfurt on C-17s headed to an unknown destination. The increase in activity has been substantial, having begun in mid-January. This is possibly related to V Corps deployment, more specifically, 1st Infantry Division.
• The air activity at Rhein-Main has begun to include United Air Lines 747s that are transporting soldiers to unknown locations. At least 4 were identified on February 5.

Army

• The 671st Engineer Company has been identified as having deployed to the Persian Gulf in January. The 671st is a bridging unit that uses the ribbon bridge.
• A press release issued on February 6, 2003 by the 101st Airborne Division stated that elements of the entire Division have been ordered to deploy in support of the war on terrorism. The 101st Corps Support Group and the 86th Combat Support Hospital are also involved in the deployment.
• Reports from the Leaf Chronicle and the Washington Post on February 6 indicate that the 101st Avaition Brigade has begun moving equipment from Fort Campbell to an undisclosed location. The movement is being described by the Army as a Sea Deployment Readiness Exercise, but this claim is being viewed with skepticism. Roughly 40 helicopters are involved in the movement.
• 3rd Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment a unit associated with III Corps 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade has been activated. Roughly 300 soldiers are involved in the activation, it is not clear if the unit will be deployed to the Persian Gulf though it is not known what role the unit will play in Homeland Defense.
• The Agence France Presse reported on February 2 that the brigade from the 82nd Airborne was to begin deploying on Feb 1. A story from the Fayetteville Observer reported that equipment left Fort Bragg on Feb 1 headed for an unidentified port (most likely Wilmington) to be shipped to the Persian Gulf.
• Agence France Presse also indicated that the 3rd Infantry Division has had enough equipment for 2 Brigades and the Aviation Brigade have shipped to the Middle East via sealift. It is not clear if that equipment is currently in the region or if it is en route.
• The 205th Area Support Medical Battalion has been identified as being located in Qatar. Sgt. Michael C. Barry, a member of the unit which is a Missouri National Guard element, was killed in a car accident in Qatar as he and three other soldiers were traveling from Doha to Camp As Sayliyah.
• Elements of the 13th Corps Support Command have received orders to deploy to the Persian Gulf. A 50 person surgical team departed Fort Hood on or about February 1, 2003.
• Additional elements of the 377th Theater Support Command deployed in late January to the Middle East. Roughly 120 soldiers are involved in the deployment.
• According to Stars & Stripes on January 29, 2003, 1,800 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division have been ordered to deploy to Turkey in support of an invasion of Iraq. Elements of the 1st Infantry include the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the Division, the 101st Military Intelligence Battalion, the 121st Signal Battalion, the 701st Main Support Battalion and the 601st Aviation Support Battalion.
• Sources indicate that additional elements of the 1st Infantry Division are preparing to deploy including the Engineer Brigade's headquarters company, the HHC of the 82nd Engineer Battalion and the 12th Chemical Company.

Navy

• The USS Kitty Hawk and elements of her Battle Group are still at sea. It is believed that she is off the Korean Peninsula. On Feb 7 numerous reports from the Washington Post and Reuters indicated that she had received orders to deploy to the Persian Gulf.
• The USS Theodore Roosevelt and her Battle Group have completed their Composite Training Unit Exercise and have begun to deploy to the Mediterranean. The TR completed its COMPTUEX on February 4 and departed Puerto Rico, it should take roughly 2-3 weeks for the TR to be in position to conduct operations against Iraq.
• As of February 5 the Nimitz Battle Group was still in port at San Diego. Her entire Carrier Air Wing was still present on her flight deck which is not standard procedure following JTFEX. Indications from a variety of sources point to a departure on or about February 5. On February 5, the 3rd Fleet issued a release stating that the USS Nimitz would depart San Diego on Feb 6 to return on Feb 7. This would seem to indicate that the Air Wing will return to Lemoore and that the Nimitz is not deploying to the Persian Gulf at this time.
• Amphibious Task Force East has arrived in the CENTCOM AOR. The ships transited the Suez Canal on February 4 and are headed to the Persian Gulf.
• The USS Harry S Truman and her Battle Group have been added to the list of forces currently in the Area of Operations. This change is made to reflect the announcement that Jordan has granted over-fly rights to US aircraft operating against Iraq. This coupled with similar permission from Turkey makes it more likely that the Truman will operate from the Med rather than transiting to the Red Sea or Persian Gulf.
• On January 20 the Abraham Lincoln departed Western Australia officially ending her visit there. Media stories in Stars & Stripes and other sources continue to indicate that the Lincoln is still within the 7th Fleet AOR. However, reports from Associated Press indicate that the Lincoln arrived in the 5th Fleet AOR on or about February 1.
• The Carl Vinson Battle Group is currently in port at Pearl Harbor. It is not clear if she will return to her homeport or if she will be redeployed to relieve the Kitty Hawk.
• The USS Montpelier transited the Suez Canal on or about Feb 1, 2003. The Montpelier is part of the Harry S Truman Battle Group.

Marine Corps

• It is believed that the bulk of the 7th Marine Regiment is currently in Kuwait.
• A Marine Corps Reserve bridging unit has been identified as having been deployed to the Persian Gulf in January 2003. The unit is an element of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion.
• 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment has been identified as being located in Kuwait according to the Washington Post on February 4, 2003.
• Two CH-53Es from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 772, attached to the 24th MEU have been identified as operating from Camp Lemonier. It is unclear how long these aircraft have been supporting CJTF-HOA or how long the units will continue to support those operations.
• 75 Marines from a Military Police Comany, Headquarters Battalion, 4th Marine Division will depart during the week prior to February 10 according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Also according to the St. Paul Pioneer 250 members of a detachement from Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 has also be activated and ordered to deploy.
• A story in the Washington Post dated January 28 indicates that elements of the 7th Marine Regiment are currently in Kuwait as is the 1st Tank Battalion.

Air Force

• The 116th Air Control Wing has received orders to deploy. The winf is comprised of both Guard and active duty, Air Force and Army. It is not clear when the unit will depart.
• The El Paso Times is reporting that F-117s will be departing Holloman Air Force Base on or about February 3, 2003. While the exact number is not known, it is thought that eventually 10-20 aircraft will be deploying. The Associated Press reported on February 4 that 5 F-117s departed on Monday evening. The El Paso Times reported on February 5 that some F-117s that had departed on Feb 3 arrived in Europe for a stopover, the exact numbers were not identified. It is however safe to assume that between 5 and 10 aircrafr from the 49th Fighter Wing are either in Southwest Asia or are en route.
• On February 7 F-117s began to arrive at al Udeid Air Base.
• 400 airmen from the 187th Fighter Wing were called to active duty on Feb 2. The unit flies F-16s, it is not clear if or when this unit will deploy to the Persian Gulf.
• The Air Force has officially extended the deployment rotation for AEF 7 & 8 beyond the 90 deployment.
• The 14th Fighter Squadron has been identified as being located at Prince Sultan Air Base.
• 200 Indiana Air National Guard members are being sent to Turkey in support of Operation Northern Watch. The guardsmen are part of the 181st Fighter Wing. They will deploy on January 30.

Coalition Forces

• HMS Ark Royal and her task group transited the Suez Canal on February 1. This includes HMS Ocean.
• Reports from the Daily Telegraph on Feb 3, 2003 indicate that the RAF will triple its presence in the Gulf by Feb 10.
• The Agence France Presse reported on Feb 2 that roughly 6,500 soldiers of the 1(UK) Armoured Division have received orders to deploy to the Persian Gulf.
• 100 Royal Marines from 45 Commando will depart the UK on Feb 4. The unit will provide support for 3 Commando Brigade according to the Scottish Daily Record.
• 8 Tornado GR4s have been identified at Ali al-Salem in Kuwait. 6 Tornado F3s are at Prince Sultan and 4 Jaguar aircraft are at Incirlik.