thedrifter
10-03-06, 07:21 AM
From Afghanistan to Kuwait
October 03,2006
Staff Report
Staff and Wire ReportMarine Corps jets with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit bombed Taliban targets in southern Afghanistan last month, their first aerial combat since deploying in June, a spokesman said.
The AV-8B Harrier jets based in Cherry Point Air station flew 136 missions from the USS Iwo Jima between Sept. 9 and Sept. 21, the first bombings of the current deployment by the Camp Lejeune-based 24th MEU, said spokesman Capt. David Nevers
The expeditionary unit is the same one that helped evacuate the U.S. embassy and American citizens from Lebanon in July. The unit is made up of about 2,200 Marines and sailors with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, MEU Service Support Group 24 and a command element.
The 24th MEU departed Lejeune in early June on an expected six- to seven-month float.
The MEU left the Mediterranean Sea in August and sailed to the Arabian Sea to conduct naval exercises with the Pakistani navy when NATO commanders in Afghanistan requested help from the Harriers.
Four jets per day were used in the combat runs, which included dropping 17 precision-guided bombs.
“Our presence on more than one occasion resulted in the destruction of the Taliban and their weapons,” said Maj. Pete Lee, who led the first section of Harriers into Afghanistan on Sept. 9.
The Marines sent ground crews from the ship to the air base in Kandahar to speed up the Harriers’ turnaround time between bombing runs.
Harriers also carry a 25 mm cannon, rockets and non-guided bombs. The jets include technology that allows the pilot to find a target and fire rockets while remaining out of visual distance.
Harriers can take off and land vertically, and use short runways. They are standard aircraft on the expeditionary deployments.
NATO troops have engaged in fierce fighting with Taliban forces after moving into southern Afghanistan to take over from U.S. troops. NATO has about 20,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, while the United States has an additional 21,000, mostly in the eastern part of the country along the border with Pakistan.
On the web: For more information about the MEU, log on to www.usmc.mil/24meu.
Ellie
October 03,2006
Staff Report
Staff and Wire ReportMarine Corps jets with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit bombed Taliban targets in southern Afghanistan last month, their first aerial combat since deploying in June, a spokesman said.
The AV-8B Harrier jets based in Cherry Point Air station flew 136 missions from the USS Iwo Jima between Sept. 9 and Sept. 21, the first bombings of the current deployment by the Camp Lejeune-based 24th MEU, said spokesman Capt. David Nevers
The expeditionary unit is the same one that helped evacuate the U.S. embassy and American citizens from Lebanon in July. The unit is made up of about 2,200 Marines and sailors with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, MEU Service Support Group 24 and a command element.
The 24th MEU departed Lejeune in early June on an expected six- to seven-month float.
The MEU left the Mediterranean Sea in August and sailed to the Arabian Sea to conduct naval exercises with the Pakistani navy when NATO commanders in Afghanistan requested help from the Harriers.
Four jets per day were used in the combat runs, which included dropping 17 precision-guided bombs.
“Our presence on more than one occasion resulted in the destruction of the Taliban and their weapons,” said Maj. Pete Lee, who led the first section of Harriers into Afghanistan on Sept. 9.
The Marines sent ground crews from the ship to the air base in Kandahar to speed up the Harriers’ turnaround time between bombing runs.
Harriers also carry a 25 mm cannon, rockets and non-guided bombs. The jets include technology that allows the pilot to find a target and fire rockets while remaining out of visual distance.
Harriers can take off and land vertically, and use short runways. They are standard aircraft on the expeditionary deployments.
NATO troops have engaged in fierce fighting with Taliban forces after moving into southern Afghanistan to take over from U.S. troops. NATO has about 20,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, while the United States has an additional 21,000, mostly in the eastern part of the country along the border with Pakistan.
On the web: For more information about the MEU, log on to www.usmc.mil/24meu.
Ellie