B-1 bombers deploy for possible war

msnbc ^ | 1/8/03 | ap

[finnman69]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 — The United States’ top war planner on Wednesday briefed President Bush about preparations for a possible war against Iraq — preparations that include the deployment early Wednesday of B-1 bombers. The developments followed reports that much of the nation’s war planning staff was being sent to a base in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar that’s equipped to coordinate a large-scale land, sea and air war.

“THE BULK of those that would need to be in place to make the (Qatar) headquarters operational will be there by the end of the month,” a U.S. defense official said as Gen. Tommy Franks briefed the president. “I’m not telling you it will be operational.”
Franks heads the U.S. Central Command, which would coordinate a war against Iraq. He is not going to Qatar as part of the current personnel movement, officials said, but he is expected to travel extensively in the coming weeks through the region.
At the White House, an administration official would not provide details of Franks’ briefing, saying only that it was “an update on deployment activities.”
Earlier Wednesday, several B-1 bombers left Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota as ground crew loaded cargo planes through the night. About 500 Ellsworth troops and 450 tons of cargo are also heading out.
NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reported the B-1 bombers were headed for the Persian Gulf area. B-1 bombers like this one were used regularly during the war in Afghanistan.
NBC News has learned that eight to 10 B-1 bombers would probably be stationed in Oman, where the United States has been given access to two air bases. Oman has been reluctant to endorse a war against Iraq, but it is a longtime U.S. ally, allowing U.S. war supplies to be stored there since the 1991 Gulf War.
Thousands more Army troops from Fort Benning, Ga., have also been deploying this week. Some 350 soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division left Tuesday for training exercises in Kuwait. The base is expected to see four daily deployments over the next few weeks as 11,000 troops ship out, joining 4,800 other division troops already in Kuwait.

[finnman69]

This does not seem like loose lips as it is common knowledge.

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

bump

[TheJollyRoger]

Godspeed!

[N. Theknow]

Doesn't sound like we sent many conventional bombers. Wonder how many of our 10,000 stealth bomber/fighters we sent?

[Newbomb Turk]

Millions of little green Army men are deploying from their bases in Walmart stores worldwide also.

Keep it a SECRET !

[berserker]

B-1 bombers like this one were used regularly during the war in Afghanistan.

B-1B bombers could be used in Afghanistan because the Taliban had no air defenses. Even then, we lost one aircraft. There is probably something wrong with the design of the B-1, the Air Force has never allowed it to be used where there is any chance of enemy fire. No B-1Bs were used in either the last Gulf War or in Serbia.

[finnman69]

Well each one can cary 24 JDAM bombs. That's a lot of big accurate bangs.

[finnman69]

[11B3]

B1Bs just finished retrofit for conventional weapons prior to Afghanistan. Your theories require some of that special foil found at places like Rumor Mill News. For full details on the B1's history from a source who is not biased check out the Federation of American Scientists. (These images are courtesy of FAS as well.)

When an aircraft is supersonic and carries a maximum weight of just under 1/2 million pounds, and is still aerobatic, don't you think that there may be times when the envelope is pushed a little?

Since the prior two don't give any reference for the scale of a B1, check this out:

[Momaw Nadon]

Attack on Iraq Betting Pool

[Poohbah]

Even then, we lost one aircraft.

Cause of loss?

There is probably something wrong with the design of the B-1, the Air Force has never allowed it to be used where there is any chance of enemy fire. No B-1Bs were used in either the last Gulf War or in Serbia.

In the Gulf War, the B-1B was on alert for nuclear missions, and had not been certified for conventional ordnance. We weren't nuking Baghdad (a pity).

We DID use B-1Bs in Kosovo--they flew out of Lakenheath.

[Dog Gone]

This does not seem like loose lips as it is common knowledge.

The whole world knows that we're moving troops and equipment there. None of these movements are even meant to be secret. We want to show the world and Saddam that we are serious and we are coming.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

In addition to being a component of the TRIAD most of the B-1 fleet was grounded in late 1990 due to engine problems. Thus they weren't available for Desert Storm.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[ASA Vet]

In the Gulf War, the B-1B was on alert for nuclear missions

And now what aircraft has picked up that mission?

[-YYZ-]

I love the B1B bomber. Biggest swing-wing made, I believe. For a couple of days I walked back and forth across the hanger floor at CFB Shearwater where I was working. It was housed there while parts were flown in to repair some minor damage sustained in a landing while it was there for the air show. Shame they won't allow supersonic flight in most areas, I'd love to see and hear one of these things come by supersonic. A 600 mph pass at 1000ft is impressive enough, though.

[tanknetter]

In addition to being a component of the TRIAD most of the B-1 fleet was grounded in late 1990 due to engine problems. Thus they weren't available for Desert Storm.

IIRC, at the time of Desert Storm there was only one set of conventional bomb racks for the B-1B, as well as one specialized loader rig.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, also at the time, there were three operational aircraft types that made up the "heavy" side of the bomber leg of the triad (the "medium" side composed of FB-111Bs) ... the B-52G, the B-52H and the B-1B. While the B-1B wasn't used in Desert Storm, neither was the B-52H. Only the "G" version of the BUFF saw combat. Again, the reason was that the "H" BUFFS, like the grounded B-1Bs, were tasked and trained for the strategic nuclear mission. With plenty of "G"s available with all the necessary equipment and crews trained for conventional missions, there was no need to spend the time or money converting the other heavies.

It was just a damn shame that the USAF had retired the B-52Ds several years earlier ... without migrating their "Big Belly" setup to the "G". "Big Belly" was a Vietnam-era mod involving modular bomb "clips" that increased the BUFF's total bomb carriage from 51 to 108 Mk.82 series 500lb bombs.

[berserker]

Cause of loss?

See the following FR thread: B-1B Down in the Indian Ocean near Diego Garcia. I don't think that the cause of the loss was ever reported, just that it was not enemy fire.

[Poohbah]

Oh, OK, I remember that one now.

[hchutch]

IIRC, the B-1s have a larger 500-lb setup than the "Big Belly" BUFFs. 84 internal, 44 external.