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thedrifter
11-08-02, 06:55 AM
http://www.mca-marines.org/Leatherneck/green.jpg


ABOARD USS TARAWA (LHA-1) – Night falls on USS Tarawa, and only small lights on the flight deck are visible. A roar can be heard in the distance, and within minutes, the AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft hovers 15 feet over the flight deck.

While a guide on the ground directs the pilot down to the surface, the power of the engine’s thrust is felt by everyone nearby. Without hesitation, the pilot makes a steady landing and cuts the power immediately, concluding the flight.

The mission carried out by the Harriers is part of the two-week training exercise, COMPTUEX, which is one of the many executed during workups for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The 15th MEU is scheduled to depart in January 2003 for a six-month deployment. (Photo by LCpl Brent Harvey)

http://www.15meu.usmc.mil/pages/comptuex_harriers.htm


Sempers,

Roger

Barrio_rat
11-08-02, 12:03 PM
Sounds fun huh? Try having your shop in the 'island' - hatch to the flight deck - with these things winding up for about 15 to 20 minutes before each and every take off. They are a loud, obnoxious beast. I have served on the USS Tarawa as well as the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) and have endured these aircraft on both. While the aircraft itself is wonderful and compliments a mission for the Marine Corps like no other aircraft before it, I do not have many fond memories of them. Though, the practice bombing and strafing runs they did - got some pictures of those - were pretty damn cool. When we were in the Persian Gulf, the Harriers got off-loaded for about a month - the quite time was wonderful.