Operation Iraqi Freedom
Source: G-OPD
The Coast Guard is a vital component of the U.S. military forces during times of war and conflict. Due to our multi-mission character and capabilities, as well as our unique abilities in port, coastal and environmental security, the U.S. Coast Guard has served in numerous roles during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Coast Guard:
Participated in Maritime Interception Operations and coastal security patrols along with U. S. Navy and coalition naval forces, enforcing U.N. sanctions prior to hostilities and preventing the movement of Iraqi military forces, or equipment following the commencement of hostilities. These patrols resulted in:
Identification and seizure of cargoes prohibited by U.N. sanctions by Coast Guard Cutter BOUTWELL.
First capture of maritime enemy prisoners of war by Coast Guard Cutter ADAK.
Coast Guard Patrol Boats and Law Enforcement Detachments aided in the interception and seizure of Iraqi mine laying vessels, ensuring that waterways were not threatened and relief ships with their vital aid cargoes could safely reach the key port of Umm Qasr.
Law Enforcement Detachment 205 located a large cache of Iraqi military equipment and weapons hidden in coastal caves in Southern Iraq.
PSUs provided port security in key logistics ports in Kuwait and Iraq; including the escort of humanitarian aid shipments into the port of Umm Qasr.
PSU 311 and 313 provided security to Iraqi oil terminals located in the North Arabian Gulf, which included the detention of 73 enemy prisoners of war. These facilities are vital to economic recovery in Post-Saddam Iraq.
Provided Maritime Environmental Response expertise in the event of acts of maritime environmental terrorism.
Conducted a navigational survey of the Khor Abd Allah River flowing up to Umm Qasr. Coast Guard Cutter Walnut inspected the poor condition and position of navigational aids -- such as buoys -- and then replaced and corrected the aids to navigation in order to allow for the safe navigation of the river for military, humanitarian and commercial vessels.
Units Deployed
At the height of operations, there were 1250 Coast Guard personnel deployed, including about 500 reservists. This included two large cutters, a buoy tender, eight patrol boats, four port security units, law enforcement detachments and support staff to the Central (CENTCOM) and European (EUCOM) Command theaters of operation, as detailed below.
378-foot
high endurance cutters
USCGC BOUTWELL (WHEC 719) - homeport: Alameda, Calif. (CENTCOM)
USCGC DALLAS (WHEC 716) - homeport: North Charleston, S.C. (EUCOM)
225-foot
seagoing buoy tender
USCGC WALNUT (WLB 205) - homeport: Honolulu, Hawaii (CENTCOM)
USCGC WRANGELL (WPB 1332) - homeport:
South Portland, Maine (CENTCOM)
USCGC ADAK (WPB 1333) - homeport: Sandy Hook, N.J. (CENTCOM)
USCGC AQUIDNECK (WPB 1309) - homeport: Atlantic Beach, N.C. (CENTCOM)
USCGC BARANOF (WPB 1318) - homeport: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
USCGC MONOMOY (WPB 1326) - homeport: Woods Hole, Mass. (CENTCOM)
USCGC MAUI (WPB 1304) - homeport: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
USCGC GRAND ISLE (WPB 1338) - homeport: Gloucester, Mass. (EUCOM)
USCGC BAINBRIDGE ISLAND (WPB 1343) - homeport: Sandy Hook, N.J. (EUCOM)
USCGC PEA ISLAND (WPB 1347) - homeport: St. Petersburg, Fla. (EUCOM)
USCGC KNIGHT ISLAND (WPB 1348) - homeport: St. Petersburg, Fla. (EUCOM)
Port Security
Units
Port Security Unit 305, home base: Hampton Roads, Va. (EUCOM)
Port Security Unit 307, home base St. Petersburg, Fla. (CENTCOM)
Port Security Unit 308, home base: Gulfport, Ms. (CENTCOM)
Port Security Unit 309, home base: Cleveland, Ohio (EUCOM)
Port Security Unit 311, home base: San Pedro, Calif. (CENTCOM)
Port Security Unit 313, home base: Tacoma, Wash. (CENTCOM)
Tactical
Law Enforcement Teams
Detachments from Chesapeake, Va.; Miami, Fla.; and San Diego, Calif. (CENTCOM)
Support
Staff
Patrol Boat Support Squadron Staff (CENTCOM)
Patrol Boat Support Squadron Staff (EUCOM)
Units in theater as of
July 2004
USCGC
Wrangell (WPB 1332) -
homeport: South Portland, Maine (CENTCOM)
USCGC Adak (WPB 1333) -
homeport: Sandy Hook, N.J. (CENTCOM)
USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309)
- homeport: Atlantic Beach, N.C. (CENTCOM)
USCGC Baranof
(WPB 1318) - homeport: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
USCGC MONOMOY (WPB 1326) - homeport: Woods Hole, Mass. (CENTCOM)
USCGC MAUI (WPB 1304) - homeport: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
Port Security Unit 307, home base St. Petersburg, Fla. (CENTCOM)
Tactical Law Enforcement Team South - home base: Miami, Fla. (CENTCOM)
Patrol Boat Support Squadron Staff (CENTCOM)
Related Cards:
National Defense