Heavy-lift bump.
Posted on 12/05/2005 3:06:33 PM PST by SandRat
AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 3, 2005) -- Marines from 2nd Tank Battalion were operating against insurgents when a resupply of fuel was needed Dec. 3 near Al Taqaddum, Iraq.
Marines were forced to travel a route that had already been traveled twice that day in order to get to the unit’s main source of fuel.
“They had already performed ground resupply through that one area,” said Capt. Richard S. Meiklejohn, the airfield operations company commander for Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 and a Woodbine, Md., native. “They didn’t want to give the enemy a chance to take advantage of their predictability, so we went in and refueled them.”
With CH-53s from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 providing transportation, the Untouchables of MWSS-272 brought 2,500 gallons of fuel to the tanks of 2nd Tanks. and the necessary equipment to pump it.
“That type of mission is pretty rare for us,” said Staff Sgt. Brett Bodine, the fuels section team leader and Narrowburg, N.Y., native. “Our primary mission is aviation ground support (such as refueling aircraft), we can do that type of mission (refueling tanks), but we normally don’t.”
Two CH-53s externally lifted the fuel to a landing site near the battalion using five large tanks. After dropping the fuel tanks, the helicopters landed and offloaded the Marines and their fuel pumping equipment. Attack helicopters circled overhead and Marines from 2nd Tanks provided security for the landing zone. Meiklejohn said security was never threatened.
“Everything went very well,” said Bodine. “Everybody worked together well, the helicopters were on time. The tanks were at the site and ready to go. We gave them the fuel and then we were gone.”
Including the flight, the entire mission lasted only three hours. A minor mechanical problem with one of the CH-53s caused a slight delay, but the mission was still completed ahead of schedule.
“Sometimes unexpected things happen, but Marines react,” he said. “We had planned for the mission to (require 3.5 hours). It’s nice to know that even when things don’t go perfectly, we can still accomplish the mission without any problems.”
The refueling was completed quickly due to the proficiency of the fuel Marines, Meiklejohn said.
“My Marines all know their job and they’re very professional,” he said. “They prepared the gear and had everything ready to go.”
Meiklejohn said it’s always good for the Marines who work for him to have a change of pace, and this mission provided that.
“We have everything we need to support ground and aviation assets,” said Bodine. “We can refuel anything, it’s just a matter of what gear we use.”
Meiklejohn said the mission’s success depended on cooperation between everyone involved, from the helicopters to the fuels Marines and 2nd Tank Battalion.
“It was a team effort all the way around,” he said. “It’s nice to get out and directly support the ground guys, too.”
I am SO proud to be protected by people of such quality.
Heavy-lift bump.
You call that heavy lift? (Well OK, for a USMC helicopter I guess it is:)
I don't know exactly what that is they are stuffing Fat Albert, but it sure looks heavy to me
Or they could just put the CH-53 into the C-5
BTTT
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