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USS Enterprise Aircraft Strike Enemy in Iraq
Navy News Stand ^
| Nov. 24, 2003
| USS Enterprise Public Affairs
Posted on 11/24/2003 12:22:42 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
USS Enterprise Aircraft Strike Enemy in Iraq
Story Number: NNS031124-08
Release Date: 11/24/2003 9:31:00 AM
From USS Enterprise Public Affairs
ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Strike fighter aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, flying from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in the North Arabian Gulf, attacked enemy targets near Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 19 in support of Operation Iron Hammer.
After flying complex missions over both Afghanistan and Iraq in recent weeks, this strike was the carriers first use of precision-guided ammunition in the Kirkuk region.
Two VMFA-312 F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters from Enterprises embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 each dropped a 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in the attack, destroying an enemy position. Ground troops operating in the area had taken fire from that enemy position in recent days.
The systems worked as advertised, said Marine Capt. James W. Smith, 31, of Ridgeweood, N.J., one of the two aviators involved in the mission. It went very well, very methodically from talk on, to delivery to the egress. Marine Capt. Wade E. Wiegel, 32, of Sac City,
Iowa, flew the other Hornet.
Enterprise deployed with three Hornet squadrons, one of which is the Checkerboards of VMFA-312, based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
Personally, its a reminder of how proud I am to be a Checkerboard with CVW-1, Smith said. Its exciting to be part of the first squadron aboard Enterprise to engage the enemy.
Enterprise is the Navys only aircraft carrier currently deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Since arriving in theater, Enterprise aircraft supported the hunt for terrorists with Joint Task Force 150 near the Horn of Africa. They also provided close air support and airborne command and control to Army and Special Operations Forces combating Taliban and anti-coalition militias in Afghanistan.
Once again, the Marines led the way into combat, said Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Commander, Rear Adm. James G. Stavridis. The Navy-Marine Corps team has never been stronger, and our partnership in Enterprise speaks to that. I couldnt be prouder of these brave Marines and the leadership theyve shown.
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/ Commander, 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc.
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: enemy; fa18; iraq; ironhammer; jdam; kirkuk; marines; usmc; usn; ussenterprise
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To: Mr. Silverback
Now that's a novel approach to the terrorist problem :o)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
To: Mr. Silverback; Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks for letting me know that.
I wish them all good luck with their great work.
To: Ragtime Cowgirl; RaceBannon; nuconvert; McGavin999; Persia; AdmSmith; faludeh_shirazi; freedom44; ..
At Sea (NNS) -- Strike fighter aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, flying from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in the North Arabian Gulf, attacked enemy targets near Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 19 in support of Operation Iron Hammer.I think It has been the Persian Gulf through out the History. Right? Our Arab allies do not mind if we try to appease them. They will keep bombing us on and on.
To: Mr. Silverback
I believe that this picture was actually taken in 1993/94 during one of the big E's shake down cruises.
They launched a couple of vehicles off the flight deck to check the launching cables.
I got to see one of those launches a couple miles off the starboard bow of the Big E. The night before, we started getting radar reflections off the E miles before she was really in range as she moved up into position for her exercises. Then the image took up a large part of the radar screen. The whole experience was awesome. I knew that our new Navy was capable of dishing out a lot of punishment.
45
posted on
11/24/2003 10:26:17 PM PST
by
Grampa Dave
(Sore@US, the Evil Daddy Warbucks, has owned the DemonicRats for decades!)
100 Quatloos on the newcomers...
46
posted on
11/24/2003 10:27:57 PM PST
by
At _War_With_Liberals
(A guy named Osama was arrested in my town this week for trying to run a cop down!)
To: rmlew
Why is a marine squadron operating from a carrier and not from Iraq?Mine is not to question why, but to do or die.
47
posted on
11/25/2003 12:44:19 AM PST
by
EGPWS
To: Grampa Dave
The car launch pic is amazing...funny. I have a video somewhere, I think it from the "Carrier" series, of wingless Supermarine Seafires being catapulted off a British carrier when the steam system was first being perfected; pretty neat footage.
48
posted on
11/25/2003 1:10:54 AM PST
by
wolficatZ
(___><))))*>____\0/____/|____"flipper to the rescue...")
To: Mr. Silverback
It looks like a '64 Dodge Dart. :)
49
posted on
11/25/2003 7:21:51 AM PST
by
blackie
To: Mr. Silverback
Great photos. Thanks!
To: Grampa Dave
Wow, I thought that photo was photoshpped! The fact that it's real makes it that much funnier!
51
posted on
11/25/2003 9:18:39 AM PST
by
Mr. Silverback
(Pre-empt the third murder attempt-- Pray for Terry Schiavo!)
To: Mr. Silverback
When we saw the cars shot off that deck, there was stunned silence and then cheers. We knew that our Navy was headed in the right direction with the Big E. Forty years later, the Big E is still defending America and hammering our enemies.
52
posted on
11/25/2003 9:20:59 AM PST
by
Grampa Dave
(Sore@US, the Evil Daddy Warbucks, has owned the DemonicRats for decades!)
To: rmlew; EGPWS; Ragtime Cowgirl
Why is a marine squadron operating from a carrier and not from Iraq? It's standard procedure for Marines to go out with the carriers for deployment cruises as a regular part of the Air Wing. I can't say for sure, but I'd bet that it's part of the deal since the Corps got aviation capability--"Sure, you Leathernecks can have your own air, but you have to be part of the Navy aviation pool."
53
posted on
11/25/2003 9:25:55 AM PST
by
Mr. Silverback
(Pre-empt the third murder attempt-- Pray for Terry Schiavo!)
To: blackie
It looks like a '64 Dodge Dart. :) Went on a quarry dive in upstate NY one time, and there was a perfectly preserved (except for the seats) flaming orange Dodge Dart at the bottom of the quarry. A lot of the local divers had photos of themselves sitting at the wheel. Of course, I doubt Enterprise or any of her sisters put it there!
54
posted on
11/25/2003 9:30:24 AM PST
by
Mr. Silverback
(Pre-empt the third murder attempt-- Pray for Terry Schiavo!)
To: All
NOW HEAR THIS *** NOW HEAR THIS
GO BIG E
B-Chan
Former MM3
USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)
THAT IS ALL
x
55
posted on
11/25/2003 9:45:08 AM PST
by
B-Chan
(Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
To: Mr. Silverback
"I doubt Enterprise or any of her sisters put it there!"That woulda been quite a launch. :):)
56
posted on
11/25/2003 11:12:27 AM PST
by
blackie
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