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US Forces Order of Battle - 17 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 106,000 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 26,000 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 mid February 2003 there were three carrier battle groups in the area, one amphibious task force, and two amphibious groups, for a total of around 60,000 naval personnel. These units included about 364 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 Military Sealift Command reported on February 11 that the USNS Dahl and the USNS Bob Hope are loading military cargo, in Jacksonville, Fla, for the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky., as part of the repositioning of U.S. forces in support of the president's global war on terrorism. Cargo includes Army Blackhawk, Apache, Kiowa and Chinnook helicopters and a variety of wheeled vehicles. Together, the two have a capacity of more than 600,000 square feet of military cargo. It is thought that the ships will depart by February 15 and that it will take roughly 21 days to arrive in the CENTCOM AOR.
• 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.

Airlift

• Additional information concerning total CRAFT flights indicates that the military is in a position to transport roughly 18,000 - 20,000 soldiers a week.
• The Civil Reserve Air Fleet was activated recently according to a release from the Department of Defense on February 8. The release states that it is Stage I Activation and involves 22 U.S. airline companies and their 78 commercial aircraft -- 47 passenger aircraft and 31 wide-body cargo aircraft. While this authority is for all 78 commercial aircraft in the CRAF Stage I program, the USTRANSCOM commander, Air Force Gen. John W. Handy, is only activating 47 passenger aircraft. If each of the 47 aircraft were to make one trip the maximum number of troops that could be brought into the region would be 16,280, assuming that all 26 747-400s and 21 of the 757s (single class configuration) were activated.
• 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

• Roughly 700 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division have received orders to deploy in support of the War on Terrorism.
• According to the Associated Press on February 14, 500 soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division began to leave North Carolina via Pope Air Force Base on February 13. The article went on to state that the bulk of the division will continue to deploy throughout the coming days.
• Fort Riley issued a press release on February 12 that 1,300 soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division had received orders to deploy to the CENTCOM AOR. The deployment will involve the 1-41st Infantry Regiment, the 2-70th Armor Regiment, the 70th Engineer Battalion, the 24th Transportation Company, 266th Transportation, and the 300th Military Police Company. A number of reserve units are also involved.
• The 122nd Engineer Battalion received orders to deploy to Southwest Asia, roughly 500 soldiers are involved in the deployment, accoring to The State on February 12..
• 400 soldiers from the 151st Signal Battalion have been ordered to deploy to the Persian Gulf, accoring to The State on February 12..
• A news release from USAREUR depicting soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment securing equipment on a rail car, may indicate that the 2nd Brigade is the unit to deploy to Turkey.
• The 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment along with the 7th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment deployed for Kuwait on or about February 10 according Stars and Stripes.
• V Corps released additional information regarding deployments to the CENTCOM and EUCOM areas of responsibility. To CENTCOM: 6-52nd Air Defense Artillery, 3-158th Aviation, elements of 3-58th Aviation, CO B 5-158th Aviation, 32nd Signal Battalion, 440th Signial Battalion, Headquarters company of the 18th Military Police Brigade, 793rd Military Police Battalion, elements of the V Corps Artillery, 1-27th Field Artillery, headquarters elements of the 130th Engineer Brigade, 302nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 165th Military Intelligence Battalion, and V Corps Special Troops Battalion. To EUCOM: elements of the 30th Medical Brigade including the 421st Medical Battalion.
• According to the Arizona Republic on February 11 roughly 1,300 soldiers from the 11th Signals Briagde have been identified as being located in Kuwait. While it was known that the 54th Signal Battalion was in Southwest Asia it was not previously known that many other soldiers were present as well.
• The debate concerning exactly how much equipment is in Kuwait continues. Drew Brown from Knight Ridder reports on February 11 that much of 3rd Infantry Division's equipment is being drawn from prepo and that very little has been shipped from the United States. Furthermore, Brown confirms that initially only enough equipment for 2 Divisions had been located in Southwest Asia and Diego Garcia. This is an important question as it could determine how many Armored units will be sent to the region or be expected to be operational by late February.
• Elements from the 21st Theater Support Command, the 37th Transportation Command, the 1st Transportation Movement Control Agency, 200th Material Management Command, and elements of the 29th Support Group have been ordered to deploy to Turkey in preperation for a larger deployment of ground troops to follow.
• Elements of the 800th Military Police Brigade have been identified as being located at Camp Arifjan.
• The 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment has been identified as being located in Kuwait. Specialist Briand Michael Clemens, 19, of Kokomo, Indiana died on February 6 when the HMMWV he was in rolled near Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
• The 6th Transportation Battalion has been identified as being located in Kuwait according to the Associated Press on February 10.
• 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.

Navy

• Command elements of the 30th Naval Construction Regiment have been identified as being located in Kuwait according to the Associated Press on February 14, 2003.
• VAQ 142 has been identified as being located at Prince Sultan Air Base.
• According to the Bradenton Herald the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group transited the Strait of Hormuz on February 10. She made the transit from San Diego in 35 days.
• 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 Carl Vinson Battle Group has been ordered to deploy to WESTPAC to deter North Korea.

Marine Corps

• Elements of the 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion have begun to deploy to the Persian Gulf region.
• Roughly 6 F/A-18s and 100 Marines from VMFA 533 departed on February 10 for the Persian Gulf, accoring to The State on February 12.
• Elements of VMFA 251 are to depart late in the week, accoring to The State on February 12..
• A detachment from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 has been identified as operating out of Bahrain. 69 Marines are currently deployed with Detachment A.
• According to the Bradenton Herald the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group transited the Strait of Hormuz on February 10. She made the transit from San Diego in 35 days.
• The 1st Combat Engineer Battalion has been identified as being located in Kuwait.
• The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (aboard the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group) has had its deployment extended indefinitely. Parts of MEU and ARG recently made a port of call in Bahrain. It is believed that some elements of the 24th MEU are operating in Kuwait and Djibouti.
• According to the Biloxi Sun Herald on February 10, elements of the 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion are due to depart from Camp Pendleton sometime during the week before Feb 17. It is not clear how many troops are involved though the A Company is mentioned specifically.
• 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.

Air Force

• 250 airmen from the 77th Fighter Squadron began to deploy on February 11 this deployment will involve 15 of the squadrons F-16 CDs.
• 100 airmen from the 23rd Fighter Squadron departed Spangdhlem AFB on February 13 headed for an unknown location according to the Associated Press on February 13. The AP also reported that the 52nd Fighter Wing currently has 800 deployed to the Persian Gulf Region.
• Information also indicates that the 81st Fighter Squadron has also begun to deploy to the Persian Gulf.
• 600 airmen from the 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Wing are departing for the Persian Gulf during the week prior to February 17. The 94th Fighter Squadron is already located in Turkey and the 21st Fighter Squadron is not expected to deploy.
• Members of the 403rd Wing have received orders to deploy according to the Associated Press on February 10. It is not clear just how many are deploying or where they are headed.
• RQ-1 Predators from the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron began deploying between February 3 and February 9. It is not clear where the aircraft were headed.
• 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.
• According to Fox News on February 8 F-117s began to arrive at al Udeid Air Base on Feb 6. The specific number was not disclosed.

Australia

• Australia's 5th Aviation Regiment will deploy to the Persian Gulf prior to February 17 according to Townsville Bulletin on February 11, 2003. The unit flies CH-47s and H-60s. 85 soldiers are involved in the initial deployment.

United Kingdom

• The Press Association reported on February 13 that the United Kingdom now has roughly 42,000 military servicemen and women deployed in the Middle East. It is not clear if all of these units are in the region or if this is the number that will be present in the coming weeks.
• The Scotsman reported on February 13 that two squadrons of the 22 Special Air Service Regiment have begun active operations in Iraq. The total number of soldiers involved is believed to be 100 men.
• 1,200 Royal Marines began to arrive in Kuwait on February 9 according to the Daily Mail on Feb 10. The units are from 42 Commando and 3 Commando.
• 1 (UK) Armoured Division has begun to load its equipment in Germany according to the Press Association on February 10. It is not clear just how long it will take to ship the equipment from Emden, Germany to the Persian Gulf.