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US Forces Order of Battle - 02 June

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. 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 207,000 military personnel in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, including about 775 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 96,000 soldiers. Army equipment figures are based on standard Tables of Organization and Equipment for the units deployed. The number of Army mechanized equipment actually on the ground (rather than on ship) is thought to be roughly 638 M1 Abrams and 406 M2 Bradleys. This figure is based on the available prepositioned Brigade sets that were in the region including equipment at Diego Garcia. It is not clear how much additional equipment has been shipped to the region from the United States though it there is enough kit for 2 mechanized divisions minus the equipment for the 4th Infantry Division. This means that the United States could have more tanks than people to man them. There are 144 AH-64 Apache helicopters in the region.

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 23,000 Air Force personnel may be currently stationed in the CENTCOM and EUCOM areas responsible for operations against Iraq, operating a total of about 500 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 Battle Group, 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 12 May 2003 there was one carrier strike group in the area, two amphibious task forces, and one amphibious group, for a total of around 93,000 naval personnel. These units included about 200 helicopters and aircraft. A total of about 449 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 250 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

Army

• More bad news for the 3rd Infantry Division. According to numerous sources, Lt. Gen. David Mckiernan has stated that the 3rd ID will have to remain in Iraq until the security situation improves. A statement heard on NPR on May 29 by a spouse of a 3rd ID soldier indicates that the unit could remain deployed for an additional 6 to 8 weeks. This is a troublesome development as reports in the Associated Press on May 29 indicate that the division is sufferring from a lack of replacement parts and that the unit is not ready for combat. Most of the divisions equipment is in need of repair and parts have yet to be delivered.
• The 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division is now fully in Baghdad according to the Stars and Stripes on May 29, 2003.
• An element of 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group is to returned to the US on May 26 according to the Seattle Times on May 25. The Times reports that some 85 soldiers deployed to the Persian Gulf back in September 2002.
• The Fayetteville Observer reported on May 24 that 88 "A-Teams" were operating in Iraq during the war and that one of those units was the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. The unit is now back in the US.

Navy

• ATF-E is currently in the Red Sea though it is unclear whether this is in preparation of a transit of the Suez Canal.
• Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 is apparently operating in Iraq according to a Navy press release on May 30.
• 120 Seabeas from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 returned on May 20, this was in addition to the 200 that returned on May 19 according to the Biloxi Sun Herald on May 21. The rest of the unit is expected to return by the end of May.

Marine Corps

• The San Diego Union Tribune reported on May 28 that the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion returned to Camp Pendleton. The unit had been deployed since January 17.
• 300 Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment returned to the United States according to the Associated Press on May 29. 900 Marines were deployed.
• It is not exactly clear where the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is. There are numerous reports of it and its Amphibious Ready Group operating in the Adriatic Sea and of elements of the MEU being in Georgia.
• The Associated Press is reporting on May 28, 2003 that roughly 100 Marines from the 8th Tank Battalion "set sail on their monthlong voyage" back to the US. The "Status of the Navy" page indicates that Amphibious Task Force - East is in the Red Sea and Preparing to transit the Suez Canal. It is not clear if this means that the entire 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade is embarked and on the way home.
• Elements of the 1st Marine Division are moving back to Kuwait and eventually back to the US. News releases from the Marine Corps depict heavy equipment being transported back to Kuwait from Iraq, though it is unclear just which units are moving.
• 270 Marines from the 3rd Marine Air Wing returned to Miramar on or about May 24 according to the Associated Press on May 27, 2003.
• 180 Marines from Bravo Co, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines returned to Camp Pendleton on or about May 24 according to United Press International on May 25, 2003.

Air Force

• According to an Air Combat Command release roughly 280 airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing returned to the United States on May 21. This unit had been operating from Thumrait and other locations.
• The 203rd RED HORSE is in the process of deploying to the Persian Gulf region according to the Associated Press on May 25. An element of the 192nd Fighter Wing is deploying with the unit, most likely a security or civil engineering detachment.

Bulgaria

• Bulgaria has pledged some 500 soldiers to support peacekeeping operations in Iraq, according to the Associated Press on May 26.

Poland

• Poland has promised to send between 1,500 and 2,200 soldiers to Iraq to support peacekeeping efforts, according to the Associated Press on May 26.

Ukraine

• Ukraine has announced that it will send up to 1,700 troops to Iraq to join the US-led stabilization force, according to the Associated Press on May 26. The approval of parliament is still required.